Each day, you begin to dread juggling the lashing rains, the potholes, muddy puddles and speeding cars that threaten to splash you. How you hate it when you are desperately trying to shield yourself in a torrential shower and your umbrella upturns with a strong gale!
The weather does frightful things to your favourite leather shoes and bags. Your crisp-whites lose their sharpness. Your trousers collect an embarrassing muddy layer. The rain compels you to stay indoors. You’d rather not wade through filthy, water-logged streets. However, business dictates that you attend client meetings and make presentations. Maybe even entertain prospective customers and alliance partners. How do you stay on-the-go, when the heavens play wet blanket?
Even on days when the city is drawing to a stand-still, never assume that your clients are taking the day off and you can settle in with a cup of tea. Not only do you have to show up for that important meeting, interview, or engagement, but business also expects your alarm clock to still be Swiss-precision and your appearance sharp as ever.
You can’t show up dripping, shivering, your hair looking like a soggy mop, and your umbrella creating puddles just as your clothes are doing. But how do you maintain your professional look without the weather stealing your thunder?
Reign in the rains with the right protection
Finding the right rainwear that ensures you are well-covered from head to toe is just the start. Depending on your outfit, your outer protection must be longer than the inner garment to make sure you stay completely dry.
Does this mean dressing down when the water-levels rise knee high? Whether you work in a non-formal environment or a strictly corporate organisation, clothes hemmed above the ankles are a practical solution. The shortness in length doesn’t have to convey a casual impression. You can still maintain a sophisticated and elegant business image with the right ensemble.
However, not all clothes are rain-appropriate, even if you have a raincoat or umbrella to protect you! The weather can get very humid, so the clothes you wear must breathe and mustn’t leave wet stains. They need to be wrinkle-free and even if they do get wet, should dry faster, or lest you catch an infection.
The golden rule to keep in mind is that the weather is as unpredictable as the weather report. By the time a slight drizzle turns to a downpour, you’d be soaked to the bone. Take a rain-check on certain fabrics. Some are known to shrink when wet. Some bleed colour. Others get more clingy and transparent; yet others pick up dirt stains, get heavy with moisture and take longer to dry. Your leather shoes and sneakers not only stink when damp, but can get spoilt beyond repair. Leather and metal jewellery fare poorly with humidity and moisture.
Arrive early. Beat the weather at its own game.
Remember, in this season, making a right impression begins with arriving early. Pace yourself, keeping in mind traffic snarls and roadblocks. Your ‘Bolt-style’ run for the lift is avoidable, as slippery floors should be trod on gently. Get a pair of shoes that grip well.
You need time to freshen up your image, irrespective of whether you are arriving for an appointment or reporting for daily work. Dry off with a towel and keep your wet rainwear – your umbrella or coat – in a waterproof bag. That way, you won’t leave it dripping or forget to take it with you when you leave the venue.
Make sure your clothes are wrinkle-free, well-tucked-in and your shoes & trousers are mud-free. Women wearing make-up should check that their make-up is not runny or patchy. Ensure you have ample time to do a touch-up. Your hair may need a serum to tone it down as the humidity in the air creates a frizz that can be untamable with a brush or comb.
Protect your papers and electronics. Get a strong waterproof bag to make sure they stay dry. Always keep in mind that your phone and laptop should be completely dry before you begin to charge it.
Now, rainy days are no longer cloudy. Watch this space to learn how to lift the gloom on your corporate wardrobe.
