Rainy day classic: Rains Fishtail Parka

Take a classic, update it with a new finish and extra protection against the elements, and you have the Rains Fishtail Parka.

This one has been around a while, but new colours appear, and the design has slight tweaks. Nothing major, though. And the bonus right now is that the khaki green is back for traditionalists.

Other colours, too, such as navy blue, grey and black, all of which have their own appeal. I get around with a Gore-Tex Beam Plus coat right now, but I am seriously thinking of upgrading to one of these in light of ongoing downpours. This is industrial-strength but with a clean and stylish look, too.

The coat itself hasn’t changed much year on year. So you are looking at a design that takes its inspiration from the classic M-51 fishtail parka but with a contemporary finish and that cleaner look, I mentioned earlier.

When the rain does come down (pretty much every day at present) this coat really comes into its own. It is secured with a weatherproof zip that’s topped with a press-studded storm flap. On top of that, it also has robust welded seams and is finished with drawstrings to keep the hood and hemline tight.

You also get two front pockets, a back vent, elasticated cuffs and, of course, the signature waterproof and windproof cloth for construction, which is a mix of polyurethane and polyester.

Cheaper than you might think at £115, which only adds to the appeal.

Find out more at the End Clothing website

If you want an old-school Mod parka, those are available online, too. More details on that here.