If returning to school from a long break isn’t bad enough, winters in Seattle fail to parallel winters in New England or the Midwest. The lack of snow is replaced with what might feel like biblical monsoon rains and floods. However, that shouldn’t be a reason for your fashionista self to hibernate for the next three months. Designers have learned to overcome any and all sort of earthly obstacles the weather confronts us with. Read ahead, my dears, and you’ll learn to conserve your style without cramping it due to the upcoming rainy days.

To prepare yourself for the dreaded rain, there are a few things one should do to protect your favorite pieces. First, anything leather must be protected by some sort of leather guard — especially your shoes — because they’ll be getting the brunt of the rain. Leather buff can be purchased at any shoe store, and it’s usually somewhat cheap.

Second, an umbrella is essential. If you want to go neutral, black is your best bet. Please be kind to your fellow students by buying a small, single-person-sized umbrella so you’re not poking everyone’s eyes out.

Now that you have your umbrella and waterproof shoes, you still need some sort of coat, and the one style that I think everyone should invest in is a really nice trench coat. Yes, the best ones are a bit pricey (roughly $100-$200), but being a college student here in Seattle for four years or more, a $175 waterproof trench coat is probably one of the best investments to make. You will wear it every year and still be fashionable.

As for the style of the trench coat, it first should be somewhat long — just above the knee or just below your buttocks is a good length. A hood is a good accessory for the coat, but it’s not necessary if you’re planning on carrying your umbrella with you everywhere. A removable hood is ideal to give yourself subtle differences in styles for your coat. (Keep in mind when looking for the perfect coat that a hood with faux-fur lining is really adorable this season.)

Coats shouldn’t be too form fitting. Seattle winters bring low temperatures with precipitation, so you will most likely need to layer clothes to keep warm — finding a trench coat that fits comfortably over layered clothing like sweaters and sweatshirts is key. When shopping, make sure you bring along your favorite chunky turtleneck or hoodie to ensure the coat will fit properly. Like in the case of umbrellas, black seems to be a staple that can be used every winter; it is classic, chic and can be applicable even outside of the rainy season.

For men, trench coats are also essential. However, coats should be longer than the women’s version — below-the-knee lengths are essential. For some reason, not many trench coats for men come with hoods, but extended length of the coat doesn’t suit itself well with one. Like for women, black is the best color to choose when purchasing something that is above your usual price range.