Guide
What to wear in the rain
The short answer: on top, a trench coat or a synthetic or leather jacket, and a coat when it's cold; on your feet, boots or dark leather shoes. Wool, knits and fleece soak up water; sandals, flats, suede, canvas and light-coloured shoes suffer on a wet street. The temperature decides how many layers: in rain above 25 °C (77 °F) you need no outer layer, and below 8 °C (46 °F) you need a coat.
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Rainy-day outfits by temperature
| Feels like | Outer layer | Shoes |
|---|---|---|
| Below 8 °C (46 °F) | synthetic coat, leather coat | leather boots |
| 8–15 °C (46–59 °F) | trench coat, leather jacket, synthetic coat | leather boots, dark leather dress shoes, dark leather loafers |
| 15–20 °C (59–68 °F) | trench coat, synthetic jacket, leather jacket | leather boots, dark leather loafers, dark leather sneakers |
| 20–25 °C (68–77 °F) | trench coat, synthetic jacket | dark leather sneakers, dark leather loafers |
| 25 °C (77 °F) and above | Not needed | dark leather sneakers |
What to wear in the rain, and what to skip
Outer layers that work
trench coat, synthetic jacket, synthetic coat, leather jacket
A trench coat, or any synthetic or leather outer surface, keeps the water out.
Outer layers to skip
wool coat, knit cardigan, fleece jacket, blazer
Wool, knits and fleece soak up water; a blazer doesn't keep the rain out.
Shoes that work
leather boots, dark leather dress shoes, dark leather loafers, dark leather sneakers
Boots, or dark leather. The main colour is what counts: a white sole on a black shoe is fine.
Shoes to skip
sandals, flats, suede sneakers, canvas sneakers, light leather sneakers
Sandals and flats let water in, suede and canvas stain, and light colours get dirty fast.
When should you dress for rain?
Count the day as rainy if the forecast says rain, drizzle, storms or snow, or the chance of rain is 50% or more. Glassrobe's morning outfit uses the same threshold.
In warm rain
Above 25 °C (77 °F) feels-like you don't need an outer layer even if it rains; a T-shirt, shorts or a skirt will do. Leave the sandals at home on a wet street, though, and wear closed, dark shoes.
In cold rain and snow
Below 8 °C (46 °F) a trench coat on its own is too thin; wear a synthetic or leather coat. In snow, warmth comes before waterproofing: a thick coat and boots.
If it's windy too
When the wind passes 30 km/h (about 19 mph), jackets, coats and trench coats come first. On a windy 15–20 °C (59–68 °F) day, take an outer layer even without rain.
Rain on an office day
A synthetic jacket or a trench coat over office clothes doesn't spoil the look; here the outer layer is about keeping dry. Dark leather dress shoes or loafers suit both the rain and the office, and sandals don't belong at the office anyway.
Doing this with your own wardrobe
Glassrobe's morning outfit checks the day's forecast for your approximate location. On a rainy day it drops sandals, puts boots and dark leather shoes first, and picks the outer layer from the ones that keep the rain out. On the Free plan the rules choose; on Plus the AI picks from that shortlist and writes why.
Frequently asked questions
What shoes should I wear in the rain?
Boots or dark leather shoes: dress shoes, loafers or leather sneakers. Sandals, flats, suede and canvas shoes suffer on a wet street.
Can I wear white shoes in the rain?
You can, but they get dirty fast; white, cream, beige and light grey shoes aren't a good choice in the rain. The main colour is what counts: a white sole on a black shoe is fine.
Trench coat or coat in the rain?
Between 8–25 °C (46–77 °F) a trench coat is enough. Below 8 °C (46 °F) it's too thin, so wear a synthetic or leather coat. Above 25 °C (77 °F) you don't need an outer layer.
Can I wear suede shoes in the rain?
It's not a good idea: suede soaks up water and stains. Keep suede for dry days and wear boots or dark leather shoes in the rain.
The pictures on this page were generated with AI; the people in them are not real.