Put Away That Poncho, You're Not an MMDA Officer

This jacket season, don't wear any old thing over your perfect-fit shirts and cuffed trousers. Take this is as an opportunity to inject character into your threads. Here, handsome coats that you can wear on days of mist or deluge.

Drizzling

We know. Leather and water don't mix, but it's just a little spray (treat this with a water repellant), so why not shield yourself from the rain while aping the swagger of Marlon Brando in his Schott Perfecto at the same time?

IMAGE Paul Del Rosario

Biker jacket by Paul Smith; shirt tie, trousers, and shoes by Ermenegildo Zegna; sunglasses Tod’s

Windy

Gale? Put on layers. This parka has a raised collar and a liner vest for extra warmth. Press-stud closures keeps things secure in flappy conditions.

IMAGE Paul Del Rosario

Parka, cardigan, polo shirt, jeans, and shoes by Massimo Dutti

Pouring

Think of the Mackintosh as the streamlined trench coat. Its fuller coverage protects whatever's underneath from the deluge. The clean silhouette also looks handsome with a suit.

IMAGE Paul Del Rosario

Mackintosh by Emporio Armani; T-shirt by Jaspal; jeans by Diesel; shoes by Tod's

Stormy

You'll need something that's sturdy, water repellant, and not too precious. Pick up a nylon jacket in a traffic-stopping color. In thick rain, red will let them know you're coming.

IMAGE Paul Del Rosario

Jacket by Tommy Hilfiger; shirt, trousers, sneakers, and umbrella by Paul Smith

And Don’t Forget The Big Umbrella

Womp, womp, womp. You're throwaway umbrella crumpled in the wind, and now you look like a wet kitty. Best to carry a full-size umbrella that shelters your entire body and won't buckle under the breath of a storm. This one from Paul Smith is also dripping in style with its wooden handle, striped trim, and metal tip. That last detail is for when the skies clear. Go ahead and walk like a dandy.

IMAGE Paul Del Rosario

This story was originally published in the July 2013 issue of Esquire.