april showers

Wow! How creative, New York! You've given us another nice and gray, rainy day.

Photo: WhatDidYouExpectDarling

Now don't get me wrong, I love the rain--but only under two conditions. 1. It's warm weather and the sun is still shining even though it's raining. OR 2. It's cold and gray and I have the luxury of staying curled up by a fire, warm and dry, inside all day. Since things don't seem to be going in either of those directions lately, here is an April Showers Survival Guide to get you through the wet-weather-wardrobe season. Just because the weather is dull doesn't mean your outfit has to be too! ;)

I've always had qualms with outerwear. I feel like it can so easily muddle up your perfectly selected outfit, especially when it comes to rain gear. These jackets are functional and fun so you won't have to cringe as you put on your old, puffy, might-as-well-be-a-trash-bag slicker. 

From top left, clockwise: Yellow Pac-A-Parka, Topshop; Burberry Mint Green Pack-Away Parka, Net-A-Porter; River Island Leopard Trench Coat, ASOS; Jones and Jones Pink Paris Trench Coat, Topshop; Mackage Short Zip Rain Coat, Bloomingdale's

Sure, anyone can buy a pair of Hunter rain boots and call it a day. (Not that I don't adore my Hunters.) But let's get slightly more original.

From top left, clockwise: Loeffler Randall Lace-Up Rain Ankle Boots, Saks Fifth Avenue; UGG Australia Belcloud Rain Boots, Bloomingdale's; Tommy Hilfiger Women's Canaan Rain Boot, DSW; Sperry Top-Sider Cormorant Rubber Slip-Ons, J. Crew; Sperry Top-Sider Hingham Rain Boots, Nordstrom; Tangerine April Showers Rain Loafers, Ruche; BCBG Max Azria Willis Rain Boots, Heels.com

Here are a few cute, little, rainy-day pieces, just for fun. A hat is always a good idea when it's raining out, particularly for the purposes of covering up the crazy hair the weather is giving you. This tote bag is especially cool because it's a PVC-covered cotton, so it has a shiny, plastic-y finish and it won't get ruined if it gets wet!

From left: Gray Wool Floppy Hat, American Apparel; Navy Cath Kidston Spot Rain Hat, ASOS; Piazza Sempione Raindrop-Print Dress, Bergdorf Goodman; Wear the Rainbow Hair Clip, Modcloth; Antipast Silver Bee in the Rain High Socks, Bird; Antipast White Bee in the Rain Socks, Bird; Bottega Veneta Blue Ombre Cashmere and Silk-Blend Scarf, Net-A-Porter; DKNY Aqua Metallic Raindrop Cap-Sleeve Tie Blouse, My-Wardrobe.com; Piazza Sempione Raindrop-Print Side-Zip Capris, Saks Fifth Avenue; Pastel Prism 'What Color Is It?' Watch, Modcloth; English Rose Cath Kidston Carry-All Bag, ASOS

Of course, no rainy day can be weathered without an umbrella.

From top, left to right: Blue Sky Printed Umbrella, Urban Outfitters; Dusty Pink Bunny-Print Crook-Handle Umbrella, Topshop; Black and Cream Striped Umbrella, Kate Spade; Red Hearts Umbrella, Moschino Cheap and Chic; Marc by Marc Jacobs Jumbled Birds Umbrella, Net-A-Porter; Neon Geometric-Print David David Blocker Walking Stick Umbrella, Coggles; English Rose Tiny Umbrella, Cath Kidston; Blue Geometric Print David David Carousel Walking Stick Umbrella, Coggles; Burberry Regent Double Umbrella, Bloomingdale's; Orange Regimental Stripe Folding Umbrella, Barneys New York; Clear Purple Bubble Umbrella, Urban Outfitters; Yellow Vintage Stripe Folding Umbrella, Barneys New York

There is no morning too busy or rushed to stop and throw on a ring or two... or three. And a pair of earrings, naturally.

Sterling Silver Raindrop Ring, LuttrellStudio on Etsy; Umbrella Ring, PaperBiscuit on Etsy; Cloud Ring with Brass Drop, luckyduct on Etsy; Acrylic Sun and Cloud Rings, CupOfSea on Etsy; Sleepy Raincloud Ring, KimberlyDanielle on Etsy; Sterling Silver and Copper Spring Showers Ring, MintyFreshStudio; Gold April Showers Adjustable Ring, eelizabeth on Etsy; Rainbow Charm Ring, CsCharms on Etsy

Vintage Blue Canary Green Umbrella Earrings, Steven Alan; Happy Cloud Earrings, Cute-Plush; Partly Sunny/Partly Cloudy Earrings, LivCreatively on Etsy; She Draws Umbrella Earrings, Hannah Zakari; Air Elements of Nature Necklace, Modcloth; Alassin Sane Necklace, Modcloth; In the Name of Love Necklace, Modcloth; Sad Storm Cloud Necklace, Cute-Plush; Little April Shower Necklace, loubijoux on Etsy; Carrie Saxl Cloud and Star Pendant Necklace, Max & Chloe; Wooden Umbrella Girl Necklace, Stolen Thunder Boutique; A Bracelet For a Rainy Day, RMichelle on Etsy; Rain on a Sunny Day Necklace and Earring Set, robyny83 on Etsy

So hopefully these April showers...

Photos: oO-Rein-Oo 

will bring some May flowers.

Photos: Goodmorning&Goodnight; Studded Hearts

And soon!



-S.