After a long, hot and much needed two-month summer, winter comes to visit the Canadian populous for a notoriously long and trying ten month stretch. And while we West Coasters are lucky enough to dodge snow falls and sub-zero temperatures, the amount of rain we see is enough to make even Londoners wish for blue skies.

One advantage we have, however, is the ability to leave the house without an added ten-pounds of winter protection. Replace this with light-weight gear fit to repel damp days and block gusting winds. Some of our West Coast winter favourites? Our always-loveable, Vancouver-based designer Dace offers the stylish yet practical Duce Rain Jacket with silver buttons, drawstring hood and yoke detail. For appropriate footwear we can’t forget the ever-popular (and royalty approved!) Hunter Wellies. Those tired of the traditional green gum-boot should browse the plethora of colours offered online including my personal fave, pink!

Find the Duce Rain Jacket (among a selection of other goodies!) at www.dace.ca and the ubiquitous Hunter Wellies at www.hunter-boot.com .