Pakamac

Katie. Natural is vinyl without any specific colouring.
The best way to describe it is Milky but translucent.
You had me thinking for a moment bout the buttons but after
going into deep thought about it , I remembered that on quite a few of the colours the buttons were actualy transparent without colour that seemed to match most colours. Some colours appeared more shiny than others.
I am pleased you were impressed with Pvc-u-like,. On the very early ones I seemed to remember the buttonholes were
stitched. They did vary as time moved on and the material varied. My mobile No is in a previous message here if you
want to text me with any more questions you may have,

Hi Alan/Lesley, thanks so much for your quick and helpful responses. I've just had a look at the pvc u like site, and yes they do look fab don't they! I love the matching bonnets too. They mention they can do either black or white buttons - are both correct for the period do you know?

Oh, what do you guys mean by 'natural' is that just plain see through white?

Thanks
Katie

You described the plastic macs from the 50s exactly as I remember. I particularly remember the natural coloured ones which pvc-u-like emulates so well these days. The only thing I might add would be the optional tie belt and a matching plastic rain head square with a long drape.

Hi Katie. I think I can help you a little on some of those points you asked about.
Firstly they definately had a collar and not a hood.
Buttons usualy five. definately not poppers don`t think they were around then, Side vent pockets. there were many colours but I think if I remember correctly there seem to
be more Natural coloured ones but yellows blues pinks there seemed a wide selection of colours available.
length was about 150mm/6" below the knee. material was semitransparent but did seem to vary from colour to colour.
thickness was around 200 microns, I would suggest if you wanted a custom made one to contact pvc-u-like.com and they will be able to help you and make one for you too.hope you find my info useful.
regards Alan

Hiya, I'm hoping someone can please give me some advice on retro raincoats.

I'm into vintage clothing(1950s)and attend various 1950s themed events/dances. I would like to buy a plastic raincoat to wear over my dresses/suits, but having more or less given up on finding an original I have decided to buy a modern reproduction. I know what kind of cut/style I'm looking for, however I'm a bit stuck on some of the finer details. If anyone knows about ladies raincoats from the 1950s, maybe you could please answer the following questions for me.

Did they have a hood or collar, or both?

Did they have buttons or poppers, or both?

Was the plastic thick or thin?

Was the plastic shiny or not shiny?

Were they really see through (clear) or just semi see through?

What were the popular colours?

I'd be grateful if someone could help me out on this one, obviously I want to try and get the look correct.

If any of you happen to have a ladies vintage raincoat from this period(size 10)that you want to sell, I'd be interested.

Thanks guys
Katie

It does feel good to be complemented when you're wearing a mac Peter. I definitely had none from my second wife when I wore a plastic or nylon mac, unlike my first (late) wife who, despite not liking them herself, could always see her way to leave a complement. As I did myself about her rubberised mackintoshes when she wore them.
Subsequent partners have been a real breath of fresh air when we have been together, both of us happily wearing plastic macs and enjoying them.
I think an appreciation of pakamacs is something I've found with many older ladies through the conversations I've had over the years with complete strangers, while buying macs (usually nylon).

I was a regular visitor to Advert Museum.reading of many mackintosh "enthusiasts" recollections of how the attraction to mackintoshes started for them but just recently with committments it has not been possible

So can anyone remember a year like this(2012) when the weather has been sheer heaven for mackintosh wearing..

Since early April there has been few days when my mackintoshes have not had an outing

My trusted Trenchcoat purchased from ebay....labelled Marks and Spencer...and what a joy when two individuals said to me..."You look smart"

I got to thinking I wonder if they were thinking....Wish I had a mac like that but sadly in todays society people seem to worry what others might say if they see them in a sensible mac and to think back to the 1950s-1970s everyone wore a mac regardless of the weather

My other mac is a lightweight nylon one...also purchased from ebay

At this point I have a confession to make....I have an attraction to macs designed for ladies...(the fairer sex) and these I wear indoors

Do I feel it is strange...not one bit

It is harmless fun...giving pleasure

Macs of all descriptions have been an attraction to me for many years....My ex wife made it abundantly clear she didnot understand thus my mac wearing was restricted to outdoors only

sadly my ex wife was not a mac wearing lady even outdoors

Can always dream of her wearing a gorgeous mac

We all dream...it keeps us going

Lesley If I had married some one who wore rubber macs I would have stayed with her I love plastic and rubber and PVC macs Women went from rubber to plastic macs anyway.

hey guys

it is so true that macs or trench coats are sooo in!

anyhow, i bought mine recently from a coats by candy

thought i’d share with you the source; http://www.facebook.com/coatsbycandy

hope you can find a mac coat / trench coat for yourself too.

enjoy

tanja

It intrigues me what caused me to have an instant attraction to wearing plastic macs but like it has been said, I just enjoy wearing them. Yes, they have been an incredibly big part of my life for as long as I can remember and continue to be so. They have in fact been involved with some life changing events for me and I wouldn't want it to be any different.
Thinking positively, I would hazard to guess that anyone wearing them now is possibly going to be more of a fan of them than years ago when they were worn casually.
My first wife wasn't a fan but she used to wear rubber lined raincoats when I'd be in one of my many black plastic macs. One difference was that I'd carry a plastic mac where ever I went, whatever the weather. I needed only the flimsiest of excuses to put one on. She knew about my attraction to the garment and couldn't understand it. She certainly couldn't understand why I'd buy more plastic macs when we were shopping, even when I was wearing one that was almost new.

go onto youtube and type in wet in the ballroom. its and old
Hi-de-hi episode. just few translucent plastic macs to see thats all but i liked it.

Thanks Taffmac for your response. glad you enjoyed reading about my early experiences regarding Pakamacs. Its not until you get to where we are that you start to reflect on
the past. I think there must be others now who like myself realise what an important part the plastic macs were and still are in my life, I don`t even try these days to understand why its had such a strong influence on my life.
But the feelings are still as strong as the first time I realised how it affected me. you can always leave me your email address if you would like to chat more, or even text it to me on 07789778804 and that goes for any genuine plastic lover who would like to communicate more.

Hello Alan,

What a fantastic experience that must have been in 1967. Thank you very much for sharing that with us. It must have been 1967 or 1968 when my first serious girlfriend and I spent a few days in Torquay and I remember walking back to where we were staying when it started to rain. We passed the Woolworth store and I offered to buy my girlfriend a plastic mac but she declined. What a disappointment ! I really envy your experience and I would love to hear more of your plastic mac experiences.

Many Thanks,
Taffmac

Anna get in touch I have a lot to tell you .

Anna Its good to hear from you are still wearing your nylon mac.

Hello gareth yes important well thanks. Thank you for asking

Alan If you do write that book I would love to read it you are very lucky your wife understands your love of plastic macs not very many do regards.

Hi Gareth. Glad you enjoyed reading my early experiences.
They are memories that I treasure. I think I could write a book on my experiences through life revolved around plastic macs, Which have always played a very important part in my life right from my school days, perhaps we should chat more . thanks for your comments,

Alan well done I really enjoyed reading your comments the best for a long time thank you.

I read with interest all your comments on Butlins and Lesleys comments on 1967 must have been a fantastic year,
Well I can confirm it was,I went to Butlins in Skegness with my girlfriend,She had a cheap plastic mac which she had from her schooldays but torn under one arm,
On the first morning we decided to walk into Skegness and it was a wet drizzly day so my girlfriend donned her mac.
I had an old umbrella of hers , Has we walked towards the Clock tower My umbrella fell to pieces,
The drizzle started to wet my jumper I was wearing. I had planned to try a get a mac without being too obvious about its effects on me, When my G/F suggested I get myseelf a plastic mac, Can`t remember my reply but the excitement was incredible, We continued up the High street, When she suddenly stopped saying look therev in front of us was a shop with a window sticker saying PAKAMAC STOCKISTS. so in we went,I was very excited at this stage but trying to act matter of fact, There was a rack with a few macs on to try on in there for size I soon found my size. Then we bought one which was still packed in its original packing.
My G/F insisted I put it on there and then which of course I was longing for. Well I had only had a cheap one from woolworths before so you can imagine how this genuine Pakamac felt. It was heaven .. My umbrella went in the first litter bin in sight. I actually paid 15/- for it.
Walking back to Butlins was a different world for me.
As we went into the camp there were a couple of Red coats flitting about in plastic macs which at that time I thought were longer and more translucent than these pics here.
We had booked two single chalets because things were different then. but by the time I had got back you can imagine how I felt, So i chalet surficed and it was the first intimate time with my girlfriend so the memories are unforgetable. But it was not until about 3 years into marriage I confessed about the effects plastic had on me but she had wondered why I treasured them so much.

Anna were are you are you well

Had outing to nt house n garden on Tues.Dry with sunny spells. Had on my turquiose nylon pu mackintosh whole time.
One of lady attendance in house ask me if it was raining.
When i said no she said o you are just prepared.
Must have been one of these strange people that think nice mackintoshes are for keeping out the rain. Bev.

I wasn't sure what I wanted to be when I left school but I know now what I should have been.

http://www.butlinsmemories.com/filey/photos1964/id002.htm

Thanks for the Butlins photo Regenhoedge, and in reply to Lesley there's lots of such photos if you search enough.
One method is to input various terms for rainwear on Google Images, then click on one of the headings at the top of the screen which then reveals a window for Translate.
You can then choose a language to view in, copy and paste it into where you had put your original heading and then you can find quite a few variations.
I'm gradually compiling a lot of such photos on my Yahoo group, Rainwear Bound.

Fabulous Butlins photo. I remember the number of plastic macs for sale in Skegness in 1974, 1967 must have been amazing.
I hadn't seen that photo before. I wonder how many other plastic mac photos there are out there which are not easily found through a google search.

And here is another nice Pakamac photo:
http://www.imagebam.com/image/ea781c180267716

Hi Colin

On the following link you can see a photo from 1967 of a female Butlins Redcoat dressed in a translucent plastic mac.
http://www.butlinsmemories.com/skegness/photos1967/id007.htm

Hi Plasticjiffymac.
I expect you've been inundated with requests for the British Pathe 'Holiday Washout' Please add my name to the queue for you to email them. Brish Pathe seemed uncooperative when I tried to download it.
Another memory has surfaced. The women Redcoats ar Butlins with their red jackets, white sunray pleated skirts (which I've always though looked great on any reasonable woman) and then their white translucent plastic macs over the top of their uniform on a wet day. Wonderful sight!

IT IS WONDERFUL BEYOND ALL BELIEF TO SEE THE COMMENTS AND ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED HERE-I HAVE HAD TO WRITE THESE WORDS IN CAPITALS AS IT IS ALL SO EXCITING!!!
Due to business in other sectors, I have not added any comments for some time. I have been engaged in "flickr" photos, adding some favourite images of my own, as well as commenting on others. I do eventually want to start taking pictures of myself, all macked-up in grey-black see-through plastic macs, and adding them to flickr. I hope some of you will do the same.
On e-bay, a male plastic mac, grey, glossy, in the best Pakamac traditions, has been advertised, and a session of healthy bidding has raised the price to over £50!! It makes me wonder how much a genuine Pakamac of the 50s/60s would fetch at auction.
I hope to be adding regular comments to this wonderful site once again once again. I remember those days when I thought I was the only plastic/nylon/rubber mac enthusiast that ever existed. I could not have been more wrong. This an amazing site with FABULOUS contributors. There is hope for humanity yet!

There are some fabulous memories of pakamacs being recorded here. How sad I feel at my age to only now discover a community of guys who share my love of plastic macs. I love nylon macs too.
I've not heard of the 'Swallow' brand of plastic mac. It sounds like a fabulous mac. Thank you for sharing that memory Alan. The way you described it, the thrill of the purchase, brought back so many of my own memories.