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Each week the Filter newsletter cuts through the noise to bring you smart, practical recommendations on how to live better – from what is worth buying to the tools, habits and ideas that actually last.

When I think of rainy day attire, I picture blinding neon ponchos and unwieldy umbrellas. My own rain gear consists of a bulky waterproof coat and old sneakers I’ve designated as my “rain shoes”, but our recent rigorous test of 14 Pfas-free rain jackets reminded me you can look fashionable even when it’s pouring.

And as we prepare for April showers, I turned to stylist Liz Teich, who has styled celebrities like Ashley Graham and worked for retailers like TJ Maxx. She shared five strategies for looking put together on drizzly days.

Read our review of the best Pfas-free raincoats

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Find a shoe that can do it all …

Teich recommended Dolce Vita’s line of waterproof boots, which offer styles ranging from a suede cowboy boot to a heeled option made of leather.

“I swapped my Wellies for this pair that looks like a regular boot, so when the sun comes out, I’m not stuck with a sweltering, clunky rubber boot all day,” Teich said. “These look so cute with a dress or skirt.”

Dolce Vita Glory H20 Black Leather Boots

She’s also a fan of these 100% Italian waterproof leather boots from Frēda Salvador, which she’s sworn by for years.

Frēda Salvador Brooke Rain Resistant Boot

For a well-made men’s option, we recommended this waterproof pair from Nike that looks more like a stylish sneaker than a clunky rain boot.

Nike Manoa Leather Boots

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… And protect the ones that can’t

You can wear your stylish suede boots in the rain, as long as you waterproof them first. One of Teich’s favorite waterproofing sprays is this PFOA-free option that costs less than $20 from Jason Markk.

“It’s non-toxic, and it will protect your suede, your leather, any pieces that you’re worried about getting ruined in the rain. I’ll spray it on my suede jackets. I’ll spray it on my handbags,” she said.

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Experiment with a cropped classic

Teich loves a cropped trenchcoat for days when you’re “going out, and you don’t want to schlep around a heavy, long trench”.

If you’re worried about the moment passing, Teich said that the look was here to stay. “I was wearing crop trenches for the last few years, so I don’t think it’s going to be a flash in the pan,” she said.

Pro tip: to accentuate your waist, she recommended opting for a cropped trench with a tie belt.

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Abandon the wide-leg pants

Their hems can easily drag through puddles, so for an alternative, Teich suggested trying out a balloon style, which just so happens to be trending this spring.

If you’re not completely sold on the look, she suggested a way to give it a try: “You can do a faux balloon pant if you don’t want to spend the money, and put rubber bands or hair ties at your ankles.”

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Clear is a neutral

Swap your bright umbrellas for a clear version that goes with everything. Teich suggested this one under $30 from Totes: “It’s nice because it doesn’t clash with your outfit,” she said.

Totes Umbrella

Or for a classic black style, we love this umbrella from Davek Solo, which has earned a spot in our coveted Buy it for life category.

Davek Solo Umbrella

Item of the week: Kühl Stretch Voyagr Jacket

This jacket “threads the needle in the best way possible: technical enough to keep you dry and comfortable, yet stylish enough that you’ll look good wearing it to dinner”, wrote contributor Heather Balogh-Rochfort of Kühl’s Stretch Voyagr.

She arrived at this conclusion after putting different Pfas-free rain jackets to the test – including wearing each in the shower and testing their breathability on sweaty Peloton bike rides.

Kühl Stretch Voyagr Jacket

Discover the best Pfas-free rain jackets

Deal for Filter readers: Anyday containers

Instead of plastic food storage containers, the Filter recommends these glass containers made by Anyday. Reviewer Emily Farris wrote that they can be frozen and microwaved – and helped her waste less food.

Anyday is continuing to offer Filter readers a discount on its products. Get 20% off anything on the Anyday site with code ANYDAYFILTER20, including the two-cup glass containers that Farris highlighted in her story.

You can find more plastic-free recommendations from the Filter here, including cutting boards and laundry sheets.

Anyday 2-Cup Glass Round Dish Multipack

Waste less, save more: Anyday glass food containers transformed how I store leftovers

Put to the test: Dyson Airwrap i.d. v Shark FlexStyle

For contributor Juno DeMelo, styling her curly hair doesn’t come easily. Instead of splurging on blowouts at the salon, she spent a month testing out two popular multi-stylers: Shark’s FlexStyle and Dyson’s Airwrap i.d.

After many at-home blowouts, she came to a final verdict that’s good news for the budget-conscious: Shark’s FlexStyle gave her “identical results for nearly half the price”.

Shark FlexStyle

Dyson Airwrap i.d.

Read our review: Dyson Airwrap i.d. v Shark FlexStyle: we tested the rival hair stylers and the results surprised us

Spring styling tips: triangle scarves

Unfortunately, my weather-related fashion dilemmas aren’t limited to rainy days. Recently, I’ve been searching for ways to style outfits that work for New York City’s unpredictable early spring temperatures.

One of my favorite wardrobe additions is this merino wool triangle scarf, which acts as the perfect transition piece. I recently shared six ways I wear mine, including as a trendy bonnet and tying it around your waist into a belt-like style.

TBCo. Merino Wool Triangle Scarf

How I style my triangle scarf: this little triangle scarf is suddenly everywhere. Here’s how to wear it

March in review: what you loved

Even though March isn’t technically over, we’ve compiled a list of your favorite items of the month so far.

Of the products we recommended, our readers flocked to a bike light we tested on rural roads and trafficky streets, and a microplastic-free cutting board that passed our “sniff test” involving cloves of garlic.

Ascher Ultra Bright USB Rechargeable Bike Light Set

Material Kitchen MK Free Board

Read the story: Plastic-free cutting boards and $17 bike lights: 11 things you loved in March