FOR TOO LONG, the yellow rain slicker has been neglected at the bottom of the steamer trunk of classic outdoor gear. A heritage style made of rubberized cloth and often worn for maritime work, the jacket has been passed over in fashion circles in favor of trenches and sportier Windbreakers. But the slicker is back, and in streamlined versions that can be worn as coolly in the city as at sea.
The origins of the slicker date to 19th-century Britain, when cloth coats were treated with oils like linseed to resist rain. Bob Melet,...