If you've ever spent the morning getting ready and headed out the door looking extra fresh, only to get hit with a few unexpected, ominous rain drops mid-commute, you know you're in trouble.

Whether you end up stuck in a torrential downpour, a frigid bout of sleet, or one of those frustrating do-I-even-need-an-umbrella drizzles, wet weather can put a big damper on your style. Soaked-through blazers and damp socks are no one’s idea of comfortable, and too much moisture can be especially damaging to leather goods, so getting caught unprepared is annoying on multiple levels.

To keep the rainy day blues away, put these wardrobe hacks into practice. They’re subtle enough to retain your normal sense of style, but effective enough to cruise through the wet weather without missing a beat.

The Umbrella

A good quality umbrella is probably one of the best investments you’ll ever make. Seriously, we’ve been through enough junky drugstore versions (and accompanying outbursts of anger on windy days) to know.

That's why we built our own Bergen umbrella with a collapsible body, so that it's easy to stash in a bag if there's only a chance of showers, a heavy-duty double-layered canopy, and extra tough construction.

The Hair

Nothing says “I forgot my umbrella” quite like walking into a room with a wet mop of hair. If you have a damp day ahead, take the time to prep your mane with a wax or pomade. Their water-repelling properties will stand up to the elements better than a gel or cream, which will just leave you looking sort of sad.

And if your hair tends to frizz in humidity, add a little more product than you would on a dry day. That’ll help add weight, keeping your look in check.

The Shoes

Wet weather can very easily ruin good shoes if you’re not careful.

If it’s really wet outside, your first move should be to skip anything made from suede or canvas, since dirty rainwater can permanently stain suede and soak right through your canvas sneaks. Your best bet in a downpour – aside from going the full-blown rain boot route – is leather.

Just make sure your leather shoes (and bag, if applicable) are treated with a wax or a weather-proof sealant first, which will create a barrier to prevent the water molecules from soaking into the leather fibers. Otherwise, absorbed water can remove the oils that keep leather soft and supple, leaving you with stiff and dried-out shoes.

Alternatively, you could look for shoes made of shell cordovan leather. It's naturally much more waterproof (and looks amazing to boot), but is also extraordinarily expensive, since it's the highest of high quality stuff.

The Coat

This is probably the easiest element of your rainy day style to nail. You can go with a tried-and-true trench coat for a more old-school kind of style. They look especially nice with dressed-up outfits, and since they’re longer, they’ll keep your thighs dry, too.

If you want something more casual and modern, grab a more modern, performance-focused jacket that will keep you just as warm and dry in the concrete jungle as on your weekend hike. Anything with a hood gets bonus points, since they'll keep your head dry even if you forget your umbrella.

The Pants

We’re usually pretty good about grabbing a weather-proof coat in the rain, but what most of us tend to forget about is the bottom half. And there are few things worse than walking into work with soaking wet jeans that will take hours to dry.

If you want extra element of rain-proofing power, look for coated jeans that have been treated with wax. Their leather-ish patina looks a little edgy, and also gives them the power to repel rain. If that's a little too flashy for you, you could add a light coat of wax to a basic pair of light-colored chinos, so you get the rain protection without looking too shiny.

Now that you’re both suited up and stylish, you're safe to hit the streets welcoming Mother Nature’s shifting moods.