As we head into the last few months of the year, we delightfully bid adieu to the ravaging and sweltering Singapore heat that left us with packets of used tissue and having to deal with how moody it made us. But with the rising temperatures gone, we now face a new problem: monsoon season. According to the National Environment Agency (NEA) as of the first week of October this year, Singaporeans will start to face light wind levels during the first half of the month, followed by the Inter-Monsoon season which begins in mid-October.
NEA’s website stated that when the Inter-Monsoon season approaches, “an increase in rainfall can be expected. Short-duration afternoon thundery showers due to strong solar heating of land areas are expected on most days, and could extend into the evening on a few days”, and that temperatures will range between between 24°C and 33°C almost everyday.
Of course, rainy days are like a blessing for most of us thanks to the coldness, but it can put a dampen (no pun intended) on days where you have to run about doing business. Fret not, as us here at Styleguide have some practical dressing tips for you to survive the wind and rain.
Source: Burberry Instagram
1. Raincoats
Umbrellas, the usual weapon of choice to shield yourself from the rain, can sometimes be troublesome to bring out of the house or office, especially if you’re commuting to many places that day. Travel umbrellas are compact and fit well in your bag, but adds extra weight that you’ll have to drag around. Enter raincoats, which are starting to become all the rage these days, and not just an ancient relic that was worn during our childhood days. Forget about cheap plastic raincoats or the ones that you can find in National Day Parade funpacks, as raincoats are also being seen on the clothing racks from a luxury brand like Burberry to a high-street one like Topshop. It’s very convenient to throw one on and simply take it off when the weather gets better, or rather keep it on and flaunt it as a statement piece instead. For an added touch, wrap a beautiful scarf around your head.
2. Keep your stuff dry
Other than shielding yourself from the rain, the next important thing is keeping your items from getting wet, such as your bags and shoes. But, don’t go carrying a bag thinking that it’s waterproof, only to your horror after opening it to find your items damp, or even soaking. To those who might still be clueless, there is a fine line between waterproof, water-resistant and water repellant. As stated by HZO, water-resistant means that water can still get inside an item after reaching its limit, and it is also the lowest form of protection from water.
Compared to water-resistant, water-repellant simply means a better chance of preventing your items from getting wet. The last of all, waterproof, is your best solution in terms of water-protection, where materials such as polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride work wonders.
Just bought those new pair of expensive shoes you’ve been saving up for months for but still want to show it off to your jealous friends/colleagues despite the rain? Just head to a footwear store and get yourself a bottle of shoe spray that protects your fresh kicks from getting ruined not only by rain, but from stains too. If you’re too lazy to carry along waterproof items everyday in case it rains, a tip is to keep a small stash of extra shoes and bags in the office.
3. Stay away from light colours
Treat the rainy weather like the day after Labour Day – try to avoid wearing white, or even light colours to be safe, especially for the ladies. Sometimes when we walk in the rain, no amount of umbrella protection can prevent us from kicking up some rain water and dirt that stains it.
4. Wear “short” clothing
This also applies together with the point mentioned above. Try to stay away from wearing long dresses or pants as they get wet easily and can leave an unsightly wet stain. Also, pair your outfits with jackets which can switch up your look for a more professional one.
5. Lightweight fabrics
Unfortunately when it showers, Singapore’s high humidity levels are usually here to stay, and we can’t escape it. As stated by the Meteorological Service Singapore, the average “annual relative humidity is 83.9%” and that it reaches a whopping 100% “during prolonged periods of rain”. So it’s imperative that when dressing for a rainy and humid climate, clothing material should be kept to a certain thickness. For example, suede is not only thick, but takes a very long time to dry when wet. Although silk is a thin fabric, it tends to stick to the skin and stains easily.
