A Fashionable Guide to Rainy Days

BY DELANEY FLYNN '25

New England has many stereotypes, such as our bad drivers, Dunkin’ Donuts addictions, world renowned sports teams, and (most famously) our cold gloomy weather. Living in Massachusetts, you definitely understand the struggles of trying to choose a cute, stylish outfit for a cold, rainy day. From the heavy snow and slush of winter to the humidity and rain of spring, you’ll need a prepared closet, and an umbrella. 
While initially, you may think of thick oversized sweaters and soft sweatpants to keep you comfortable in the gloomy weather, some fabrics are not great for keeping you dry. The most essential part of curating a practical rainy day outfit is a protective outer layer. It is important to buy a good quality jacket made out of a water-proof material like vinyl, nylon, polyester, or rubber to keep you dry and insulated in the cold. Any neutral or light color jacket can elevate an outfit; it’s also easier to incorporate fun colors and patterns underneath, on something like a fun warm sweater or breathable long sleeve t-shirt. 
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Layering is another critical step for dressing for rain. While the sharp wind and low temperature can make you chilly, it’s easy to quickly overheat when the humidity begins to weigh down and thicken the air. Adding a long sleeve or short sleeve t-shirt under your warm outerwear can not only upgrade your outfit with different colors, patterns and cuts, but it also keeps you at a comfortable and easily alterable temperature. 

One of the worst parts of a rainy day is when you get inside a dry, warm building only to realize that your socks and shoes are fully soaked through! To prevent this, make sure to wear waterproof boots such as Hunter rain bo    ots, Timberlands, or any wellies you can find laying around. Make sure to steer clear of soft suede shoes like Uggs because they not only get wet, but water will destroy the fabric. 

If you have curly or porous hair, you may struggle with a rainy day also giving you a bad hair day. One simple way to prevent frizz and poof is slicking your hair back, or keeping your hair tied in braids. 

​While it is important to wear functional items to keep you dry, ; you don’t have to sacrifice your style in the process. It’s easy to incorporate your personality into a comfortable outfit during through fun patterns, colors, and staple pieces. You should always mix practicality and style together to create the perfect rainy day outfit!