No need to be a drip, my dear, next time it rains. Toss one of the new sparkly raincoats over your shoulders and enjoy the bright smiles you'll inspire on an otherwise dreary day. Designers have created not only coats, but rain hats, umbrellas and galoshes in fetching colors; they've decorated them with glitter and with amusing designs in plastic paint.

Puddle-hopping may be more fun if a little girl is wearing a coat ornamented with poodles and inscribed "When it's raining cats or dogs, don't step in the poodles." For big girls, there's a pink coat with the notes of "Singin' in the Rain" across the lower front. "Snow and Ice" (not pictured) is the name of another. Dots of white paint represent snow; rhinestones, ice. There are even boots with matching rhinestones.

The fashions are modeled by:

Mary Cleary (Rescue 8), in a 'poodle' coat. By California Slikerette. $9.95.

Shelley Fabares (The Donna Reed Show) models 'Singin' in the Rain.' Rhinestones highlight design. By California Slikerette. $22.95.

Lydia Reed (Real McCoys) in model trimmed with handmade braid. By Irene Colle. Lined, $39.95.