STEAMY STYLE

HOW TO LOOK COOL IN WET AND HUMID WEATHER

WITH the wet weather settling in for good in the Far North there’s no better time to embrace the rain from head to toe.

Cairns stylist Pip Miller said the most important thing to consider was getting from point A to point B without compromising style.

She said she swore by using glamorous, FNQ-approved versions of regular wet-weather accessories.

“All you need to do is arm yourself with a brolly, a great big golfing-style one that will keep you dry,” she said.

“I don’t recommend wellies in our climate, they’re too hot and hard to get on and off quickly. Instead have a pair of rubber flip-flops in the car for the mad dash across bloated gutters and puddles.”

She said her other top tip was selecting clothes carefully with the wet weather in mind.

“Avoid light colours that will show raindrops or become see-through in the rain,” she said.

“Lightweight fabrics are always a good option to dry pronto. For these fabrics you want to look for cotton, silk or a polyester.”

Cairns-based designer and Wild Sugar by Sajeela owner Sajeela Jamie said she kept the tropical climate and the wet season in mind when she designed clothes for the summer.

“Everybody has different tastes, but one thing that is good for the wet, hot climate is a dress with open shoulders,” she said.

“When it rains on a dress like that the material isn’t really affected.”

She said fabric choice was essential for men or women who wanted to stay stylish during the great northern downpours.

“Different fabrics suit different people, but most people like either synthetics or cotton,” she said.

“Synthetics are lightweight and environmentally friendly in this region and they dry very quickly.

“Cotton and rayon are very cool in the tropics, but they do hold moisture and take a bit longer to dry.”

She said people who were spending their days darting in and out of offices should consider wearing clothes made with a spandex or polyester blend.

Other tips for Far Northerners were to keep long hair tied back when outside to prevent frizz and to choose waterproof mascara for rainy Cairns days. editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS ARM YOURSELF WITH A BROLLY, A GREAT BIG GOLFING-STYLE ONE THAT WILL KEEP YOU DRY CAIRNS STYLIST PIP MILLER

Pictures: JOSH WONING CO-ORDINATED: Model Cara McIlveen, wearing designs from Wild Sugar by Sajeela, shows how you can match your outfits with your brolly for a stunning wet season look.

PUDDLE PERFECT: Still looking smart in the rain.

BRIGHT IDEA: Model Cara McIlveen adds some colour.