Recently while I was talking to a friend I pointed out that water had not stopped falling from the sky for the past three days.
Unfortunately, that's what you get in Baltimore: a lot of rain, often in a non-stop downpour. So how do you dress for rain?
Well, for one I'd recommend moving to your secondary set of clothes, the clothes you wear after you soil your favorite pieces, that second pair of jeans you wear if the first pair is dirty. You know what I mean.
That doesn't necessarily mean you should automatically put on your sh---y clothes when it starts to trickle, but in the spirit of self-preservation, wear the clothes you usually wouldn't wear or wouldn't mind getting wet.
I, for example, don't wear my favorite jeans in the rain because jeans tend to fade when they get wet.
Next, how do you protect yourself from the water? Well, you've got a lot of choices here. Anything from the classic trench coat or Mackintosh to the very American waterproof hiking jackets that most students, including myself, have donned, is fine.
I've seen a couple of guys throw on a trench coat and it's not a bad look; it's very grown up and sophisticated. It's just that it's a hard one to pull off at a young age.
What I have not seen a lot of are Macs. Both Macs and trenches are waterproof overcoats, cut above knee length. The trench is usually double-breasted and belted and is made of a fabric called gabardine. It was first created by British clothier Burberry for English army officers during World War I before it became fashionable for both men and women.
The Mackintosh (or Macintosh; the k is optional) also comes from across the pond, and is made from a vulcanized rubber material, again giving it waterproof ability.
The Mac is usually single-breasted and beltless. Which style you prefer is really up to your taste. In my opinion, both are solid choices for anyone looking to enter the professional or business world after graduation, or anyone currently in or going to England.
What I have grown especially attached to is my waterproof hiking jacket. A solid black zip-up with a visored hood, it keeps me dry on those days when it just looks absolutely miserable outside (see last week's forecast).
I've seen both sexes wear this; it's a very versatile jacket that can pretty much be worn on any occasion that doesn't require a tie. These types of jackets are meant to keep you cool and dry, which implies that they are very thin in their lining. For this reason, I wouldn't recommend wearing them when the temperature dips below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
At this point, it seems like you should break out the big old puffy skiing and boarding jackets (or coats) to keep you warm and dry. Let's not forget to layer either: A tee shirt under a ski jacket will do nothing for you.
Finally, something I've had my eye on for a while has been a waxed cotton jacket.
Originally designed by the old school British company Barbour, the waxed cotton jacket has been a staple for hunting men for years.
Recently, it's been recast into a modern design by almost everyone from H&M to J.Crew. Not only will this coat keep you dry but you'll look f---ing good too. Most waxed cotton coats come in an olive color and the outer lining (the waxed cotton) is hard and rough to the touch, but the beauty of the coat lies in the fact that it will conform to the shape of your body the more you wear it.
So whether you wear your trench, your hiking jacket or your badass waxed cotton coat, remember that fashion is one thing and staying warm and dry is another, but when the two meet in the middle, you've found that special jacket.
