Drizzel and fog

I grew up there and returned to the UW for grad school after military service (where I suffered some damage to my face that permanently limited my sinus function). I had the sniffles for two years. You won't need overshoes. We wore pennies and desert boots, jeans and Pendleton shirts in high school and as undergrads. Wait until you get there to buy "rain" gear. Locals will know best - about that and appropriate dress for your intended profession. Try Shoreline Community College. I interned there the first year it opened.

 

Yes, echoing godan, it's more drizzle than rain.

Fun fact: rainfall in Seattle is actually below the national average... but it just rains a little bit all the time!

Seattle is typical West Coast, so yes, it's casual. Teaching? I think a sport coat is fine.

DH

 

It is extremely casual. A sport coat and--shudder--jeans will be fine. Consider bluchers with Dainite soles. Those will be best. Leather soles, not so good. Also a GoreTex rain shell and a few Shetland sweaters. Only lawyers wear ties, and then only when they absolutely, positively must.

 

My cousin lives in Seattle. A few years ago he consulted me on his dress, as he was back East for business meetings of the "I have this great computer idea so please give me large amounts of cash so I can develop it" variety.

Dan felt, correctly, that he could not slouch into these encounters in jeans and an untucked shirt. He's a Gunnery and Connecticut College grad, so he has some basic clues about how to carry himself.

So sport coat and chinos were easy enough. Shoes were the difficulty.

He did not have a ton of money to spend, so I steered toward the Allen Edmonds Shoe Bank and recommended a) dark brown or black and b) either rubber soles or Topys.

Well, he went and bought a pair of tan Cliftons (with leather soles) because he liked how they contrasted with dark jeans.

That was four or five years ago. Last summer, when he visited, he showed me these shoes. They look like they've been left out in the rain for several years — which is about right.

And he had several close calls on polished floors, coming in out of the perpetual drizzle.

He wears boat shoes and some sort of peanut-looking stylish shoe now. Make of that what you will.

 

I was there for a while. It does rain a lot. I also vote for rubber soles, if possible. Also, for just mucking about, or for in transit (switch to your good shoes in the office), a pair of LL Bean boots would serve you well.

I would also check out Bean for rain gear options--many good ones there. But as others have said, I think I'd wait until you get there and then gauge the rain for yourself. Get it? Rain gauge.

 

REI and Nordstroms both originated in Seattle, and you will find people in those stores who know a great deal about dressing for the Pacific Northwest climate. Regarding footwear, there is a reason that the deservedly loved and famous Danner Ft, Lewis boot was invented by infantry officers up there. You will find abundant web information and direct advice, as, indeed, you have made a good start here.

 

It is extremely casual. A sport coat and--shudder--jeans will be fine. Consider bluchers with Dainite soles. Those will be best. Leather soles, not so good. Also a GoreTex rain shell and a few Shetland sweaters. Only lawyers wear ties, and then only when they absolutely, positively must.

Do you think some sort of Vibram sole might serve the purpose if Dainite is not available?

 

I live in the area. Most people have a relaxed manner of dressing up. Chinos, Cords OCBDs and sweaters do it for me. Fleece and hooded rain coats are a must. I personally prefer wearing a Barbour coat and hat. As for shoes, rubber soles are important. I make do with Desert Boots and Bluchers.

 

Do you think some sort of Vibram sole might serve the purpose if Dainite is not available?

Yes, but Dainite is more upscale and lasts longer. Always better to go with best quality you can afford. Plus, this is a fashion site. If fashion isn't important, then just go with jeans and khakis and Shetlands and fleece and GoreTex and a down jacket for those occasions, somewhat rare, when the temperature drops below freezing. A Barbour with a pile lining will get you through most situations, but if money is an issue, that is easily skipped.

I grew up in the area and visit regularly. As others have said, casual is an understatement. Went to a cocktail party a couple years ago that was also a best-dressed contest. It was white collar professionals. A few--very few--folks were dressed well. Smoking jackets, subdued tartan sport coats and the like. The prize went to a guy who rented a white tux from Men's Wearhouse, and it was a horrible rig, your typical rental suit complete with cheap patent leather shoes.

 

You're right. Sometimes I forget who we are.

 

Thanks, all. I already dress fairly casually. Suburban Texas community colleges aren't known for their fashion standards and I often teach labs involving dissection specimens or chemicals. It sounds like the OCBDs and chinos I normally wear will be quite appropriate. I have one LL Bean Shetland; maybe I will save up for an O'Connell's model.

I own a Patagonia Torrentshell, which hopefully will suffice as a rain jacket. Umbrellas are supposedly not done, but I will bring mine along anyway. And a Barbour has always been on the long-term acquisition list.

Shoes...sigh. I was just thinking about hunting down some gunboats, but precious few of those on eBay have Dainite soles and none in my size. I agree that it looks to be the best type of rubber sole. I wear LL Bean and Quoddy blucher mocs with camp soles now. Maybe those will do well. And I have a pair of shell chukkas with Topys (I think) and rubber heels: will they work?

Again, thanks for the help. Keep it coming, if you will.

 

Myth,

Sorry to see you heading out of the metroplex but I am convinced you will really enjoy it up there. (Of course as a thrifter, I must be happy to see all the other DFW thrifters move away and leave me all the old, used menswear)

No clothing advice better than the above but wanted to wish you luck. Please take the opportunity to travel a bit when up there and visit Vancouver and Victoria, Ms Woofa and I went there for our honeymoon and we really loved the entire area and plan to go back in the future. It is really so very different from DFW with the lush greens and the amazing colored flowers. I am a little jealous actually. Enjoy.

 

Your blucher mocs will be fine. The chukkas will also work, as would gunboats, but only on certain days, i.e., when it is not raining. Fortunately, surprise storms are extremely rare, so you can choose your footwear for the day with a fairly high degree of confidence. And it does not rain every day. There are years with wonderful summers, but there are also years when summer never really seems to come. As others have said, it tends to be a slow but steady drizzle that can sometimes last for weeks. That's why few people bother with umbrellas. The downpour usually isn't sufficient to justify one, and after awhile, you just get used to it.

You might want to consider getting some bucks. Those come with rubber soles and nubuck is relatively forgiving when it comes to getting wet. Maine Hunting Shoes/Bean Boots, the low rise kind, would also be an excellent idea. You will see a ton of people in tennis/athletic shoes, but you can do better than that.

Thanks, all. I already dress fairly casually. Suburban Texas community colleges aren't known for their fashion standards and I often teach labs involving dissection specimens or chemicals. It sounds like the OCBDs and chinos I normally wear will be quite appropriate. I have one LL Bean Shetland; maybe I will save up for an O'Connell's model.

I own a Patagonia Torrentshell, which hopefully will suffice as a rain jacket. Umbrellas are supposedly not done, but I will bring mine along anyway. And a Barbour has always been on the long-term acquisition list.

Shoes...sigh. I was just thinking about hunting down some gunboats, but precious few of those on eBay have Dainite soles and none in my size. I agree that it looks to be the best type of rubber sole. I wear LL Bean and Quoddy blucher mocs with camp soles now. Maybe those will do well. And I have a pair of shell chukkas with Topys (I think) and rubber heels: will they work?

Again, thanks for the help. Keep it coming, if you will.

 

I always found it was a mistake to buy gear for a different environment before one gets there. The Pacific Northwest is outdoorsy and there may be activities you may find and want to take up, with their requisite gear. And not that I'm endorsing the lumbersexual hipster look, but let's just say that there's a lot more logging in the area than in Brooklyn, and gear there has evolved to accommodate the environment.

 

You're right about the rain - it's regular, but not often heavy. It is often overcast even when not raining, so some years feel like you only get 60 days of sunshine. I'm not exact with these numbers, but I think Seattle gets about 25" of rain each year. Maybe 2"-3" inches fall from July-September, so the summers are beautiful. By labor day most of the long-timers are complaining about the heat (upper 80s) and wishing it would rain.

I would define dress as more practical than casual. Temperatures are mild, so it can be a challenge to dress for rain but not be too warm. Locals will shun umbrellas in favor of lightweight rain-resistant jackets - like 32RR said. If you want to wear a sports coat, I would get a nice umbrella or find a very lightweight overcoat. If you end up doing a lot of walking for work, I would strongly recommend getting more rubber soled shoes.

I like the Seattle area, but live a few hours away. It is pretty unique in that there is a lot of variety within a few hours' drive. The city is practically surrounded by water with Puget Sound and Lake Washington. To the west of Puget Sound is the rainforest of the Olympic peninsula and eventually the ocean (not really any beaches that far north). The Cascade range is just to the east and just past that is a combination of farmland and desert. You will need to embrace the weather and get out in it if you're going to enjoy the area. There is a lot to do and the gloom will really get to you if you let the weather dictate what you do.

 

After reading all about Seattle, Reindeer, you might want to consider just staying in Texas. You don't need to worry so much about the rain and the chill. All in all, you might find it more economic to stay when you consider all of these suggestions.

 

After reading all about Seattle, Reindeer, you might want to consider just staying in Texas. You don't need to worry so much about the rain and the chill. All in all, you might find it more economic to stay when you consider all of these suggestions.

Haha, it may indeed be more economical to stay. The move will happen, though, so there's no sense in fretting over it. I rather like rain and chill so I will take jsbrugg's suggestion to not give into the gloom seriously.

32rollandrock: I had actually thought about bucks and was going to ask about them. I think that nubuck and even suede, at least the sort that ends up in desert boots, is resilient enough for a misting. You and Duvel needn't worry: Bean boots were also on the lifetime acquisition list before this move came up.

efdll: That's a good point. I will try to take this advice and apply it appropriately to what I bring with me, what I buy now (some deals should be seized in the moment), and what I buy there. But I am an academic: I like to do my background research.

Woofa: Judging from your posts, I was never much of a threat. Amateur hobbyist thrifter at best.

And I will say that I own jeans, flannel shirts, and Chippewa boots. I can go native when I feel like it.

 

I think that if Seattle made any contributions to Trad it was probably in being the original source of some of the outdoors gear that ended up in the catalogs of L.L. Bean and its competitors, especially post-60s, as the area is home to a few "firsts". (Early Winters of Seattle was the first company to produce Gore-Tex clothing, for instance -- https://www.oregonphotos.com/Early-Winters-1.html They were eventually purchased by Orvis.)

While most of those companies are gone, or have morphed into something different (like Eddie Bauer, which used to be famous for its down clothing), there are still some interesting places to consider in Seattle.

There's Crescent Down Works, which makes versions of old Eddie Bauer models (mostly for export to Japan) and has recently received interest from J. Crew -- https://www.crescentdownworks.com/

There's also Filson, an old Alaskan expedition outfitter which still makes heavy wool mackinaws, "tin cloth" cruisers, and other old-fashioned Northwest clothes (even though they carry a lot more stuff from "imported" now).

 

And a couple of hours south in Portland, OR is Columbia whose raingear is second to none. My daughter lives there and she says that if you are carrying an umbrella the locals presume you are a tourist. She carries one anyway. I will be moving up that way in a year or a little less so I am watching this thread with much interest. As another academic (now retired), tweed and jeans are your friends in the PNW with Pendletons for the weekend.

 

Actually, it's about 40 inches of rain each year. And the summers are not necessarily beautiful. I've gone through more than one where you'd swear there was no summer at all (unfortunately, I worked for a landscaping company during one such summer and it was bloody awful. Rained near every day, or so it seemed). This said, they can be beautiful, and often are. Climate wise, it's actually a great place to live. Eighty degrees is considered pretty darn hot, it rarely gets muggy and there's usually just one "cold" snap per year when it gets down into the 20s for maybe four days. The gloom factor is definitely something to consider. Once the rainy season sets in, usually by the end of September, it sometimes doesn't end until May or June. Even when it isn't raining, it's overcast. Seasonal Affective Disorder gets discussed with a lot of seriousness.

You're right about the rain - it's regular, but not often heavy. It is often overcast even when not raining, so some years feel like you only get 60 days of sunshine. I'm not exact with these numbers, but I think Seattle gets about 25" of rain each year. Maybe 2"-3" inches fall from July-September, so the summers are beautiful. By labor day most of the long-timers are complaining about the heat (upper 80s) and wishing it would rain.

I would define dress as more practical than casual. Temperatures are mild, so it can be a challenge to dress for rain but not be too warm. Locals will shun umbrellas in favor of lightweight rain-resistant jackets - like 32RR said. If you want to wear a sports coat, I would get a nice umbrella or find a very lightweight overcoat. If you end up doing a lot of walking for work, I would strongly recommend getting more rubber soled shoes.

I like the Seattle area, but live a few hours away. It is pretty unique in that there is a lot of variety within a few hours' drive. The city is practically surrounded by water with Puget Sound and Lake Washington. To the west of Puget Sound is the rainforest of the Olympic peninsula and eventually the ocean (not really any beaches that far north). The Cascade range is just to the east and just past that is a combination of farmland and desert. You will need to embrace the weather and get out in it if you're going to enjoy the area. There is a lot to do and the gloom will really get to you if you let the weather dictate what you do.

 

Always wondered what happened to Early Winters. They did make great stuff. Once a year, long before the advent of the Internet, they'd have a seconds/returns sale and it was amazing.

I will disagree with Old Sarge regarding Columbia rain gear. REI is better, I think, as is Marmot (I really like Marmot stuff). And while it has become the clothing of hipsters, North Face is also good. Columbia tends to be bulkier and not as rugged as these makes.

I think that if Seattle made any contributions to Trad it was probably in being the original source of some of the outdoors gear that ended up in the catalogs of L.L. Bean and its competitors, especially post-60s, as the area is home to a few "firsts". (Early Winters of Seattle was the first company to produce Gore-Tex clothing, for instance -- https://www.oregonphotos.com/Early-Winters-1.html They were eventually purchased by Orvis.)

While most of those companies are gone, or have morphed into something different (like Eddie Bauer, which used to be famous for its down clothing), there are still some interesting places to consider in Seattle.

There's Crescent Down Works, which makes versions of old Eddie Bauer models (mostly for export to Japan) and has recently received interest from J. Crew -- https://www.crescentdownworks.com/

There's also Filson, an old Alaskan expedition outfitter which still makes heavy wool mackinaws, "tin cloth" cruisers, and other old-fashioned Northwest clothes (even though they carry a lot more stuff from "imported" now).

 

...

Shoes...sigh. I was just thinking about hunting down some gunboats, but precious few of those on eBay have Dainite soles and none in my size. I agree that it looks to be the best type of rubber sole. I wear LL Bean and Quoddy blucher mocs with camp soles now. Maybe those will do well. And I have a pair of shell chukkas with Topys (I think) and rubber heels: will they work?

Again, thanks for the help. Keep it coming, if you will.

They aren't gunboats, but Allen Edmonds makes a wingtip called University that comes standard with a Dainite sole.

There's a few out on Ebay. I managed to find a pair of new ones for around 175, but it looked to be lower than the prices around it.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/Mens-Shoes-/93427/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=edmonds+university

Also, if you want the traditional gunboats with an old pair of Florsheims, you can have a cobbler put the dainites on.

 

Also, if you want the traditional gunboats with an old pair of Florsheims, you can have a cobbler put the dainites on.

This will definitely be part of my plan: try to wear the right shoes for the weather, then if soles wear down get Dainite replacements.

 

I have lived in Seattle for almost 13 years now (I also moved from Dallas), and as most have said the rain is really overrated. It tends to be drizzly from the end of September until June. But even then it's rare to get more than .5" of rain in a day. Winters tend to be mild (usually highs in the mid 40's with lows in the low 40's or high 30's). Summers are usually in the mid 70's with a few 80 degree days and any day of 90+ sending the city into a panic. Though this winter was very weird. Most days were in the 50's and the rain came in fewer but heavier events than normal. Some smart people say that as climate change takes hold, that will be the new normal.

It's also very casual. If you're wearing something nicer than jeans and a button down, you're already going to be in the top 1% and there isn't a restaurant in town you can't sit down in comfortably wearing chino's and a blazer/sport coat. Even at my company the guys high level management and sales guys rarely wore more than OCBD's and jeans.

Here's my basic wardrobe. For the winter (starting in October) I usually wear a button down shirt with dark denim, chinos, five pocket cords, or five pocket moleskin. I rotate three pairs of shoes. I have an Allen Edmonds Long Branch in golden chromexcel, a black chisel toe pair of Blundstones, and a cordovan Chippewa Moc toe work boot. I also keep a pair of Blundstone work boots around if it's really raining or there's snow on the ground. I tend to wear either a button down shirt or a wool sweater during the winter. On top I have a black Patagonia rain shell. I keep meaning to buy a duffle coat to replace my very old winter coat, but I haven't needed a winter coat the last three winters.

When I'm dressing up for dinners in the winter; I wear moleskin, flannel, and tweed trousers. Any shoe I will wear for the winter either gets a topy (my Alfred Sargent Longwings), comes with a v-tread (Brooks Brothers AE Park Avenue), is danite (Meermin chocolate suede wingtip oxford), or synthetic sole (RM Williams Blaxland). I usually wear a tie and a cardigan, v-neck sweater, sweater vest, or a sport coat to dinners; but I'm often the only one in the restaurant so dressed.

While our summers aren't hot, something to keep in mind is that many places won't have A/C. I've never lived in a house or apartment here that had it. Most restaurants (unless they are in new construction) don't. Even some of the schools don't. So I tend to dress like it's warmer than it is. Lots of linen shirts and lightweight (poplin, oxford cloth, or seersucker pants). I also don't worry too much about topys on any shoe that I will use mostly for the summer.

 

My go to shoes are my AE Wilberts. Waterproofish with rubber soles. I also have Bentons and Eagle something boots. Forget leather soles.

I love Seattle. Great restaurants, buildings, public art, people and the Seahawks.