Rain weather wardrobe

CEBU, Philippines - As much as many people would love to continue basking in the sun, the coming of the rainy days is just inevitable. In fact, it has already arrived... finally! And this is good news for those who have long complained of the El Niño.

That fresh earthy smell they call "petrichor" after yesterday's downpour probably elicited a sigh of relief, especially among the farmers and crop growers in the region. But for the disciples of the fashion and apparel trade, the rainy weather can be such an annoyance. This is particularly so in this tropical country where the sense of style is almost always tailored to the dry season than the wet. Not to mention the street floods occurring all over the city that could be very festering for one's fashion.

In the western part of the world, women put on their usual sweeping trench coats, fringed scarves, draped shawls and wraps to warm themselves from the heavy showers outside. But this fashion style seems to be inappropriate here in the Philippines. For some, the wet weather wardrobes and trends in the country are far from being fabulous and fashionable, citing that the options at clothing stores are way too limited. And so, most people are left with no choice but to sport those dull raincoats and old boots.

Luckily this time, many fashion experts serve up some fashionably serious rainy day attires - the ones which are not only stylish, but functional as well. The little cloudburst the city is now beginning to experience reminds of the importance of having a rain-ready wardrobe. Sure, there are a lot of ways and means to bundle up for the wet weather without looking like a fashion victim.

The www.femalenetwork.com website offers some few tips on how to prep up the closet for these cloudier days.

The rain need not dampen the modish spirits! The constant drizzle shouldn't be an obstacle to one's creativity and style - in fact, it should boost it!  

Entrenched. Those full-length trench coats would seem over-the-top in the Philippines. And certainly, the popular cropped versions are very doable, putting them on as rather glamorous raincoats that are strong enough to fight off rain.

Scarf It! Rainy days aren't always of the violent variety - sometimes it's just a bit of drizzle that gets one in the mood for wet weather wear. When that happens, just toss a scarf over your outfit - as a garment, it's simple, stylish, and sensible enough that you won't be ridiculed for overdressing. Look how cute this red fringed number looks over a peasant blouse and good jeans - would you remember the outfit without it?

Biker Chic. Take note, a leather jacket will only work appropriate when the monsoon rain is pouring heavily outside, so better use it sensibly. The trick is to accessorize the outfit properly, so that it doesn't look like one has just thrown a leather jacket over any old ensemble.

That's a Wrap! A wrap cover-up is another go-to apparel during the cold days. This piece has the arms and back of a regular sweater, but its front hem or collar are usually elongated so that they wrap around the body, providing extra warmth and coverage.

Boy Wonder. Here, a peacoat with boyfriend blazer dimensions is buttoned over a plaid shirt with just a peak of a red sweater. Cuffed denims complete this boyish ensemble, giving off a great devil-may-care vibe that will work perfectly with the sloshing weather. This girl-meets-boy look is sometimes tricky - too much looseness in either the top or bottom will make one look sloppy, and a "boyfriend" piece on the wrong body type can create bulk.

Black is Blue. Or, try putting on a weather-appropriate dark dress. The dark blue shift under a black biker jacket just mirrors the cloudy climes, with a little skin factor and color combination that's in-tune with the season.

Skirting the Issue. One can actually wear a skirt in rainy weather! Pulling off the leggy look is but a breeze, as long as you bundle up on top. A similar jacket to the previous leather one is used in this example, thrown over a khaki pencil skirt, creating a cool jetsetter-stylish.

Suit Up! Invest in a good blazer for covering up. Rather than being stuffy, a well-tailored suit jacket is structured just enough to sharpen the look of slouchy casuals. Layering is a game changer during the cold and wet weather. It is just important not to overdo it. Assessing and knowing how to layer sensibly will determine whether or not the outfit is weather-appropriate.  (FREEMAN)