Get rain savvy

Get wet and "play" for a few minutes in the weather. Notice wonderful Kadam flower, the colourful rainbows, the smell of the rain and try to catch raindrops on your tongue. Or just take a short walk and point out how different the world looks when it's covered in rain. Just enjoy what nature is giving you.

This season is buzzing with colorful raincoats, accessories, shoes and umbrellas, creating wonderfully chic and fun looks that make bearing the elements a little bit easier. Rain can be an inspiration for indoor activities.

During this season of regular downpours, people try not to set foot outdoors unless they have to. Never to go outdoors during a severe thunderstorm or when there is lightning. Traditional indoor activities can also be fun on a rainy day, especially when the weather is too severe to go outdoors. Children make boats to float. Rainy moments are great times for expressing innermost thoughts. And a rainy day can also be a good time to write poems.

A rain-imposed house arrest can be turned into a fun-filled time for all the family. A whole day or just an evening when the household is together for a change can be used to re-build some tottering bridges, get connected with the teenager who is fast becoming a stranger or just let down your hair and enjoy.

The options are endless. A fulfilled tummy is a pre-requisite to enjoyment. Therefore, let's begin with food. Get the whole family involved in dishing up some satisfying fodder. Ask for preferences, and provided they are not too exotic, let everyone have something he/she has asked for. Make it clear that it's to be a joint effort, and everyone must share the work. Hot chotpoti, chanachur makha and crisp samosas are some of the snacks that are easy to make and go down well with the rain. For lunch or dinner, make khichuri, beef bhuna and fried hilsa and mango pickle will complete the menu.

If you're alone at home on a rainy day, the best thing to do is to prepare a vast load of popcorn, and curl up in bed with a good book or a film!

Colorful rain boots and uniquely shaped umbrellas make a person look forward to rainy days and fashion-conscious Bangladeshi are also enjoy the rainy season.

The standard for rainy-day footwear is boots or high-topped shoes. Until recently, most rain boots have been drab-colored and functional rather than fashionable. But this year's crop of colorful, stylish boots has captured the attention of fashion-conscious young women. There is a huge variety of puddle-compliant footwear on the market these days.

The ones for women had a pansy motif while those for kids featured fruit patterns. Rain boots in flower patterns, leopard prints, and lace-up designs are also available in shops.

Among those who still do not like the idea of wearing galoshes - fashionable or otherwise - to work, water-repellent shoes are popular.

Umbrellas

Umbrellas in new shapes are also making a splash this season. Folding umbrellas are getting smaller and lighter all the time. Umbrellas aren't just to shield you from the rain - fashion conscious know that your choice of protective gear reflects your personality. To brighten up any dull rainy day printed umbrella with cute designs like ditsy bugs, butterflies, flowers are fascinating. Different companies, like Sharif, Atlas, Nawab, Apex, Dutta, Alam, Philips sell umbrella, which cost Tk.150 to Tk.350.

Raincoat

The raincoat has always been a leader in rainwear. The price range of raincoats is Tk.150 to Tk.400. Look for bright or pastels - pink, yellow, lavender, blue, green and orange -- as well as white or combinations of black and white. Patterns add pizzazz to any coat. The most popular are floral, polka dots or trendy paint splattered designs.

For accessories, pull out all the stops with a floral or bright colored hat, umbrella or boots. Go for loads of pearls (to wear outside a trench), an umbrella with a bamboo handle and a pretty, colorful patterned scarf tied around the neck.

These innovative and stylish products are helping people to enjoy a season that is usually thought of as gray and gloomy.

Makeup & Hair

Nobody likes to see dampened make up, soaked denims and shoes. Here are some useful tips to move around in style this monsoon:

l Always keep a spare umbrella and a packable raincoat in your car or office.

l Dab on some water resistant lipsticks, mascara, and eyeliners available by some of the leading cosmetic brands.

l Tuck those denims away; they are simply discrepant during monsoons. Bring out those cottons and lighter fabrics, there's nothing better than Capri pants and three fourths.

l Make a fashion statement with bright cheerful umbrellas and raincoats, also an ideal option to keep the rain showers and gloomy moods away. Pick these mood enhancers at leading stores and vendors on the roads.

l Slip into trendy sneakers and sandals. Avoid leather boots and high-heeled footwear.

l Stay away from whites and other light colors, unless you want muddy designs all over them.

l Ensure that your hair is devoid of any oils or gels, they don't make a pleasing concoction when fused with water. Follow these basic rules and you would want the rain showers to bestow on you. Splurge in the rains and give the frogs a complex! Go ahead; take on the rains!

l Wearing a leave-in conditioner can also protect your hair from excessive damage, but a wash still remains essential.

l It's important to use a hair dryer to quickly dry your washed hair on rainy days. Wet hair in chilly weather can make you prone to catching head colds and fevers. Keep the dryer set to a medium heat level and hold it 4 to 5 inches away from your scalp to avoid drying out or singeing your hair.

l Hair accessories are best kept to a minimum when it rains. Damp hair tends to break rather easily. A butterfly clip or loose rubber bands are your best bets.

l Avoid using hair styling products such as mousse, hair gels and wax. These clump up and become ineffective in contact with moisture-laden air. Worse still they can become dust magnets in a storm, working your hair into a dry, frizzy, tangled mess.

A light slick of anti-frizz and shine serum is best.

Photo: Farhad Hossain