18 Retro Ads for Weather Gear That Are Totally Unhinged Today
These old weather gear ads tried to be helpful but became hilariously bizarre instead.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Before sleek product photography and polished taglines took over, weather gear ads had a personality of their own—one that was sometimes wildly confusing. These 18 retro ads range from unintentionally creepy to laugh-out-loud absurd, offering a strange kind of charm you do not see anymore. You will never look at a raincoat the same way again.
1. The Sears Smile That Says “I Love Being Soaked”
The original uploader was Ninja5624 at English Wikipedia on Wikimedia Commons
This cheerful guy looks way too excited about being drenched in plastic. His grin is more unsettling than reassuring, and the ad somehow makes the raincoat feel like a prank.
2. Rubber Coats That Look More Like Hazmat Suits
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
The ad claims protection, but these coats look like they belong in a disaster zone. It is hard to tell if they are ready for rain or a toxic spill.
3. Kid or Mini Astronaut?
T Leish on Pexels
A kid is wrapped in head-to-toe vinyl like he is prepping for a spacewalk. This was supposed to be practical gear, but it screams “lost in translation.”
4. The Dashing Detective Vibe No One Asked For
cottonbro studio on Pexels
This trench coat ad channels noir detective energy but forgets it is about staying dry. You almost expect him to light a cigarette in the pouring rain.
5. The Rain Hat That Looks Like a Cake Pan
Payton Walton on Wikimedia Commons
Functional, yes. Fashionable? Not even close. This metal-like rain hat looks like something pulled out of a kitchen cabinet.
6. Matching Rain Sets That Should Have Stayed in the ’70s
Yaroslav Shuraev on Pexels
Brightly colored, skin-tight, and wildly shiny—these suits were more disco than drizzle. You could probably hear the squeaking before you even saw them.
7. Men’s Boots That Scream “Mad Scientist Chic”
Reettamarjaana on Wikimedia Commons
These rubber boots tried to be sleek but ended up looking like something out of Frankenstein’s lab. The model’s proud stance only adds to the weirdness.
8. Capes That Made You Feel Like a Damp Superhero
Public domain on Wikimedia Commons
Capes sound cool—until they trap all the steam and stick to your legs. This ad tried to make them look elegant but ended up making them weirdly dramatic.
9. The “Bubble Boy” Look of the ’50s
Asya Leonova on Pexels
Covered from head to toe in slick material, the poor kid looks like he is being vacuum-sealed for freshness. It is supposed to keep out the rain, not oxygen.
10. Girl’s Coats That Look Like Vinyl Cupcakes
fabrikant: Marimekko on Wikimedia Commons
The frilly edges and shiny material make these raincoats look like dessert wrappers—charming and strange at the same time.
11. Glamour Shots in Gloomy Rain Gear
Russell James Smith on Wikimedia Commons
These women look runway-ready in oversized ponchos and rubber boots. The contrast between the pose and the plastic makes it all seem satire.
12. Formal Raincoats That Look Themselves Too Seriously
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
These coats were marketed like tuxedos for a downpour. The ad insists on sophistication, but the shine says otherwise.
13. Kids Dressed Like Weatherproof Gumdrops
Atahan Demir on Pexels
Bright, puffy, and oddly rounded, these raincoats make the kids look like oversized candies. They’re cute now, but they’d have been hard to move in back then.
14. The “I’m Ready for Anything” Pose
Athena Sandrini on Pexels
The model stands mid-stride in full gear like he is going to a battle, not just the rain. It tries to be empowering but ends up theatrical.
15. Rain Hoods That Look Like Shower Caps
Jonathan Cooper on Pexels
These plastic hoods were supposed to be convenient, but they look like something you wear to deep-condition your hair—not quite the fashion moment they intended.
16. The Businessman Who Fought Storms in a Tracksuit
Robert Couse-Baker on Wikimedia Commons
It is supposed to be “office-friendly,” but the material looks better suited for a wrestling match in the mud. It is a bold choice with questionable execution.
17. Uncomfortably Glossy and Proud of It
Rendy Novantino on Unsplash
The shinier, the better—at least, that was the idea. These coats were practically mirrors, and the ad acts like that is a selling point.
18. The Ad That Made Rain Look Like a Lifestyle
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
This dramatic photo turns a walk in the rain into a cinematic event. The coat is just there for vibes, not for staying dry.