Unless you’re a male model posing shirtless on a sailing boat during a thunderstorm (for argument’s sake, we’re going to assume you’re not), looking good during a downpour is no easy task.

However, getting a soaking from mother nature doesn’t always have to send your style credentials drifting down the gutter and into the drain. With the right garments in your wardrobe and a little know-how, it is possible to use open heavens to your advantage.

So make like a well-dressed Poseidon and add these key wet-weather pieces to your wardrobe. then brush up on a few outfit-building tips to ensure you stay stylish and showerproof all season.

6 Key Rainwear Essentials

Technical Jacket

Staying dry needn’t be technical. At least, not when you have a teched-out jacket at your disposal. The secret to using outerwear to deflect the elements, however, is in knowing what questions to ask yourself when shopping.

“How waterproof is it and can it breathe?” is a good starting point according to Andrew Todd, lead menswear designer at British brand Finisterre, who also suggests looking for the official unit used to measure water repellency. “20k hydrostatic head will provide a lot of protection again heavy showers,” he says.

For more entry-level pieces, prioritize features such as sealed seams and elasticated cuffs, which help keep water out and heat in, as well as hardy fabrics like nylon-ripstop.

Boots

A pair of sturdy leather boots is to rainy days what butter is to toast: you can go without, but it won’t be particularly pleasant. Of course, before you shell out, there are a few considerations to be made.

Ask any cobbler worth their polish and they’ll tell you that materials are of the utmost importance. “Rubber soles work best as they don’t absorb the water and don’t slip like leather,” explains Tim Little, owner and creative director of British footwear label Grenson. “Meanwhile, the upper leather should be oily or waxy so that the rain runs off.