10 Amazing Ways to Look Great in the Rain

YES! The first 3 minutes of entering an office, coffee shop, appointment, etc. says a lot about the weather outside. After all, you have to take off your jacket. But after that, there’s no need to put on rain gear to enjoy the day. There are some tried and true strategies that can serve you now and in the future. Let’s dive in!

Choose nine-minute pants.
Let’s start by talking about the length of your pants. If you’re wearing long pants in a downpour, the bottom of your pants may get wet and stay that way throughout the day. Ankle-length pants mean that the bottoms of your pants will stay dry regardless of precipitation. Worried about your feet or ankles getting cold? Nope. Pair ankle-length pants with boots to stay dry.

Don’t have a hood? Try your favorite rain hood.
How many times have you found the ideal jacket and then realized it doesn’t have a hood so you need to give up? Hoods aren’t mandatory, which is fine because they’re not as common as we’d like them to be. The right rain hood can solve your problem. Really. Choose something waterproof with a brim wide enough to keep the rain off you and your face. My favorite is the packable one. During the sunny months, I keep a rolled up visor in my handbag, and during the rainy season, I’ll always carry my trusty rain hat.

When you have a hood, use it and you’re good to go.
It’s true. The culture of the city has changed over the past few years as more and more people have moved here from other places. I love all the newcomers and have spent more time than I should admit celebrating the various out-of-state license plates, which is truly at an unprecedented level. Historically, one of the distinguishing features of Seattle culture has been the absence of umbrellas. Indeed, no one uses them. Personally, I’ve made sure to keep a wool hooded jacket under my vegan leather trench coat for years, and that’s enough. While annual rainfall totals have not increased, the severity of the weather has. So here’s a special thanks to our transplants who introduced umbrellas to our Seattle fashion scene. Well done.

But on days when it’s not pouring rain, that’s where wearing a hood ends. Stylish options with a quality hood or layering a hoodie underneath are solid options for many days.

Try a dress with thigh-high boots.
I know. Wearing a dress can seem like a daunting task when the weather outside sucks. However, it really depends on which dress you choose. Try something as short or shorter than your jacket. Then pair your dress and jacket with knee, thigh or even calf-high boots, depending on which dress and jacket you choose. If you are worried about your legs getting cold, then wool lined leggings are a fantastic invention, in which case no one will see them anyway.

Believe it! A vegan leather jacket can double as your raincoat.
I’ve been going down this road for years and it’s one of my favorite style tips. Vegan leather sounds great, but in reality, many versions are just plastic. What keeps things dry? Plastic. It’s true that when faux leather first appears, it looks cheap and obvious. However, many vegan leathers look and feel like real leather. If you prefer sustainable products, vegan or faux leather made from Tencel is a good choice. Tencel is an elastic fiber alternative that is biodegradable, which gives it a significant advantage over plastic. Some customers prefer vegan leather because it doesn’t harm any animals, while others prefer it because the price is much lower than real leather. Personally, I use both in every situation. Interesting Fact: I also bought a cactus leather jacket and tested it in the rain. It is a stiff fabric that has yet to loosen. However, it is ethically sourced, sustainable and animal cruelty free.

Whenever the weather is unpredictable or I’m hanging out with little kids to avoid getting things dirty, I go for vegan leather.
I choose it when I want something more luxurious or when I happen to have the right kind of leather for the outfit. Both of my vegan leather raincoats are very high quality in both look and feel.The black one has been part of my collection for over 5 years and it still looks brand new and gets lots of compliments.The bright pink color I chose has been in use for about a year and it too has earned many compliments.There are endless options depending on your true personal style and body type.My favorites are biker jackets and trench coats.Feel free to pair it with a rain hat, umbrella or layer a hoodie underneath.

Speaking of vegan leather, the ideal rain pants are also made of vegan leather.
If you find yourself frustrated by the fact that your upper half of your body is completely dry while your lower half is noticeably not, vegan leather pants are the ideal solution.Again, quality vegan leather is now easy to find and stylish.Ankle-length wide-leg pants are the ideal silhouette for almost any body type and a reliable first pair of pants.Otherwise, choose a pair of pants that flatter your figure, fit your true personal style, and are timeless enough to be worn again and again over many winters.If your weight fluctuates, consider a pair of pants with an adjustable or elasticized waist for maximum flexibility.For most people, I recommend pairing leather or vegan leather with a natural fabric or something that feels like a natural fabric. Consider cotton, cashmere, linen or denim. This enhances your overall look and makes vegan leather feel more luxurious. If leather or vegan leather is as comfortable to you as a pair of jeans (and part of your fashion vocabulary is “edgy”), you may find that leather-over-leather or vegan-leather-over-vegan-leather isn’t too much.

Don’t sacrifice style for function. Choose an expressive raincoat.
We’re approaching the shortest day of the year, which is especially noticeable in the Pacific Northwest, where many people go to work and end the day in the dark. This doesn’t have to be a direct result of seasonal affective disorder or a fashion slump. It also means it’s an important time to make sure drivers can see you walking at any time of day. Choose a raincoat that matches your true personal style and brings you joy. Ideally, what you have is not black or dark gray. Perhaps it complements your other black raincoat. I see you 😉

Choose the right umbrella.
You may find that an umbrella is ideal for you, which is very exciting news. After all, there are many delightful umbrellas to choose from. Choose an outfit that coordinates with your raincoat and/or closet. As a personal stylist for women, I recommend choosing a seasonal color palette and sticking with it throughout your closet. This means everything will coordinate with everything else. In this case, it means that even if you choose a mustard yellow umbrella, it will easily match your everyday outfits. Furthermore, this is less of a style tip and more of a tip about being a good person. If you’re spending time on a busy city sidewalk, choose an umbrella that shares that space with others. Translation: giant golf umbrellas are great for walks in the suburbs, but not so much in a shared space. My favorite is the one my mother-in-law gave me as a gift, which is slightly off-center and keeps you dry. Genius.

Make sure you have a classic hooded raincoat for formal occasions
If your vegan leather jacket is suitable for the purpose, you can probably skip this one. But if not, make sure you have something that is definitely not suitable for outdoor wear that you can wear over a cocktail dress or to a job interview. This one may only come up a couple times a year, or less. So stick to something that feels timeless or less trendy, but still fits your authentic personal style.

Finish off with hip-hop shoes that keep your feet dry
Whether you need waterproof boots or just waterproof boots will depend on the extent of your environment. If you are walking to your car in a parking lot and then driving to another garage, then waterproof everyday boots may be too much. However, if you take public transportation, go from meeting to meeting, or just want to have maximum flexibility without thinking about which pair of shoes you wear every day, then waterproof shoes may be right for you. You can also take a cue from the outdoorsy types among us and purchase a pair of electric boot warmers. They will heat and dry your shoes or boots from the inside, allowing you to wear them for more than a day straight.

Have any other ideas for looking and feeling your best in the rain? Share!