Put This On

For $50 You Can Buy …

By going through this Gilt City sale, you can buy SWIMS galoshes for $50. That’s the cheapest I’ve ever seen them. You can also get some handsome hats for about the same price.

The deal is through Shrine Haberdashers, a store in Chicago that Jesse and I have recommended before. The Gilt City coupon is supposed to only be used in-store, but I talked to the owners and they said they would honor the voucher over the phone if a customer didn’t see the fine print. Nobody will be turned away.

It’s On Sale: SWIMS Overshoes

If you’re willing to wait until mid-December for a delivery, Orvis will sell you a pair of SWIMS overshoes for $64 (compared to $100 at most other locations). Mid-December might seem too far away, but most areas get their rainy season in the Spring anyway. Plus, these would make for a great Christmas present, so consider it early shopping. 

To read more about SWIMS overshoes, check out this review by The Silentist. 

Use the coupon code 113377 at check out. It expires on July 30th. 

We Got It For Free: Tingley Executive Overshoes

The folks at BeltOutlet.com asked if there were any of their products we’d like to review, so I asked for a pair of Tingley overshoes. Since I work from home, I rarely have to commute in foul weather while wearing dress shoes, but I know this is a persistent problem for many of our readers.

Overshoes were a popular product back when men uniformly wore real shoes to work. These days, they’re more of a niche product, appealing to a small group of people: those who are professional enough to wear dress shoes, but also work somewhere urban enough that walking outdoors is part of their regular routine.

So: on the the Tingleys. They’re not as ugly as I thought they would be. I mean, they’re ugly, don’t get me wrong, but in the context of a business suit, they’re suprisingly unobtrusive. I also found them pretty easy to get on, even over the clunky Brooks Brothers white bucks I’m wearing today. That said: in a non-black-shoe context, they’d stick out like a sore thumb.

The most attractive option in the category is Swims, which are a bit sleeker, have a flocked lining, and come in a variety of interesting colors. They’re a valiant attempt at making overshoes almost attractive. Swims, though, retail at about a hundred dollars, compared to just $35 for Tingley’s boot model, and $25 for their lower-cut option.

Ultimately, I think the Tingleys are a practical solution to a practical problem. With a business suit and a trench, they’ll look like a man trying to reach his destination dry. Dignified, but not exactly dashing.

mrsartorial:

It’s such a nice day out, I think I’ll SWIM to work.

Everyone is Swim-ing today.

(Source: mrsartorial)

mostexerent:

Slippery & wet surface..

Time to SWIM!

I’m telling ya kids: overshoes.  Class.

Q and Answer: How Should I Dress in the Rain?

Steve writes: I live in Vancouver; can you suggest how I should dress for the rain?

The answer is yes.  We can suggest how you should dress in the rain.

You’ll want to start with an umbrella.  I really love the ones at Howard Yount, which are lovely, with solid wood handles and beautiful hand-sewn canopies.  They also cost $165.  If that’s out of your range, there are plenty of other options, just go with something simple.  There are usually good choices at a luggage shop.

On your head, you can wear a hat.  A wool flat cap is a great choice.  If you’re going to wear a proper hat with a brim, this is a good time to do it, especially if it’s not too blustery.

You’ll want some kind of covering for your body, of course.  A classic trench coat or Mackintosh is a good option here for pairing with more formal clothes.  Khaki is the traditional color.  There are plenty of choices for more casual wear - I like waxed cotton, and own a Barbour Beaufort, which I bought on UK eBay for about a hundred dollars.  A number of companies also make lightweight, packable rain coats, which are very useful for climates like Vancouver where rain and cold do not always go hand in hand. 

For your shoes, you’ll want to avoid leather soles.  When leather soles get wet, they wear much faster.  Shoes with rubber or dainite soles are best.  Alternately, you can wear rain-specific shoes like Bean Boots and switch them when you get where you’re going, or cover your dress shoes with galoshes.

da-i-net:

SWIMS

A lot of folks email me to ask what to do when circumstances demand dress shoes, but weather demands rain shoes.  Galoshes, like these Swims, are a great solution.

Q and Answer: Shoes in the Rain

Andrew writes:  Here is my problem: Corporate casual dress code.  Leather soled shoes.  Rain.  What is a good choice to prevent the ruination of good shoes?  Rubber soles?  If so, what are good ones?

Well, we’re pretty ambivalent about rubber-soled dress shoes generally.  It can be done well, but it often isn’t.  For that reason, we’re hesitant to steer you in that direction.

If you have dress shoes you like, you can buy a pair of Swims or Tingley’s overshoes.  These slip over your dress shoes, protecting them from the rain.  We live in Los Angeles, so we don’t have much use for them, but we kind of want a pair because they’re really neat.  Swims have the added benefit of being lined, so they won’t dull the finish of your shoes.

Many folks also simply wear rain shoes to and from work, which we’re not opposed to, either.  You can either lug your good shoes with you, or leave a pair in your desk during rainy weeks.  When it rains outside, I get so excited that I get to wear my duck boots that it’s a non-issue.