It lashed rain this morning. I could hear it smashing against my bedroom window even before I got up. I looked at my floor, where I had laid out my skirt and little cardigan last night, looking forward to stepping out of my comfort zone and facing the weather in college. I try to ignore the weather when choosing an outfit. Not easy. I live quite far away from college, and on the days when I wake up to the sound of rain and wind slamming against my bedroom window, I question my decision. Do I face the fear and brave it through the hour-long commute in the rain in a mini skirt? Will a half-broken umbrella be enough to protect me? Usually, I put on the trusted jeans, and hope for the sun to come out so I can wear my ‘out-there’ outfit the following day.
If you really have the strength, you can definitely get over this. After arriving at college in my plain jeans and seeing crowds of people ignoring the weather, going with their own sense of style, I realised that I needed to face my fears. Style over comfort can be achieved through extreme self-discipline and a strong will. Who cares if your legs get wet in your skirt? They will dry! Use the hand-dryers in the bathroom. Why does it matter if your freshly-washed and perfectly-straightened hair gets frizzed up in the wind? It’s the early-seasons Carrie Bradshaw look. (I have curly hair too, I can say this) Oh no! Your cashmere jumper got saturated in the heavy downpour just from walking from the Arts Block to Sprout, and now it’s going to shrink? There are other cashmere jumpers! Anything can be overcome. The most important thing is the look.
As well as trying to get over your fear of the weather ruining your outfit, you can also try to find pieces that fit both the weather and your style. If your black puffer coat is looking a bit too boring and will dampen your extravagant, well-thought-out outfit underneath, try searching for a practical coat which can also elevate your outfit. I am personally loving plaid puffer coats recently. They are easy to find on Vinted, practical for the weather, and you can find one that fits your style. Trench coats are timeless pieces that can also fix this problem. Get one that stretches from your neck down to your ankles, so you can show off your cute skirt underneath, or hide it with the trench coat when the rain comes out. Being able to both conceal and show off your outfit is an ideal situation.
Now, what about footwear? The likes of Birkenstocks, Uggs, and other suede shoes like Adidas Spezials should realistically hibernate for the winter. They don’t deserve to be drenched and ruined when walking about campus. However, there is an easy and cheap solution for this. No, you don’t have to buy a new pair of suede shoes every winter. Get yourself a suede shoe protector spray to make these shoes (almost) waterproof. They will be able to withstand some splodges of rainwater, as long as you don’t walk through deep puddles. Uggs are a classic autumn and winter shoe. You should be able to wear them without worrying about them getting destroyed. A Doc Marten is another classic rainy-season shoe. Doc Martens are the opposite of Uggs and Birkenstocks, being equipped to keep your feet dry and warm, despite having the ability to give you blisters by the end of the day, even if you broke them in four years ago. And they match any outfit combination you can come up with. They go with your baggy jeans and a big knit jumper, but also with a tiny denim skirt with funky tights and a warm fur coat.
It is really up to you to decide how you want to approach your clothing choices this semester when stepping out into the awful weather. We are all expecting the disgusting weather – the weather app said it was going to rain, so why not accept it? It’s Ireland. Embrace the weather when choosing your college outfits every morning. Make small adjustments. Whether that be adjustments to your mindset regarding the weather or to the outfits themselves, we can get through these harsh winter months together. All while still looking fabulous on campus.
