In a downpour, what are the chances your umbrella will keep both you and your handbag dry while you’re out and about? My default defense against drench has been to stuff my handbag against my body inside my raincoat and hope for the best, which is rarely the result. But what if my bag had a raincoat of its own? That’s the concept behind the Handbag Raincoat, a kind of poncho for your purse (or briefcase) that slips over the straps and bag, then seals close around the straps via a Velcro tab. Made of sturdy polyurethane, the Handbag Raincoat is available in three sizes. The mini, designed for a small handbag, is 29 inches long by 22 inches high. The midi is 33 inches long by 26 inches high. The maxi, at 37 inches long and 29 inches high, is designed for totes, briefcases and shoulder bags. The bag cover comes in a clear model, an opaque style, a star pattern and, my favorite, a transparent raindrop print. The Velcro closure gives you access to the contents of any top-opening bag whenever you want and lets you grab the straps, or hook them over a shoulder if they’re long enough. The bottom of the “raincoat” is open (just like with people raincoats). Once out of the wet, just wipe the cover dry, pull it off, and stash it in the included raindrop-print carry pouch. The Handbag Raincoat won’t protect bigger bags, and the Velcro top closure means water could seep in if the weather is really aggressive. But it’s a lot classier than a plastic bag and doesn’t weigh much more than one.
The Handbag Raincoat is $25 in mini size, $28 in midi, $30 in maxi; at .
Judi Dash, Gear & Gadgets syndicate
