Trench Coat

It's hard to look pulled-together when the rain's pouring down and the humidity has reached such a high that your hair may never have a good day again. A well-cut trench coat is your answer. Put it on, and you instantly become a model fashion citizen, one who can brave the elements and still make it to work looking picture perfect (even if your hair is in a ponytail for the fifth day in a row). Look for a coat that allows for layers underneath yet isn't so roomy that it adds bulk to your figure, and opt for a color and fabric that will not only stand the test of time but also hold up to the gloomy fall and winter rains.

Pricey: Atsuro Tayama from Boudoir in Nolita, NYC (244 Mulberry St. 212.965.9925) ($578.00)
Moderate: Brooks Brothers Three-Button Macintosh Coat ($168)
Affordable: Gap Macintosh Trench Coat ($78)

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