How to dress for rain (when it's not really raining)
Most rain isn't the rain you planned for.
Real rain is easy. You see it, you grab the coat, you go. The rain that catches you out is the other kind. The mist that's heavier than fog. The 40% chance that arrives at minute 41. The drizzle that doesn't need an umbrella but does soak a sweater by the second block.
That's the rain to plan for. Most days it's the only one that shows up.
The small rain matters more
A heavy shower for ten minutes is wet, then over. A fine drizzle for an hour is wet for the rest of the day. Cotton holds water. Wool holds less. A thin shell holds none.
If you have to pick one thing for an uncertain forecast, pick the shell. It's lighter than the coat you're thinking of, and it does the job ninety percent of days.
What the percentages actually mean
A 40% chance of rain doesn't mean light rain. It means there's a 40% chance some rain will fall somewhere in the forecast area. The amount could still be a downpour. Or nothing.
The number to read alongside it is the precipitation total. Under 1mm is barely noticeable. 1 to 4mm is the kind that ruins suede. Over 5mm is the kind you plan around.
Three small habits
Carry a thin shell, not an umbrella. Hands free, head free, both work in wind.
Skip suede and untreated leather on any day above 30%. They take days to dry.
If the forecast is uncertain, pick the outfit that survives wet. Then if it stays dry, you've lost nothing.
What we do at Dressed
We read the precipitation total, not the percentage. We tell you when the small rain is the rain that matters. Then we pick the layer that handles it without changing the rest of your outfit.
Dressed is in beta. Open to use while we're in beta.