Product development often begins with a call from a museum. Perhaps there’s an important exhibition in the works, and the museum gift shop buyer seeks appropriate merchandise to offer as part of the event. For example, the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum (DIA) is planning a major van Gogh exhibit, Van Gogh in America, for October 2022. The exhibition will display 68 works by Vincent van Gogh, and is the first exhibition dedicated to the introduction and early reception of his art in the United States.
DIA reached out to Jan in the fall of 2019 with specific requests along with an ask for her ideas and suggestions. Jan adores this kind of assignment and spent hours poring over van Gogh's artwork while being mindful of what the museum wanted and what would translate well onto a rain cape, umbrella or pair of gloves. Whether it be Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait, Bank of the Oise at Auvers, The Diggers, or Portrait of the Postman Joseph Roulin, Jan considered attractiveness and wearability, determining how to best adapt the art to fit the product form. From there she worked with an in-house graphic designer to finesse the designs, keeping the composition and color as true to the original art as possible while also going back and forth with the museum to make sure they were on board.
Samples were then produced which also required museum approval. In an established museum relationship such as with DIA, the approvals are quick because the museum has come to trust Jan’s expertise – they know she’ll get it right. Some products take years to develop and multiple approvals – a lot depends on the owning entity and their expectations. Regardless of how long it takes, Jan’s commitment to getting it right is what distinguishes RainCaper.
Not all designs are inspired by museums, in fact, the Classic collection features proprietary prints and patterns developed by Jan. Popular examples include Vintage Birds, Wavy Stripes, Circle Dots and Cool Cats. If reading about Jan’s design process has awakened a creative spark, express yourself – enjoy our free downloadable coloring pages. Print them, color them and share with us on social media. Who knows – we may use your colors in a new RainCaper!
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While you may think bulky parkas and snow gear are essential, the reality is that the weather in Alaska is relatively moderate during the popular summer and early fall cruising months. Plan for average temperature highs of 55 degrees Fahrenheit in both May and September; average temperatures range between 62 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit in June, July and August. What this means from a packing perspective is that layering is key.
While Alaska is clearly a wilderness experience, most cruise lines don't allow overly casual clothing such as jeans, shorts or tees in the main dining areas in the evening. On a typical seven-night cruise you can plan on at least two formal or dressy nights, so you’ll want to pack cocktail dresses or dressy pantsuits for women and suits or jackets with collared shirts for men. Save the flannel shirts, cargo pants and casual gear for land excursions where you’ll be in and out of buses, boats and planes – comfortable active and casual wear is appropriate for most land-based activities.
Comfortable footwear and mix of slacks, tops and jackets will make it easy to explore, whether you are strolling the decks of your cruise ship, enjoying a salmon bake, embarking on a city tour or trekking to the tundra. Because you’ll be spending so much time outside and staying on or near the water, rain gear is a must, yet no one wants to be hot and sweaty in a standard yellow slicker or a cheap plastic rain poncho that sticks to your body. A breathable, rain repellent jacket or coat is ideal, especially if you can find something versatile enough to wear multiple ways.
For women, we recommend a RainCaper – it’s a reversible travel cape that doubles as a windbreaker. In case you don’t know, the mosquitoes can be fierce in Alaska – a soft and silky travel cape offers a unique level of protection – toss it on over your shirt or sweater to ward off insects and keep your cool. Because it's a fluid fabric that drapes and moves with you, there's none of that annoying crinkle of plastic plus it's breathable so you remain comfortable and dry in damp or wet weather. A lightweight and packable hooded RainCaper offers versatility – wear it rain or shine – with a solid side and a print side you can maximize your wardrobe options without worrying about heavy bags. Even better, you’ll arrive in style at those dressy dinners – a RainCaper is the perfect wrap, especially when you want coverage in overly air-conditioned environments such as dining areas.
Naturally you’ll be taking photos to document your trip, so why not pack something that keeps you cool, dry and comfortable, yet also allows you to look your best, whatever the weather? We love the Black & Peacock RainCaper – show your true colors and watch the Northern Lights in style – the Peacock side makes it easy to strut your stuff; reverse to Black for a touch of elegance when you grace the Captain’s table… all eyes will be on you! Enjoy!
]]>So many cruises depart from Florida or are in the Caribbean, which often results in a constantly changing climate – it may be hot and humid outside, cool or even cold in establishments that crank up the air conditioning inside; there may be windy conditions or passing showers, so some type of lightweight rain jacket or packable raincoat is a good idea, even if you were not really planning on packing a coat or jacket.
Layering is essential – it makes it easy to adapt to changing weather conditions when you can add or remove a layer of clothing. Think basic tanks and tees, a few dressy tops and a shrug, sweater or wrap of some kind - that's the sort of cruise wear you'll wear day and night. You’ll also want something with long sleeves to protect against too much sun, pesky insects or cool weather. Long pants, shorts, a nice skirt, swimsuit, sleepwear and a robe are all basics you’ll need regardless of the cruise destination. Because many cruise lines have a dress code for dining, be sure to pack something that will pass as formal – a simple black dress can be accessorized multiple ways; the same goes for a nicely tailored pant suit. Most cruise lines offer a valet service so it’s an opportunity to pack dressy garments – leave the ironing to the pros and enjoy your time at sea.
Accessories make the difference – it’s easy to change the look of an outfit with a colorful scarf, a gorgeous necklace, an artfully draped sarong or a stylish shrug, plus you may find you buy clothing as souvenirs in your travels – it’s always fun to sport new jewelry or a hand painted scarf created by a local.
Versatility is key – multi-purpose garments that can be worn different ways make it easy to pack light and leave room in your suitcase for treasures you’ll pick up in your travels. We like a reversible travel cape because packing a jacket, a windbreaker and a rain coat takes up too much space plus a reversible garment offers multiple looks.
A RainCaper travel cape is one option – it’s windproof so you don’t need a windbreaker, plus it’s rainproof and hooded, so you don’t need a raincoat, and it’s reversible – with a solid side and a print side, you’ve got it covered coming and going. Wear it as a fancy cape for dinner, as a cover-up on the way to the gym or the pool, for protection from sun, as a windbreaker and for privacy when you sleep on the plane.
A RainCaper travel cape is cute but it’s also practical because it covers up your cell phone and purse so you can travel with confidence and look good. We’re feeling nautical and loving hues of blue and white…check out the
Garfield RainCaper
(it reverses to Navy) and the gorgeous China Blue RainCaper (also reverses to Navy) or keep it neutral with a Black & Sky Blue RainCaper – it’s all good!
Enjoy masterpiece style in the tranquil van Gogh Almond Blossoms RainCaper.
]]>Start by packing the basics – toiletries, nightwear, socks & undies – you know the drill. When it comes to clothing, think layers and accessories – by choosing solid colors for tops and bottoms, you can use colorful accessories to dress up your outfit without taking up a lot of packing space. Items such as a basic white tank or black tee, a sweater, black pants, leggings or a skirt and black shoes transition effortlessly from day to night with the right accessories. Since weekend travel time is limited, skip anything that needs to be ironed and go with lightweight, packable clothing that will shake out and look good the minute you unpack. Thank goodness for yoga pants!
An oversize scarf can serve as a sarong if you’re heading to the beach or the pool; wear it as a scarf when shopping, then turn it into a shrug or shawl for cocktails. Depending on the size of your scarf, you might even be able to ditch the pants and wear it as a skirt (or wear it over those yoga pants to cover your bum). Accessories such as statement sunglasses, great necklaces, cute earrings, barrettes and hair clips, a colorful belt and a stylish handbag make any outfit look divine. Animal prints are the new neutral – they pair with everything from jeans to a designer gown. A cute pair of leopard print flats is a great way to accessorize your weekend ensemble and add a touch of sophisticated style. Look for other versatile garments that can be worn multiple ways – a reversible travel cape is one example.
Packing a jacket, a windbreaker and a rain coat takes up too much space; with a sweater and a hooded travel cape you can enjoy multiple looks in any weather without excess baggage.
Check out a RainCaper Black & Leopard travel cape – it’s windproof and rainproof plus it has a hood and a handy travel bag to put it in (you can use the travel bag as a clutch too). One side is a gorgeous leopard print that’s perfect for prowling every city street and back alley by day or night and totally adorable to wear for a wild night on the town. Turn it around by reversing to Black for a chic and classic look that goes from church to brunch to a walk through the park or a river cruise. A travel cape is perfect for dressing up any outfit plus it offers plenty of coverage to protect your designer bag, cell phone and travel essentials.
Travel undercover – grab some oversize sunglasses and your travel cape – put the hood up to avoid the paparazzi, beat a bad hair day or camouflage the evidence from a night of partying. It’s great to wear on the plane because you can create your own private space and dodge the cold air vents, and a breeze to slip on and off as you go through airport security. Now the only question is, where are you going this weekend?]]>RainCaper is a truly waterproof, reversible, fashionable rain poncho that can be worn rain or shine, all year long. Rain rolls right off! The soft, supple luxurious fabric is just right for chilly days or evenings and keeps you dry in a surprise shower, or in a downpour. Keep one in the car and one in your bag. We even include a matching zippered pouch with snap-on strap to easily attach your RainCaper to your tote or rolling bag.
Gazebo Green is a mother-daughter company dedicated to bringing fun, fashionable and functional items into your lives. We opened our retail store in 1992 and enjoyed serving many thousands of customers for 24 years. It was a wonderful and rewarding time and we treasure the customers who became not only friends, but extensions of our family.
In order to spend more time with our children and grandchildren, we migrated from our bricks & mortar store to online selling and gave birth to Gazebo Green. We design and manufacture not only RainCapers, but also a full line of treats and necessities for babies, toddlers, lil kids and moms. We even have gifts for the men in your life: wood watches, grill tools, bow ties and on-trend skinny ties.
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