Update: Finally some rain! I wore the Velez smock and Fuera windproof trousers this afternoon. There was no wind, and it was very warm in the sun at Edale, but once on the top the Velez went on (the sun had disappered 15mins before, and as usual there was a strong wind coming across Kinder plateau). My baselayer was already damp with sweat, and I continued sweating as I continued along the fairly level path, even with the smock fully vented. I should mention that once warmed up I sweat profusely whether going up, level or downhill - my pulse rate is often 150+bpm when going down; I use as much energy 'putting the brakes on' as I do struggling uphill.
When the rain came it wasn't as heavy as the dark purple clouds promised, but steady rain all the same. When I got back to the pub, I unzipped the side zips and had a feel around the pump-liner (ooerr missus) and it was bone dry! The Fuera windtrousers had also let no water through!
OK, perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised, but after my previous experience, I had my doubts. Not anymore; and as a bonus, I found out why the Velez has the apparently pointless removeable hood - It's so I don't have to wash the entire jacket just beacause the rim of the hood has been rubbing against my greasy, sweaty forehead. Ingenious.
In answer to the last of Harry the Trolls complaints - "not very stylish" - it may be an age thing, but I honestly cannot tell one waterproof jacket from another until I can see the makers name badge, so I particularly wanted a smock, just to be different.
Finally, sorry Ecco, but I didn't want to try it in the shower - not a realistic test - no arms swinging or lifted, no wind blowing water into zips & crevices, and to be honest, I'd have just felt silly, and probably ended up falling over laughing.
Thanks everyone for your input.

Good news, Sean :)

Glad things have worked out.

I tried a velez on the other day and was very impressed. I thought it fitted well and was stylish. It also wasn't as heavy as I thought it'd be but it'd still be too warm for my use outside of october to April.

I also think that the Velez is stylish. I can't say the same for the looks of most of the jackets unfortunately, but P***** make great smocks.

I have added a Fuera Windsmock recently to my collection for use when running for strong wind and rain in winter when hypothermia is definitely an option even when moving at a moderate speed - I don't do 'fast'.
I've worn it twice and both times it has kept out the showers. The flattering thing is that I can get in a 'small' now and still fit a thick midlayer inside :)

Anyone seen the new Velez Adventures smock?

A thing of beauty with a normal fixed hood.

I think that's the one I tried on (fixed hood) - tres snowboard chic !

I was thinking of picking up a Velez, and I've seen the new one with a fixed hood. The detachable hood is quite convenient when not on the hill, but are there issues with the detachable-hood version which mean the fixed hood is definitely superior? As I understand it, the hood still rolls away.

I have the detachable rollaway hood on my Velez and a fixed rollaway hood on my Aspira smock. The Aspira is my out-and-out winter jacket (as featured in avatar) and for that the fixed hood is great, but in many ways I think the detachable hood is more versatile. It gives me the option not to have all that material rolled into a thick collar around my neck e.g. for cycling, and I find the hood design is just as protective as the fixed version.

The only minor drawback I've found is that the hood and the collar share the same poppers, so if you roll away the hood and want to fully popper down the collar then the hood will be unattached next time you unroll it. My solution is simply to use the central popper to fasten down the collar while leaving the left and right ones attached to the hood, so in practice it's not really a problem.

good news sean.
i've found the detachable hood not as hot as a fixed one as there is some ventilation coming through the join.
you can also detach it and use it as an atractive balaclava, especilaly with something of a contrasting colour.

Thanks for the fashion tip Parky - I'll try it tonight and try to take a pic of myself - I need a new avatar; I suspect my current picture 'in the buff' might might not be dignified enough for someone of my advancing years - I don't want to look ridiculous!

lol

JJ - agree with you re running in the Fuera Smock - much more comfortable than some running jackets I have, and more breathable as well, particularly compared to Windstopper ones.

It will be my winter jacket this year, though I am also going to try a Featherlite.