Suede-Free Outfits for Grey & Rainy Days
Drowned rat chic
We’ve entered the time of year when you open your weather app and are greeted by a row of rain cloud emojis…
It’s not particularly hot, nor cold, just mid and the ‘WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO WEAR IN THIS?’ conundrum once again bubbles to the surface. So I had a little try-on in my wardrobe to come up with some ideas to answer that question. Just a few notes before we get stuck in:
I am thinking more like ‘popping out in the rain’ here. The short walk from your car to the office. Wandering from your home to the train station or darting between seeing friends. A short 20-minute burst. Anything more than that - think dog-walking territory - I’d be wearing my wellington boots and a head-to-toe raincoat. Sometimes, you’ve just got to be practical.
All of these outfits are (sadly!) suede-free for obvious reasons. If rain is looking likely then suede is best left at home.
Leather loafers make for a great light rain shoe. Unless you’re doing your best ‘Singing In The Rain’ impression then they stay pretty dry and are a good option for autumnal rainy days when it’s not too cold.
You’ll need an umbrella with all of these outfits. On rainy days, I always slip a small one into my bag.
My final caveat is that I try to avoid trousers that skim the floor, so that rules out all my wide-leg trousers. Instead, I stick to cuts that fit closer to the leg and don’t drag as to avoid them turning into rain hoovers.
A (FUNKY?) LEATHER JACKET. In lieu of a classic raincoat, a leather jacket makes a great practically water-repellant option. And the longer and/or more oversized, the better and the drier you’ll be. Because leather adds a harder edge to an outfit, I like pairing it with a softer, more classic base like jeans and a t-shirt (if you need a work look, black cigarette trousers or a cropped kick-flare will look great here). Because my leather jacket is snake print, it adds a lightness to the outfit, so I’ve grounded it with black accessories.
A BIG OVERSIZED JUMPER. So my thinking here was to put the real bones of your outfit underneath the big ol’ jumper. I thought this could be a good one for days when you don’t want the extra bulk of carrying a coat around but still need some added warmth. Instead, throw on a massive jumper and just peel it off to reveal your outfit once you reach your destination (where you can then just pop it over your shoulders). I actually love the silhouette of a chunky knit with a slimmer fit pair of jeans and a western boot. Give it some ‘Big, Slim, Skin’ by rolling up the sleeves.
SHORTS & A TRENCH? HEAR ME OUT. This is a combination that I never thought to put together, but I love the contrast of a trench with a bit of bare leg. Of course, this is an outfit formula for a day that’s skewing a little warmer, but for the shoulder season, I’m trying to embrace being able to add that twist by continuing to sprinkle in summer items. This is also a way to combine textures - without the inclusion of suede - instead, I’ve picked a soft knit to go with the silk shorts, leather accessories and the heft of the trench.
YOUR BARN JACKET MOMENT. Barn jackets are everywhere right now, and even though I don’t own one, I do have this vintage jacket, which feels like it fulfils a similar purpose. So if you’ve got a jacket that’s a similar length, nice and roomy and not too heavy, then a rainy day is a good excuse to dust it off. This formula feels very classic, and at its core, it is just jeans and a t-shirt with a sprinkle on top, thanks to a contrasting shoe and the green leather bag. Sometimes, you don’t need to overthink it. Throw an umbrella over this, and you’ll stay relatively dry.
OK, OK A RAINCOAT. I bought this GANNI raincoat back in 2019 and it’s one of those things that felt MAD pricey at the time, but whenever it’s pouring down, out it comes. Hey - I live in the U.K (!!!) - it gets bought out A LOT. Sometimes it’s worth the splurge for a practical piece that you actually want to wear. Sadly they no longer make it and it’s tricky to dupe, but I’d recommend checking out Rains* for rainwear that’s pretty darn chic, or just keeping an eye out on places like The Outnet* and pouncing when you find one you like. It doesn’t feel like a purchase you’ll regret. It’s easily my most commented on item of clothing! Because the print is pretty out there I like to wear it with my comfort uniform underneath.
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Does anyone else get super sweaty in raincoats, though??
Your raincoat is SO perfect and so perfectly you. 2 more things I like 1) when you get inside if you wore flats, stuff them with paper towels/tissue to keep their shape and 2) I look out for cute nylon jackets too -- not like a raincoat but solid as a layer or in a pinch! XO!