Rain Gear❣️

Plus, a reminder that the best outfit inspo often walks right past you 🗞️

Lwany from Petite Fashion Weekly™
July 08, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Hi Shortie,

What’s your favorite source of style inspiration?

I’m a sucker for people-watching. Street style is my school, and outfits are the books I study. I love observing how stylish people wear things and absorbing their je ne sais quoi. Nothing feeds my soul like spotting a baddie out in the wild.

When I see someone who clearly enjoys fashion, I can’t help but stare. It’s magnetic. My eye instinctively dissects their look from head to toe. Sometimes it’s not the whole outfit, but a single element bursting with refined innovation, like this charmed-up tote I spotted while shopping at The RealReal in SoHo:

Spotted: Bag charm magic

A plain tote, styled with a Coach sheep charm, a floral charm (I forgot the brand), and two necklaces repurposed as bag chains. Genius.

What I love even more than the outfit itself is the interaction that follows my gawking. Beauty fills my heart, and complimenting stylish people is simply the overflow.

Living in the boonies, social interactions are scarce, so these moments of connection with those who not only appreciate but actively practice fashion feel extra special.

Next time someone’s outfit stops you in your tracks, take a second to dissect what you love—and tell them. They might be in a rush and say nothing, or you might make a friend for life. A compliment on a pair of cult-favorite jeans sparked a friendship with one of my favorite people, celebrity stylist Emma Rubenstein.

Sincerely short,

Lwany

P.S. Life threw a few curveballs this week, so the Store Directory launch is slightly delayed. Stay tuned—it’s just around the corner.❣️

❝

"A compliment is verbal sunshine."

—ROBERT ORBEN

SHORT QUESTION

Q: Please share recs on cute rain gear!

I desperately need it, lol.

– Cass

A: Cold-weather rain gear is second nature to me, but for my recent trip to NYC, I had to figure out how to style rainproof looks for warmer temperatures.

No matter the temp, the key to nailing rainy-day style is flattering footwear and outerwear.

Three mirror selfies of outfits to wear in the rain with high tempss

Warm-weather rain looks

Footwear

Let’s start with shoes because, as always, your footwear should set the tone.

While I love a tall rain boot moment (think Hunter boots with a mini skirt), that look can get steamy fast in the summer. For something lighter with a similar vibe, I’d recommend a tall boot like these:

Chloé Betty Rain Boots

I’m skipping ankle boots for a reason. Unless you pair them with pants that cover the shaft, they visually chop the leg at an awkward point, which shortens the body. Even if you wear ankle boots with wider leg pants, the hems are likely to get soaked in the rain.

GORE-TEX sneakers are your cool-girl, lightweight alternative. I didn’t get the Salomon hype at first, but these changed my mind:

Salomon XT-6 GTX

I recently bought a sold-out pair from a reseller, and while the colorway was chef’s kiss, the fit didn’t work for me. The upper rubbed against my ankle bone with every step. If you wear a shoe size 7.5 or larger, you may have the same issue.

Fellow Shortie Jenna, who wears a 5.5, has no issue with hers, so it's still worth trying if you’re in a smaller size range. I suspect this is because the shoes are unisex.

Outerwear

Look for a jacket that’s long enough to cover your bum, but lightweight enough to move with you.

Mine is a vintage nylon men’s jacket I found at Pickwick’s Vintage Show. It’s oversized in an intentional way that feels cool, not bulky. If you’re up for a treasure hunt, check the men’s section wherever you source preloved fashion.

Black monochromatic outfit paired with light-colored boots and green rain jackett

Vintage menswear nylon rain jacket

I also recommend going for color. My winter raincoat is black and versatile, but can feel a little meh. A brighter hue might not be as universal, but it’ll definitely elevate your rainy-day fits.

If you don’t have the bandwidth to shop second-hand, here are some of the best petite-sized rain outerwear to consider: