R: Rain gear (noun)
June 7th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
Synonyms: second skins, Boston necessities, rubbery rain repellants
Definition:
I don’t know about you, darling readers, but when I think summer style, I think of airy sundresses, sweet little sandals, paper-thin t-shirts and rolled-up shorts that let the sunshine beat down on my perpetually pasty legs.
After living and working in New England for as many summers as I have, however, I’ve come to begrudgingly make room for another summer fashion staple: rain gear. Because for those of you that know, the weather patterns here are unpredictable at best and humid, stormy, and sweltering (all at once, sometimes) at worst.
My rain gear picks are slightly more practical (but no less chic!) than this.
So, what’s a stylesaurus to do? How do you look dashing and stay dry without breaking a sweat? Well, here’s a start.
Cute Wellies are KEY. There’s nothing worse (or grosser) than soggy leather flats or heels. Be practical and stylish with these adorable short lace-up booties from Hunter, the master of all things waterproof. Bonus: they won’t be as sweat-inducing as the classic, tall style, which I have (and love) in sunny yellow but refuse to wear past April.
Hunter original lace-up wellies, $125
More into jellies than wellies? A wise if not slightly squeaky choice for summer, these awesome rubber gladiator sandals by DVF let your cute new mint-green pedi peek through:
Diane von Furstenberg Jelly Gladiator sandals, $52.50
Footwear is half the battle, but you still need to shield that ruffly, chiffon little number from the elements. The classic, never-fail choice? A trench! …like you haven’t heard that before. But spring trenches may not cut it, especially if they’re lined or layered. Instead, pick up a super-lightweight option like this one from DKNY:
Light-weight topper trench from DKNY, $97.10
Or if your outfit underneath is just too good to hide, there’s always the see-through look, like this little trench from Topshop:
Clear Trench from Topshop, $110
Of course, you can’t forget your finishing touches – especially for those of you who have hair that does not get along with moisture. Some of my favorites? A waterproof fedora, a touch of summer color, and an off-the-runway umbrella.
Marimekko Silkkikuikka Yellow and Fuchsia Umbrella, $40
And voila – an outfit that can withstand even the torrential, tornado warning-worthy storms we’ve been getting.
What do you guys wear when it’s wet out? Any suggestions? Photos? Send them my way in the comments. Happy shopping!
