Dressing For The Rains

Monsoons are here, Mumbai! It’s a big respite from the summers but a great hassle for all the professionals who struggle in the peak hours to reach their offices and travel to meet clients, recruiters etc. when its pouring cats & dogs. The concern is how to not compromise on the professional looks & still survive the downpour.

Let’s start with listing down the biggest trouble making elements:​

Clothes & Shoes getting wet & soiled due to puddles, by rain shower of course, or by splashing vehicles

People clamoring for dry space in the crowded areas like trains & metros, dry patches or elevators causing sweat & humidity related issues.

Head getting wet causing cold & related illness 

City infrastructure that lacks smooth and wide footpaths, clean public toilets etc. compound the problems.

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Given all this, is there a way of managing our professional outlook as best as we do in say a sunny January day in Mumbai?
Here is our suggestion. The objective is to remain dry and fresh. It not only ensures a great style but also helps in keeping the bacterial infections and feet and body odor away.
Due to the challenges the season offers, we need to maintain two profiles of ours- One, while outside under the downcast sky and two, while in the office or meeting space. Both profiles have to be practical so that you do not miss out on your objective.

​If you are in a desk job, meaning you have to be in the office throughout the day, keep one or two nicely pressed shirts and trousers, a pair of shoe, couple of dry socks, a towel along with a deodorant in the office. While commuting, wear rain shoes without socks, smart & light clothes. Change to your formal attire as you reach the office. It will keep your day bright and happy.

If you have to travel for meetings, duffel bags are the must. They look smart and professional, have a lot of space for pack-able umbrella, shoes, socks, deodorant and a hand towel. Though I strongly abhor sling bags but in this season, even they, slightly bigger ones than those which can hold only a laptop, are also very solid and loyal companions. Wear light rain shoes without socks and change into your formal ones at the venue. Normally all the offices, hotels, cafes, malls, basically all the private properties have a very good utilities infrastructure, so executing this is not difficult at all.

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​We strongly advice against the following:

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​Denims: Denim is a bad choice because it is heavy, difficult to clean and hard to dry material. Pack your jeans away during monsoons.

​Flip Flops: Though they seem to be the best footwear this season, being light and made of rubber, but due to being open ended at the heel, they splatter the water, thereby making the trousers’ rear calf area wet and dirty. Rubber/plastic sandals/floaters which have a back strap are a good design for the rains though. Choose the one that look stylish as well.

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​Wearing leather shoes outdoors. Unless you walk on the covered designer spaces only, there is no way you can prevent your expensive leather shoes from getting wet. And once they get wet, is the beginning of the end for them.

​Avoid whites when outdoors.

​Don’t wear socks when outdoors and when you are prone to walk in puddles and water.

​We strongly advice the following:

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​Invest in a good spacious stylish duffel/sling bag made of nylon or some other synthetic material that can be used in other seasons also.

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​Buy two or three very light material knitted polo shirts preferably in basic colors like grey, melange, blue or black color. No fancy prints or designer stitches. Long sleeved would also look great. As long they look enough less-casual and can be passed off as nice moderate uppers, we are good to go.

Trousers made of light quick dry material are available in good fits. Look for those in standard colors. You can have more than one in say grey or beige. Mumbai being hot and humid city even outside monsoons too, these trousers will come handy any day.

Always carry a deodorant, hand towel and a plastic pouch case in your bag. Try storing your wallet, keys or handkerchief in the pouch case and keeping your trousers pockets empty. Keeping trousers pocket empty is a good style advice on other days as well.

​Internet offers beautiful shoes meant for rainy season or travel. Explore those and buy something which works for your style.

​Use your towel to wipe your feet dry when you reach indoors. It will prevent them from various infections and ensure general health and hygiene.

​Umbrella has, rightly so, become a fashion accessory now. Use the one which offers right functionality to you and works with your style. The long handle traditional style of umbrella looks classy and cool. It comes in various contemporary prints too. However, it is not always practical to carry that if one is using trains or buses or metro. They are long, pointy and would drip water thereby making it very messy. For such situations, packable umbrellas with a zip plastic cover is the best option. They too come in various masculine styles.

​You may have noticed that we haven’t talked about raincoats or trench coats. Raincoats are actually very cumbersome piece of gear in the kind of rains Mumbai witnesses which is intermittent but very heavy. Humidity makes it even a worse choice. Raincoats serve greatest purpose to the bike riders but not beyond bikes.
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