Full disclosure: This isn't really a K/R. I've fallen madly in love with my new rain jacket, but I haven't removed the tags. If you see any problems with it, please let me know.

I've been looking for a rain jacket for over two years. The requirements were it had to be water repellant, have a removable hood, and hit somewhere between the top of my thighs to just above my knees. It should not be ordinary gear, but should be something special. Most important, it had to be navy blue. This spring, feeling really desperate, I decided black or even khaki would be OK, even though I still wanted navy.

After looking everywhere and buying several jackets and then returning them, I went to Bloomingdale's (for the second time). The selection was pathetic, but I found a wonderful SA who found the right jacket for me. I thought it was black, but the second I put it on, I knew it was the one. We discussed the color and the SA thought it might be charcoal. I didn't care. I loved the way it make me feel, and I bought it.

Things I liked about it were the perfect fit, the silver snaps, the quilting, the silver lining, the way the seams were beautifully finished with self-binding, and the curved vent in the back. Even though I've bought many items that came with extra buttons, this is the first that has come with extra snaps. The brand is Trina Turk, which I have heard of but never tried before. When I got home and looked at it in natural light, I realized it is a very dark navy. Yahoo!

The most interesting thing about this jacket is that I expected to buy something more conservative or conventional. This jacket, with all the snaps, looks more like gear. It has a slightly edgy feeling that I didn't previously know I liked. And even though I didn't want gear, it looks like gear. And I love it. As a person in search of a style definition, I may be on to something.

Sorry the pictures aren't better, but what do you think?