Wool/cashmere overcoats water-resistant?

[BigMac]

Hello all,

I was given a Ralph Lauren "Columbia" overcoat for Christmas which is 70% wool and 30% cashmere, and was curious if a coat like this would be resistant to rain.

I have heard that cashmere should not normally get wet, but my way of thinking was that, since it is outerwear, it would have most likely been made to withstand the rain.

I wanted to check with the experts here so I can know either to wear it out with full confidence that it can handle the weather, or keep it safe inside on a rainy day.

Thanks in advance for any advice. I'm glad there is a forum like this.

 

[kitonbrioni]

If you get caught in a rain, it should dry ok. However, they are not a replacement for raincoats.

 

[BigMac]

And to dry, is it just simply a matter of letting it hang by itself on its hanger for a while?

 

[thinman]

Loro Piana Storm System cashmere has reputedly been treated to be water resistant. Check the fabric label, but I doubt that your coat qualifies (there may be other types of cashmere that has been similarly treated, but I'm not aware of them).

 

[BigMac]

Thanks, I hadn't heard of that brand.

And cashmere in general: Does it wrinkle easily?

 

[kitonbrioni]

Loro Piana Storm System coats are truly water and wind proof. I have them in cotton, wool, camel hair, and cashmere. I've had no problem with appearance at all. Some people say that they don't "hang" and "drape" as well as fine cashmere; I however can't exactly see the difference. My Oxxford camel hair overcoat and my Storm System camel hair overcoat look different due to styling, not because one has fabric that works as a raincoat.

 

[lakewolf]

If it is cashmere/wool it will absorb rain as an sponge.

If it is just light rain there is no big problem, just hang it preferably on a wooden hanger and let it dry,

For heavy rain you'd better wear a gabardine fabric raincoat. I prefer 100% cotton, but there are several on the market as poly-cotton mix and with a Teflon protective coat...

For me the best is a 100% cotton tight gabardine... you can even see the rain drops roll over it..

 

[Holdfast]

Originally Posted by kitonbrioni

Loro Piana Storm System coats are truly water and wind proof. I have them in cotton, wool, camel hair, and cashmere. I've had no problem with appearance at all. Some people say that they don't "hang" and "drape" as well as fine cashmere; I however can't exactly see the difference. My Oxxford camel hair overcoat and my Storm System camel hair overcoat look different due to styling, not because one has fabric that works as a raincoat.

I don't own any LP Storm System Cashmere (though I have some other Storm System items). But I've felt and tried on many SS cashmere items in LP shops and to me, they seem a touch stiffer than regular casmere. Not much, and they're still beautiful items but I can feel a difference. Sounds like what you're saying is that may all change once you get the items home and wear them a few times. Maybe I'll take the plunge at some point.