The Mackintosh Movement

Hardly anyone in my home city seems to have a sensible raincoat.

In fact, having dashed from Tesco car park to the book shop it struck me how many people had no coat at all.

It is of course well into the month of June,  the summer season, but there has been a definite and regular pattern to the climate of each day and it should be taken for granted that it will rain at least once, in a sustained downpour or more likely a series of belting showers highlighting the inadequacies of old victorian urban drains and gullies and the fact that most modern city centre buildings afford no shelter whatsoever whereas with old architecture you could rely on some projecting eaves, a deep cill band or the fluorish of a canopy over the pavement.

Added to the need for upper body protection against the rain you would be expcting to see waterproof over-trousers and stout shoes or boots. Again, much of the population of the city lack such basic necessities to combat a new form of British Summer.

One sector of the shopping, working and just browsing number did appear to be very adequately and in most cases stylishly prepared- the over 60's. They are of the generation brought up on good old common sense and values. If it looks like it may rain, it probably will so take a coat or an umbrella. How often have you perceived that upon meeting a senior citizen for the first time they are staring at your shoes and making a judgement on your character, upbringing and manners by the very reflective qualities of buffed and polished shoe leather. I can appreciate the confusion produced in their mind by someone wearing a fluorescent pair of trainers, scruffy but top of the range and with a price tag which in old money would represent a weeks or more wages. Similarly, a well suited and booted individual intent on a con or criminal activity is already a welcome guest based on an unfortunate traditional stock judgement.

I was weather-specific attired for my venture across the city centre. Big winter coat and city shoes but thereby felt positively and inappropriately dressed. It was a cold day, windy and with no excuse on humidity or a sultry temperature to justify not being so dressed. The absence of a sensible raincoat did not seem to hasten anyone's stride to get out of the downpour or apparently dampen their humour or spirits. It was a though not having a raincoat was the norm and reinforced their status as young, carefree, happy go lucky and accepting of whatever circumstances they found themselves to be in. A sort of non-existent badge of honour.

The social divide in this country is, in my opinion, now becoming sharper and more polarised than ever before. The old perceived barriers in class, the glass ceilings of class are blurred and ill defined. There is some differentiation in terms of, for example, owner occupiers and renters although it is now documented that 1 in 6 of the UK population  live in private rented housing and likely to show a sustained increase in the coming years. There is media speculation with extreme and unrepresentative coverage in support of a news worthy under class and focussing on whether you purchase your electrical goods or just loot them,  congregate peacefully or riot.

I predict that in the not too distant future you will be defined and categorised on the basis of whether you have a sensible raincoat or you do not.

(Reproduced with better punctuation from 23.6.12)