If you’re experiencing another rainy day, looking the part of the all-weather fashion princess is easy with a few closet calls.

Chic in the Rain
Umbrellas come in all shapes and sizes. Depending on the size of your purse, you might consider something light and toteable. But for maximum style appeal, and not to mention coverage, try the bigger, bolder designs out there in full-parasol sizes. (You can always stash them in the back of the car and at the office lobby when you get in.)

The Sporty Fashionista
Companies like The North Face, Columbia and Patagonia were ahead of the mainstream in terms of delivering rain-friendly outdoor wear. Mountaineers have long enjoyed high-tech fabrics that both whisk away moisture while remaining comfortable and breathable. In recent years, these brands have upped the ante, scoring points in the fashionable department with tailored designs and more stylish pieces in their lineup.

Classic Trench Coat
This fashion essential, popularized by Burberry, should be a wardrobe staple. That couldn’t be more on point than when it’s rainy out. Coats come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials, and you can simply adjust your choice depending on climate: If it’s humid, a thin waterproof parka or well-fitting raincoat lets you maneuver puddles fashionably while keeping you dry underneath. When it’s cooler out, don a trench that’s lined in a warm fabric.

Well, Wellies
Hunter Wellington boots, aka “Wellies,” have long made their way from British shores to the rest of the fashion world waiting for this tried-and-tested rain-friendly footwear. Stylist to the stars Rachel Zoe recently blogged about the latest Prada all-weather boots -- in striking red leather -- over at Stylecaster.com.  Here at The Style Glossy, former Cosmopolitan magazine Philippines fashion editor Katrina Dy guides you through rain-boot shopping, and talks about Plueys, a new brand of puddle-friendly footwear from Hong Kong that just launched in Manila and also available in Singapore (visit ReadyForRain.com and Plueys.com).

Waterproof Makeup
Don’t let the drizzle dampen your beauty outlook. With fab rain-ready style comes makeup that stands up to any weather challenge. When it’s wet out, you’ll have all the more reason to brush on waterproof mascara and slick on budge-proof eyeliner. Skip liquid foundation at this point and opt for mineral powders that naturally stay on skin without streaking when dampened.

The Right Tote
What good is looking sassy head to toe in the rain if your bag, along with everything inside it, gets drenched? Mountaineers, again, have this down pat by waterproofing items in their backpack using resealable plastic bags. You can do this for your mobile phone, iPod and even your wallet. If these plastic bags aren’t exactly your thing, good news is: You can now shop for stylish ‘rain bags’ made from PVC plastic.

You can also give your fave leather handbag a wet-weather makeover by applying a coat of waterproofing spray, available at the sporting goods store or shoe repair shop. Just make sure to do a patch test first on a small, unnoticeable corner of the bag to determine if you’ll like the result (and to make sure that the product doesn’t actually leave any unwanted stain).

Love the great outdoors but hate the idea of sleeping on the ground in a lumpy sleeping bag and taking cold showers? Then the increasingly popular trend of “glamping” (glamour + camping) is for you. Across North America, resorts and campgrounds are adding elegant outdoorsy options for overnight stays that feature pre-pitched tents and cabins with hotel-like amenities, such as fine dining, soaking tubs, plush bedding on real beds and even maid and butler service.

The glamping travel trend can be traced to the mobile camps of professionally outfitted deluxe African safaris. More recently, outdoor European summer festivals, like England’s Glastonbury music fest, have popularized ultra-chic camping that comes with pricey creature comforts (sheepskin rug floors!) and draws bold names such as Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Nature With All the Niceties
Going glamping means you can enjoy first–class accommodations without forgoing the eco-friendly, get-away-from-it all appeal of camping. “Glamping spots are typically in pristine locations, not tarnished by tourism, and have a much smaller footprint than a luxury hotel,” says Jennifer Domansky, editor of GlampingGirl.com, which lists more than 20 glamping destinations.

You’ll find glampsites in some of the most awe-inspiring places in the U.S. and beyond. The Treebones Resort in Big Sur, Calif. overlooks miles of dramatic coastline and offers yurts -- circular, tent-like structures that are a modern adaptation of the shelters used by Central Asian nomads -- that include plush beds, polished wood floors and French doors that open out to a redwood deck. At the Resort at Paw’s Up, which is nestled on the banks of Montana’s Blackfoot River, the canvas tents feature art-adorned walls and heated floors; a private master bath is a short walk away along a solar-lighted path. The Cedar House Inn & Yurts is located at the foothills of the Appalachians in North Georgia and offers bed-and-breakfast yurts (breakfast is served at the property’s inn).

Go Glamping: Save Your Romance
When he talks about taking a vacation where he can pitch a tent, she pitches a fit. Glamour camping is a cozy, and very comfortable, alternative to separate vacations. “Glamping is a good middle ground for couples, if one of them is a camper and the other shivers at the idea,” says Terri Bowman, general manager of El Capitan Canyon, just north of Santa Barbara, Calif., where 135 tents and cabins are set on 30,000 acres in the midst of a wildlife corridor. “The die-hard camper can sit outdoors by the campfire while inside the cabin there are nice linens and everything you’d expect from a hotel.” El Capitan Canyon’s most elaborate wood-frame cabins are tricked out with soaking tubs, outdoor decks, hand-hewn picnic tables and fire pits. (Comfort at that level doesn’t come cheap; rates go up to $350 a night.)

Unlike a typical camping trip where every meal needs to be prepped and packed in advance, most glamping spots offer dining or easy-to-cook meals. At El Capitan Canyon, glampers can eat at the on-site restaurant or order a BBQ kit with all the fixin’s, from tri-tip steak to ready-to-toast s’mores. At Montana’s Paw’s Up Resort, each of the resort’s swanky tent camps has its own dining tent serving three meals a day, inclusive in the nightly stay rate.

Off the Grid and Do-It-Yourself Glamping
Some glamping spots, like the Jalama Cañon Ranch 130 miles north of Los Angeles, let you go completely off-the-grid, and are remote enough so there’s no light pollution at night and constellations are brilliant. On Washington State’s San Juan Island, the Lakedale Resort’s canvas tents are without electricity and Wi-Fi, but the pillow-top beds and sparkling lakes soothe those suffering from Blackberry or iPhone withdrawal.

For the truly budget conscious, it’s easy enough to create your own glamp-out. “Glamping is more of a lifestyle than a destination: you can turn any camping trip into glamping,” says Domansky. She suggests bringing special supplies like champagne and flutes or flavored marshmallows for gourmet s’mores. Glamorizing your campsite is the first step to traveling-in-style in the great outdoors.

Sleep Over in New South Wales
Ed Denny is a host you want at your party. The debonair Irishman and his equally delightful wife, Judy, are the names behind Thredbo’s The Denman boutique hotel. Come 5 p.m. and the hotel’s basement apres bar fills to the brim with thirsty skiers and boarders who are celebrating their descent down Thredbo’s Supertrail in one piece.

You’ll find Ed mixing it with guests and locals alike in the den of stylish iniquity complete with an amber quartz top bar. You’ll find him again upstairs at The Terrace restaurant working the room with a smile and a nod.

Don’t miss the hotel’s day spa. A head massage and pedicure is the perfect antidote to a night out in Thredbo.

Ski in and Spa out in Victoria
The sister ski resorts of Falls Creek and Hotham in the Victorian Alps are considered snow spa central this winter.

Ski into the Mii Spa at Falls Creek for a bone-soothing dip in the private plunge pool or a Rubber Leg Rescue 50-minute massage treatment for tired ski legs. Mii Spa is part of the uber-cool Quay West Resort, which opened last season with a prime chairlift base location and the funky tomdickandharry’s cafe and bar so guests can ski, spa then bar.

Across the Australian Alps sits Mt. Hotham’s luxury Dinner Plain enclave found amongst the snow gum plains at the base of the mountain road. The village may look quintessential Australian but it serves up a slice of Asian spa delight at the Dinner Plain Onsen Retreat and Spa. Soak in the heated outdoor Onsen spa pool as snowflakes fall overhead, or retreat to a spa therapy room for some private downtime.

Bar up in Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown is an alpine shrine to cocktail design. If it can be stirred, mixed or shaken and served up in a martini glass, you’ll find it in this ski town. Be warned, you’ll need your wits about you with over 150 licensed establishments in one square kilometre.

You can wander the cobbled lanes and pedestrian alleys or take our word for it: The Yacht Club on the wharf is perfect for late afternoon gin and tonics in the sun, while Eichardt’s House Bar is a nice start to the night with sunset views.

Bardeaux is an intimate bar with an open fire that looks far tamer than it is. Mini Bar is exactly as its name implies -- the smallest bar in town -- so expect to make new friends. Lastly, the Spire Champagne Bar will fill your night with bubbles and jazz.

If you’re looking for a funky crowd, Barmuda’s outside fireside terrace is a good option, while the swanky The Bunker Bar is the place to be later in the evening, as the resident DJ plays smooth tunes.

If you make it through the night, recover with a long lunch at Amisfield Winery and some fine New Zealand pinot.

Snow Beautiful
The skiing and apres life can take a toll on the body, so make sure you drink loads of water. Winter conditions also play havoc with the skin, sucking the moisture and life out of it. Plus, snow reflects the sun’s glare and can lead to painful sunburn and unattractive goggle tans. To combat the elements and look your best this ski season, make sure you slather your face with SPF 30 sunscreen that contains a hydrating moisture base. Keep a lip balm stick in your pocket at all times and wear polarised sunglasses or goggles to reduce crow’s feet, caused by squinting.

Effects of Shashlik

Every summer until late fall the, country air is scented with the mouthwatering aroma of shashlik. It sounds perfect -- and tasty -- but there is a problem, and it affects foods like shashlik that are grilled over an open flame. The culprit is the sugar that caramelizes when the food is grilled -- the same thing that gives it that great layer of crunchy flavor.

Anti-aging scientists have found that foods that contain sugar speed up the aging process. This is a result of glycation, a natural process where the sugar molecules in the cells stick to the protein fibers, forming harmful new molecules called advanced glycation end-products, or AGEs for short. These AGEs accumulate, causing inflammation and damage to nearly all the cells and molecules in the body. Eat too many AGEs, and skin loses its elasticity. It becomes more vulnerable to wrinkling, sagging, and UV damage.

Healthy Shashliking

No one is going to give up the fun of shashlik, so why not consider some healthy alternatives and add some new choices to the traditional menu? Salmon and baby spinach with just a touch of white wine will steam to perfection over a barbecue fire. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts slathered in a prepared or fresh pesto of basil or sundried tomatoes are delicious too when cooked in the French style of “en papillote”.

Cooking the food in parchment-lined foil will keep it moist and tasty, and it will prevent the caramelization, or browning, that causes the damaging AGEs. These lighter dishes go well with the traditional platters of fresh tomatoes and cucumber usually served. Add some tasty yogurt and garlic dip, some fresh crusty bread, and you have a forest feast that will leave you looking ageless.

Taking Care of Your Skin

Eating flavorful foods with friends beside a fire is just one way to enjoy the outdoors. But while you are shashliking, don’t forget your skin. Generously apply a UV/UVB sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more to avoid signs of aging, which you’re trying to prevent. The best sunscreens contain antioxidants, such as vitamins E and C, or green tea to combat oxidative damage from UV sun exposure and the environment. Apply it 30 minutes before you plan to be outside so it has time to sink into your skin. And for a pretty, wrinkle-free pout, be sure to use a lip balm or gloss with an SPF too. Lips are the most sensitive area of your skin.

Here’s a no-AGEs recipe for salmon and baby spinach on the grill:

Ingredients

100 g of fresh salmon fillet per person

1 onion, thinly sliced

2 large handfuls (120 g) well-rinsed baby spinach leaves per serving

1 clove garlic, crushed in paste

3 springs of fresh dill, chopped finely

2 tablespoons oil

2 tablespoons white wine

Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1.    Mix garlic, dill, oil and white wine together well.

2.    Season the fish with salt and pepper.

3.    Cut a large square of foil and wax or parchment paper to hold the fillet and spinach. Top the foil square with the paper square. Place the spinach in the center of the paper, and top with a few slices of very thinly sliced onion.

4.    Top with the fish fillet and drizzle with sauce.

5.    Fold the paper in half and roll the edges tightly to make a leak-proof package. Be sure to encase the parchment/wax paper completely in the foil paper.

6.    Cook on the grill rack of a hot grill for 10 minutes. Very thick fish fillets may require 12 minutes to cook.

The packets keep the fish moist and tasty. Be sure to open carefully, avoiding steam!

In lieu of an autumn/winter collection, fashion-forward cities closer to the equator -- where one could welcome sunny skies or random thunderstorms all year round -- showcase the latest trends for their own style denizens via the Holiday Collection.

At the recently held Philippine Fashion Week, 112 designers alongside four of Manila’s big-name retailers simply proved that no matter the season or region, all roads lead to great clothes. “Of course you won’t find fur coats or heavy jackets on the runways,” says Katrina Dy, former fashion editor at Cosmopolitan magazine Philippines. “But it’s the same [as out West]: We take the basic trends -- say, the color palette -- and interpret them into styles that people can wear for the [tropical] weather.”

Here, Dy shares common denominators that work across the board when it comes to up-to-the-minute outfits for the rest of the year -- rain or shine -- whether you live in urban Manila, clean-and-pristine Singapore or vibrant Kuala Lumpur.

Metallic Beats
“A lot of designers featured shimmering fabrics in their collections,” shares Dy. “Metallics are always a festive option for parties.” When donning silver, gold, and copper-tinged fashion, subtlety is key. Pair a gilt lame top with understated indigo shorts, or even your favorite blue jeans. Or if you’re wearing super-shiny leggings, opt for a soft-white or solid top, and go easy on the bling. Think classy and sassy, versus over-the-top and tacky.

Feathers and Embellishments
While nude and sheer palettes -- also spotted at Philippine Fashion Week -- are always welcome in any wardrobe, it wouldn’t be called Holiday Collection if it were all white wine and quiet nights. Enter champagne and glitz in the form of feathers, textures and origami-inspired detailing, as seen in Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco’s collection. Models strutted in meticulously constructed frocks reminiscent of giant paper fans, stacked to look like peacock feathers. Intricate beadwork on gowns set the high-couture stage for voluminous shoulders and sleeves.

Pleats, Please
Students of the School of Fashion and the Arts (Sofa) in the Philippines were also given a platform to showcase their work. Designer Noelle Llave’s space-age creations in constructed satin fabrics had a teasing, outlandish quality to them. Designer Kaye Morales, on the other hand, had an extra-edgy take on pleats, doing some serious draping and weave work on asymmetrically shaped ensembles. What Herve Leger did for bandage, Morales has magnificently done with pleats. “If you're afraid that pleats will make you look bigger, use it in small doses,” suggests Dy. “A pleated skirt in a soft fabric, for example, will skim your silhouette in a flattering way.” The same goes for constructed pieces that strategically elongate and highlight your favorite parts.

Military and Prints
As with the international runways, the military trend is basking in its 15 minutes once again, in the same way Kylie Minogue had paired cargo pants with stilettos in one of her music videos almost a decade ago. “We’re seeing plenty of camouflage prints, army-green shades and epaulet details gracing the runways,” says Dy.

Alongside fatigues are abstract prints featuring swirly patterns and marbled effects in fabrics. For maximum right-now appeal, let architectural details anchor these otherwise purely artistic and almost-Bohemian picks create one great fashion statement that’s so 2010.