Although dressing for warmer weather is like second nature for many Australians, considering what to wear on a rainy day can be far less straightforward. No matter the season, a rainy forecast can wreak wardrobe havoc if you're caught unprepared. Whether it's a streaked silk blouse or sodden suede boots at stake though, a few simple styling considerations can help combat everything from a shower to a thunderstorm.
Let's face it, dressing for a downpour shouldn't have to mean compromising on style. In fact, striking just the right balance when it comes to choosing clothing for a rainy day can be both simple and satisfying. Looking to a few key runway and celebrity moments, we’ve compiled some practical style ideas for a rainy day. The weather may be drab, but that doesn’t mean your outfit needs to be.
Work from the outside in
Although other moments might call for a focus on base before outerwear, dressing effectively for wet weather can work best in the reverse. When contemplating what to wear on a rainy day, it pays to favour oversized outerwear like anoraks or motorcycle styles. Victoria Beckham makes a case for borrowed-from-the-boys proportions for, so why not opt for sloping shoulders and elongated sleeves in order to evade the rain?
Fabrication and coverage are equally important here too. A leather jacket can help to deflect raindrops and ward off wind chill, for example, while belted trench coats make style ideas for a rainy day suddenly seem elegant. Here you can turn to brands like Burberry, which has trench dressing down to a fine art.
Breathability is your new best friend
One of the main reasons wet weather can be so difficult to dress for is because it tends to bring about unpredictable temperature ranges. When the rain is spotty, for instance, you might find yourself shivering one minute and sticky the next. So to combat this, try choosing clothing for a rainy day with breathability in mind.
Natural fibres like linen or cotton can be particularly effective here, so take a cue from Liam Hemsworth and consider teaming your jeans with cotton T-shirts or light linen button-downs for rainy day dressing.
Consider a darker colour palette
Mastering style ideas for a rainy day is all about forward planning. Let's be honest here, lighter fabrications are more likely to stain in the instance of rain. So while a beautiful white blouse might feel appealing, your dry cleaning bill will probably fare better if you choose darker tones instead. Black and dark navy are ideal for days out and about in wet weather because they allow you to actually feel as effortless as you look.
No one enjoys the feeling of dashing to their taxi only to have said vehicle splash them unceremoniously. This is a situation only compounded by lightly coloured clothing, so opting for a base of darker colours in the face of a downpour can help to guard against these potential day-spoilers. There’s no need to worry about coming across overly morose, either, because you can still inject colour into your look.
Inject colour through your accessories
Speaking of incorporating colour, accessories offer the perfect place to do just that. When considering fashion ideas for a rainy day, you can build upon your darker base with pops of colour like a piece of statement Kenzo jewellery, for example, taking inspiration from the bold drop earrings of the label’s SS16 collection. Wet weather tends to be grey, so why not brighten things up a little?
When it looks wet and miserable outside, it comes time to forget the so-called rules and embrace the opportunity to echo your handbag colour throughout your footwear. At this point, injecting some colour and levity into your look calls for breaking a few traditions, so colour coordination is a great place to start. Whether it's simply by choosing a red umbrella and the Dr. Martens shoes to match, incorporating a touch of colour into your clothing for a rainy day will instantly make things seem brighter.
Anchor your look with failsafe footwear
On the topic of footwear, this is perhaps one of the most important elements of your wet weather wardrobe. When working out what to wear on a rainy day, it makes the most sense to forgo sandals in favour of a pair of Chloé boots instead. Gumboots aren't necessarily the most urban choice of footwear, but swapping out your open-toe summer favourites for sturdy leather styles will ensure that you put your best foot forward in rainy weather scenarios. Think less Splendour in the Grass and more Miranda Kerr out and about in New York.
Alternatively, he who wishes to protect his suede shoes from water damage should consider turning to his trusty trainers. Not only will these help to guard against inconspicuous puddles, but they will also team well with your rotation of clothing for a rainy day like dark denim and cotton T-shirts. With a little clever preparation, then, rainy weather doesn’t have to seem so miserable, at least not stylistically speaking.