Okay so last week I was running between meetings in Shoreditch wearing what I thought was the perfect transitional weather look – vintage Levi’s, my favorite suede Chelsea boots, and this cropped blazer I’d been dying to style. The weather app said “light showers” which in my naive Texas brain translated to “maybe a sprinkle.” Cut to me standing outside a coffee shop looking like a drowned rat, my boots completely ruined and my hair doing that thing where it’s both flat and frizzy at the same time. A girl walked past me in these gorgeous patent boots and a leather trench, completely unbothered by what was apparently now a proper downpour, and I had this moment of clarity: I’ve been living in London for two years and still dressing like I’m in Austin.
That was my wake-up call to actually figure out how to look good in British weather instead of just hoping it would magically get better. And honestly? It’s been one of the most useful content experiments I’ve done. My “rainy day outfit” videos consistently get way more engagement than my regular styling content, probably because everyone here is dealing with the same soggy reality.
The first thing I had to accept is that you actually need proper waterproof outerwear, not just something that looks water-resistant. I spent months trying to make cute lightweight jackets work before finally investing in a real rain coat. After trying on what felt like every option in London, I ended up with this oversized RAINS jacket in forest green that somehow manages to look intentional rather than like I gave up on fashion entirely. It was £120 which felt like a lot when I was used to buying jackets from Urban Outfitters, but honestly it’s been worth every penny. The hood actually stays up when it’s windy and I don’t look like I’m wearing a trash bag, which feels like a win.
The other game-changing discovery was leather outerwear for rain. I know it sounds counterintuitive but water literally just rolls right off. I found this amazing vintage leather trench at Brick Lane Market for £85 – the guy selling it said it was from the 80s and had definitely seen some things. It’s become my secret weapon for days when I need to look put-together but the weather is being absolutely chaotic. There’s something about wearing leather in the rain that feels very main character energy, like you planned it this way.
Footwear is honestly where most rainy day outfits completely fall apart. I learned this the hard way after destroying multiple pairs of suede boots in my first London autumn. The boutique where I work started carrying this protective spray called Liquiproof and it’s genuinely changed my life. I spray literally everything now – canvas trainers, leather boots, even fabric shoes. It creates this invisible barrier that actually works without changing how anything looks. I’m probably single-handedly keeping that company in business at this point.
But for proper biblical rain situations, you need actual waterproof shoes. The good news is that rain boots have gotten so much cooler in the past few years. I’ve got these Ganni Chelsea-style ones in patent burgundy that work with literally everything in my wardrobe. They’re ankle height so they don’t scream “I’M WEARING WELLIES” and somehow look intentional with everything from mini skirts to wide-leg trousers. Worth every penny of the £180 I spent on them, especially considering how often I wear them.
The most surprising addition to my waterproof shoe collection? Birkenstock makes these fully rubber versions of their classic styles that look exactly like regular Birks but are completely waterproof. I have the Boston clogs in black and they’re perfect for summer rain when boots feel too heavy. Are they the sexiest shoes I own? Definitely not. But they let me walk through puddles without caring and that feels pretty powerful honestly.
For the actual outfit under all this weatherproofing, I’ve learned that fabric choice makes a huge difference. Cotton gets wet and stays wet forever, which is miserable when you’re trying to look cute. Instead, I go for anything with coating or technical fabrics that dry quickly. I have these coated black jeans from & Other Stories that look completely normal but water just beads right off them. They were £65 which felt expensive at the time but they’ve become my most-worn pants.
The other revelation has been midi and maxi skirts for rainy weather. I know it sounds wrong but they actually work better than trousers because they don’t cling to your legs when they get damp, and they dry way faster. I’ve got this pleated midi from COS in navy that’s become my go-to for days when I need to look professional but the weather is doing its chaotic British thing. With thick tights and waterproof boots it somehow works for everything from content creation meetings to dinner dates.
Layering is obviously crucial but the type of layers matters so much. I used to just throw on whatever jumper was closest but merino wool has become my obsession. It stays warm even when it gets slightly damp and doesn’t get that gross soggy feeling that cotton does. Uniqlo does these amazing fine-knit merino sweaters for like £30 that have honestly transformed my rainy day wardrobe. I layer them over heat-tech vests in winter or just cotton tees when it’s warmer.
The other layering essential is a good overshirt in wool or one of those technical fabrics that somehow looks normal but has magical quick-dry properties. Arket and COS both do great ones that work as light jackets when you’re outside and look totally normal when you peel off the waterproof layer inside. It’s all about having options without looking like you’re wearing your entire wardrobe at once.
Can we talk about bags for a second? Because I’ve definitely learned this lesson the hard way. I used to carry my nice leather bags everywhere until one too many unexpected downpours left them with those horrible water stains that never quite fade. Now I either go full waterproof with something like a Longchamp Le Pliage or I use these plastic bag covers that look ridiculous but save my expensive bags from British weather chaos. Sometimes practicality has to win over aesthetics.
My current foolproof rainy day formula that works for basically any situation is coated black jeans, those burgundy Ganni boots, a bright colored merino sweater (because if the sky’s going to be grey I refuse to add to it), and my green RAINS coat. If I need to look more dressed up, I swap the jeans for that navy pleated skirt with tights and switch to the leather trench. Both versions can handle anything from brand meetings to gallery openings without screaming “I DRESSED FOR THE APOCALYPSE.”
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The psychological element is huge too. There’s something about having one element of your outfit that feels purely joyful rather than just functional. On the greyest days I always add statement earrings or a bold lip color – Charlotte Tilbury’s matte lipsticks are literally waterproof and stay put through anything London weather throws at them. It’s about refusing to let the weather dictate your entire mood and aesthetic.
I ran into this fashion editor outside Selfridges yesterday right before another surprise downpour. She was wearing these incredible black rubber boots, a sleek navy coat, and the most perfect red lip. The whole look was so intentional and chic that I didn’t even realize it was rain gear until the heavens opened and she just continued walking like nothing happened while everyone else scrambled for cover. That’s the energy I’m trying to capture – making weather-appropriate choices look like conscious style decisions rather than desperate measures.
The real secret to British weather dressing isn’t fighting it or pretending it doesn’t exist. It’s accepting that it’s going to rain approximately 70% of the time you leave the house and planning accordingly. Once I stopped trying to dress for the weather I wished we had and started dressing for the weather we actually get, everything became so much easier. Plus my content performs better when I’m actually giving people advice they can use in real life rather than just showing off clothes that only work in perfect conditions.
After two years of trial and error and a lot of ruined shoes, I’ve finally cracked the code of looking intentional in British weather. The weather isn’t changing anytime soon so we might as well figure out how to look good while we’re getting soaked.
