Welcome to yet another super rainy winter, Seattle-ites. As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I have over 20 years of experience getting dressed in the rainy city. A very high percentage of my personal styling clients are recent additions to the Pacific Northwest and although they are enthusiastic about the city, they tend to me flummoxed by the thought of getting dressed in anything but a North Face parka. That’s what I’m here for.

With another Atmospheric River upon us, it’s time for more guidance on dressing for the weather without sacrificing style. After all, fashion should be functional. Otherwise, those pretty things will hang in the closet while the sweats or jeans come out yet again. Fear not, Dear Reader, I’ve got you covered.

10 Surprising Ways to Look Great in the Rain

Yes! The first 3 minutes of your entrance into the office, coffee shop, hot date, etc. illustrates what the weather is outside. After all, you’ve got to remove your coat. But after that, there’s no need to be bundled up in rain gear to enjoy the day. There are some tried and true strategies that will serve you now and into the future. Let’s dive in!

Opt for Ankle Pants.

Let’s start by talking about the length of your pants. If you are wearing full length pants in a downpour, you can expect that the bottom portion of your pants to get wet and stay that way the rest of the day. Ankle length pants mean that the bottom portion of your pants will stay dry regardless of the precipitation levels. Worried about your feet or ankles getting cold? Don’t. Pair your ankle length pants with boots to keep them nice and dry.

Don’t have a hood? Try your Favorite Rain Hat.

How many times have you discovered the ideal jacket and then realized that it doesn’t have a hood so you’ll need to pass? A hood is not a must have, which is great because they aren’t as common as we’d like. The right rain hat can solve your problem. Really. Opt for something waterproof with a brim wide enough to keep the rain off of you and your face. My favorite is packable. In the sunnier months, I keep a roll up sun hat in my handbag and in the rainy seasons, I carry my trusty rain hat on the regular.

When you have a hood, it’s okay to use it.

It’s true. The culture of the city has changed over the past several years as more and more people move her from other places. I love all the new folks and spend more time than I should admit celebrating the various out of state license plates that are a truly unprecedented levels. Historically, one recognizable aspect of Seattle culture was the lack of umbrellas. Really, no one used them. Personally, I made sure to have a fleece hooded jacket under my vegan leather trench for years and it was plenty. And while the overall annual rainfall has not increased, the severity of the weather has. So, here’s a special shout out to our transplants who have introduced the umbrella to our Seattle Fashion Scene. Great work.

But on the days when you aren’t in a downpour, it’s just fine to stick with your hood and call it a day. A stylish option with a great hood or layering a hooded piece underneath is a solid choice for many days.

Try a Dress with Tall Boots.

I know. When it’s awful outside, wearing a dress can seem like a daunting task. But, it’s really about which dress you choose. Try something that is as short or shorter than your coat. Then pair it with knee high, thigh high or even calf high boots, depending on the dress and coat you’ve chosen. If you’re worried that your legs will get cold, fleece lined tights are a magical invention and in this scenario, no one will see them anyway.

Believe it! A Vegan Leather Jacket Can be your rain coat.

I’ve been down this road for several years and it’s one of my very favorite style hacks. Vegan leather sounds good, but really, many versions are just plastic. And what keeps something dry? Plastic. It’s true, when pleather first came on the scene, it looked cheap and obvious. But, so many vegan leather options can look and feel like real leather. If you’d prefer something sustainable, vegan or faux leather made from Tencel is a stellar alternative. Tencel, an elastane alternative, is biodegradable which gives it a significant advantage over plastic. Some clients prefer vegan leather because it doesn’t harm any animals while others like it because the price point is so much lower than authentic leather. Personally, I use both for various situations. Fun Fact: I also picked up a cactus leather jacket and have been experimenting with that in the rain. It’s a stiff fabric and has yet to loosen up. It is, however, ethically sourced, sustainable and animal cruelty free.

Whenever the weather is unpredictable or I’m hanging out with little kids so that I might get something dirty, I opt for vegan leather. When I want something more luxurious or I just happen to have something in leather that is ideal for the outfit, I go for that. My two vegan leather rain jackets both look and feel high quality. The black one has been part of my collection for OVER 5 YEARS and it still looks brand new and garners lots of compliments. My hot pink choice has been in the mix for about a year and it, too, is the driver for lots of compliments. Depending on your authentic personal style and your body type, there are endless choices. My favorites are a moto jacket and a trench coat. Feel free to style with your rain hat, an umbrella or layer a hooded option underneath.

Speaking of Vegan Leather, The Ideal Rain Pants are Made of it, too.

If you find yourself frustrated because your top half is bone dry while your bottom half is decidedly not, vegan leather pants are the ideal solution. Again, quality vegan leather is easy to find now and in current styles. An ankle length pair of wide leg pants is the ideal silhouette for nearly every body type and is a solid first pair. Otherwise, opt for a pair of pants that flatters your frame, aligns with your authentic personal style and is timeless enough to be worn repeatedly for multiple winters. If your weight fluctuates, consider a pair with an adjustable or elastic waist for maximum flexibility. For most folks, I recommend pairing leather or vegan leather with something that is or feels like a natural fabric. Think cotton, cashmere, linen or denim. This elevates your entire look and makes the vegan leather feel more luxurious. If leather or vegan leather is as comfortable to you as a pair of jeans (and one of your style words is “edgy”), you may find that leather on leather or vegan leather on vegan leather, isn’t too much.

Don’t sacrifice style for function. Choose an expressive rain coat.

We are nearing the shortest day of the year and that is especially apparent in the Pacific Northwest when many people go to work and end the day in darkness. This doesn’t need to be a direct line to Seasonal Affective Disorder or to a fashion slump. It also means this is an important time to ensure that drivers can see you walking at any time of day. Go with a raincoat that is aligned with your authentic personal style and brings you joy. Ideally, you’ll have one that isn’t black or dark grey. Perhaps this is in addition to your other raincoat, which is black. I see you;)

Choose the Right Umbrella.

You may find that an umbrella is the ideal choice for you and that’s very exciting news. After all, there are a host of delightful umbrella options out there. Go with something that coordinates with your rain coat and/or your wardrobe. As a personal stylist for women, I recommend choosing one seasonal color palette and sticking with it for your entire wardrobe. This means that everything will coordinate with everything else. In this case, that means that even if you opt for a mustard yellow umbrella, it will work effortlessly with your outfit every day. Also, this isn’t a style tip as much as one about being a good human. If you’ll be spending time on busy city sidewalks, select an umbrella that shares that space with others. Translation: Giant golf umbrellas are great in the suburbs for your walk, but they aren’t awesome in shared spaces. My favorite was a gift from my mother-in-law and is slightly off center to keep you drier. Genius.

Make sure you have a classic, hooded raincoat for dressy ocassions

If your vegan leather jacket works for this purpose, you may be able to skip this one. But, if not, be sure you have something that is decidedly not outdoorsy to wear over your cocktail dress or for your job interview. This one may only come out a few times a year, or less. So, stick with something that feels timeless, or less trendy, and still aligns with your authentic personal style.

Finish it all off with Hip shoes that will keep your feet dry

Whether you need waterproof or just water resistant boots will be determined by how much you are in the elements. If you walk to your car in a parking garage then drive home to another garage, waterproof everyday boots might be overkill. But, if you ride public transportation, head outdoors from meeting to meeting or just like to have maximum flexibility and not think about which shoes you are wearing each day, waterproof might be just right for you. You might also take a cue from the outdoorsy folks among us and pick up a pair of electric boot warmers. They’ll heat and dry your shoes or boots from the inside, making them inviting to wear more than one day in a row.

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

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