Saying goodbye to summer also means the first hello to a few months of drizzle and rain. But this doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice a colorful fashion sense heightened by beach colors for the past two months in place of water-resistant attire consisting of drab rubber boots or plasticky rain-gear. Here are a couple of rainy-day necessities that can add to or accessorize your post-summer couture.

By Gel G. Galang

Rope bags

The first order of business when going out on a rainy day—especially for commuters—is choosing the right bag. It has to match your outfit, keep you in style, and protect your gadgets from the elements. With its limited number of bags per design system, sturdy rope handles, and a choice between a 16” x 11” or a 12” x 13” dimension, these rope bags sold at tampipiatbp.multiply.com make for the best travel companion. What makes it extra special is the unique tarpaulin lining—perfect protection from wind or high water.

Our pick: Twister-inspired bag with white background (P 750)—the colors will make you stand out in the middle of the crowd.

Water-resistant (but still fashionable) shoes

While Mario Batali is most known for using his signature orange pair in the kitchen, Crocs is also your best bet in trudging the puddles to spare that favorite pair of leather boots. Now that Crocs has more stylish designs to its once all-clogs collection, you can now find a pair for your everyday need. Sporting a hippie look? Try the patterned white-and-mango Capri Canvas. Need a more elegant, smart casual look that can brave the rains? There’s the beige Hanalei that looks good with advertising couture. No need to worry about getting soaked feet in the morning.

Our pick: Crocs Hanalei (P 3,300) for girls and Crocs Cove (P 3,650) for boys, both perfect for a smart casual day at the office

Trench coats

Having the tamad blues to dress up but unwilling to settle for the lumpy jacket-and-jeans combo? Try trench coats on for size. With our country’s weather going a little off-kilter, trench coats are now more suitable to the colder rainy days. Now you can wear anything underneath—just make sure it’s not frumpy or lumpy. Pair it with skinny jeans and boots or go with a knee-length skirt, and you’ll be on your way to a more chic Andie Sachs transformation.

Our pick: Bayo’s beige trench coat (P 1,195)—it’s classy and chic look will make you feel like you’re one of Miranda Priestly’s assistants.

Umbrellas

Umbrellas are a staple when the rains start pouring in. There are two ways to deal with this situation—find the most practical umbrella or the most fashionable one. Fibrella has a variety of foldables which are lightweight, making it easy to lug around for commuters. For the more fashion setters, my+brolly’s line of printed umbrellas are fun to flaunt even in the gray weather. The classic long handle is reminiscent of the delicate Japanese umbrellas.

Our pick: Fibrella lightweight foldables with protective UV lining (P 300++) or a my+brolly white umbrella with cupcake prints (P 999)

Jackets

Too bad that the FIFA World Cup is over and the Philippines still doesn’t have a representative team to play for it. With flag jackets and pro sports merchandise as the “it” thing, guys and girls would be jumping the rave-wagon to get their hands on the latest picks. While it’s not as hyped up as before, you can show your nationalism and be original—perhaps during another Pacquiao match in the coming months?—by flaunting jackets in our national flag’s colors. Who knows, maybe someday we’ll get to have a team for FIFA 2020.

Our pick: any of Adidas’ line of Philippine jackets—prices range from P 2000++ to P4000++, depending on your medium of purchase.

Flip flops

Who says flip flops are only in during summer? For an easy solution to mucky wet shoes, make sure that you have an emergency pair in your bag or car. This is where Banana Peel flip flops come in handy. Their signature square toe line comes at a very cheap price range of P 70 to P 150. Since they’re lightweight, commuters won’t have a problem carrying them around. When you get back on dry land, just grab a tissue to dry them off. The assortment of designs and styles is also a plus, especially for the pure-blood fashionista.

Our pick: Sleek chic pink flipflops (P 480) or for a cheaper choice, any of the Freshly Squeezed lineup from the Signature Square Toe collection (P 120).

Long sleeves

Long sleeves are now back in business after that three-month hiatus to give way to sundresses, halter tops, and racerbacks. Appealing to the more casual-corporate lookers (think advertising agencies, graphic designers, the works), long sleeves are just a canvas of possibilities for mix ‘n’ match. With the right accessories—chunky bangles on Monday, pendant necklace on Tuesday, gemstone-rings on Wednesday—you can repeat-wear these babies every other week. Fashion and budget saver in one.

Our pick: Kamiseta’s Reela (P 599), a ¾ scoopneck tee which comes in light gray, purple, and slate blue.

Overshoes

Ever looked outside your office window and know that you have to choose between going home late again or sacrificing your favorite pair to the rain? Tingley offers a solution—overshoes for your shoes. Made of 100% highly stretchable rubber that easily goes on and comes off your everyday flats, it also comes in four different styles that cater to men: Commuter, Trim, Storm, and Executive. These can are all suited to the different men’s shoes style available. Ladies are not left out—there’s the Ladies’ Weather Sandal that can be worn over classic flats.

Our pick: Tingley's Storm (P 1,550) comes in a classic leather shoe style with a tongue to cover men's dress shoes completely. This will surely provide the best protection against harsh weather.

Leggings

Bottoms are tricky when you’re dealing with a trickier weather. Jeans are your worst nightmare when they get soaked. Shorts cannot keep you warm when you’re stuck in a waiting shed. Skirts will give you headaches when you’re trying to catch that last bus ride in a downpour. Here’s where leggings will save the day. Warm enough to keep you cozy, made of light material that can easily be folded, and dark-tones are perfect dirt and mud camouflages.

Our pick: Zara’s leggings—they have a wide range of dark-toned leggings that will come in handy for the rainy day.

Dresses

Though summer dresses are already enjoying the sale racks nowadays, a few choice dresses that are perfect for pair-ups with trench coats or sleek jackets may be salvageable for the maxi-saver in you. A good tip—vibrantly colored dresses paired with toned-down coats will make for a good fashion statement in the office. It will also make you stand out and be an eye-catcher amidst the gray backdrop brought by the damp weather.

Our pick: The belted linen tunic from Promod has a breezy, hippie feel to it, but paired with a camison and the right bottoms, it will provide a good off-season outfit.

Boots

Gone are the days when you’re stuck with middle-schooler red-blue-or-black drab rubber boots. Now, colorful and patterned boots are dominating the scene for the young and the young-at-heart. Plueys is one such brand, which boasts of designs that range from Origami Me diva to playful Puppy Love and lovely Ooh La Lace to gorgeous Sublime. Find the style that suits you, or better yet, collect them all.

Our pick: Plueys’ SugarPlum wellington boots (P 2,399)—sport a playful but delicate look with this flower-printed, pinkish maroon pair.