As if crawling out of bed isn’t difficult enough on an August morning when the sun has done a runner, you then face a host of style challenges.

Do you take the optimistic approach and dress for summer despite the puddles? Or go practical in your raincoat? Is it worth risking a lifetime of foot fungus to wear your new ballet shoes, or are wellies the only sensible solution?

You see, we fashion types are just as confused as everyone else, which is why we braved the pavement to find Londoners who had worked out the answers.

The big surprise was that a good proportion had eschewed jackets, though most were still dry and warm, thanks to big, colourful umbrellas. Hats were another staple — but we weren’t expecting such a stylish array. We also saw a deluge of fashion clashes: StayDry macs with sandals, cagoules with culottes, bare legs with jumpers. If it sounds erratic, that’s because it is — just like the British weather.

Multimedia

• Raindrops Keep Falling

Click on the slideshow, left, to see how the great British public are dealing with the weather.

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