If you don’t have a uniform, dressing professionally in the summer can be bizarrely difficult. I think we all know that offices are cold because they were designed with men in suits in mind. And we all laugh and nod at the “women’s winter” video that goes around social media, because quite frankly, it’s true. But knowing this and figuring out how to handle summer work wear is two different things. You can stay warm and stay stylish in summer work wear, with these 4 tips!
I know a lot of people who don’t care about what they wear, particularly at work. However, I would argue that your professional wardrobe is the most important. Whether or not you like it, you get 3-5 seconds to make a first impression, and that is before you ever speak. What you wear says volumes about you. If you are always rumpled or wearing mis-matched clothing, are you paying attention to any other details? If you are only ever in yoga pants, does anything other than comfort matter to you? (I’ve said it before, though- if only yoga pants are comfortable for you, you need to buy different clothing.) Your professional wardrobe can be a reflection of your work ethic and ethos, and it deserves thought.
Summer work wear can be tough. I have been in offices that are so cold my hands have gone numb from my neck muscles being so tight. However, there are a few ways to work with it and still look professional and season appropriate without freezing your limbs off.
“Wear Cardigans and/or Blazers”
Well, duh. I’m going to to blunt here: if you couldn’t get to wearing a cardigan or a blazer to stay warm, I’m not sure what to say. The obvious point of summer work wear? Don’t wear short sleeves if you are only ever in frigid offices and the arctic tundra. Pay attention to the spaces that you find yourself in at work, and if you are hot, cold, or somewhere else entirely.
For me, it tends to be less about wearing blazers and cardigans, and more about what kind of blazer or cardigan. I tend to wear three quarter sleeved blazers, because if you ever have to go outside into the heat, it isn’t quite as stifling. (It also stops you from looking like you think it is January in July.) And ensure that whatever it it looks like, it is made from a breathable fabric. If you do find yourself overheated and sweaty, you will be even colder when the air conditioning does hit you…
Pay Attention to Colour
Colour matters in a wardrobe, for a number of reasons. On a sheerly aesthetic level, the wrong colours can wash you out and make you look sick. Yellow is always popular in the summer. Yellow also makes me look jaundice, which isn’t a look I particularly want for work. In Sticking to a Colour Palette , I chatted about colour palettes and how it can make shopping and styling easier. If you stick to a specific palette, your clothing will work together as a unit, and it will give you a direction when looking for new pieces.
I would always recommend having a darker colour in your palette, as I find them super useful in the summer. I am not a light coloured-clothing person. It can wash me out, and I also have the luck of usually getting something on it. Darker colours can be exceptionally useful if you are cold, as well. Basic science lesson: darker colours collect more heat. Therefore, if you are walking through or sitting in a sunny place, your darker coloured clothing will collect that heat. And that extra “jolt” of heat can actually make a big difference when I am back sitting at my desk. Dark does not automatically mean winter!
Longer Sleeves
Full length dress shirts can be a god-send, in the right patterns. Any white-based pattern or lighter coloured dress shirt will be an asset for your summer work wear. Gingham is the obvious choice- I have two gingham dress shirts and they are incredibly useful in the summer. They are light and breathable, but provide enough protection against drafts to stay comfortable. Roll the sleeves up, leave them down, the pattern is summery and it all works! I have a few striped dress shirts that work for this, as well. And conveniently, they still work for layering in the autumn and winter. (Stay away from plaid! Unless you have an incredibly light-weight and light coloured plaid shirt, do not succumb. It looks weird to be in a red plaid shirt in July, I don’t care what you say.)
Looser Full Length Pants
Full length pants can be a life saver in the summer. When you work in a drafty office that is 16°C, you need to do what you can to stay warm. However, on your commute to work and back home again, as well as any other places you might have to go during the day, you don’t want those pants to suddenly be stuck to your hot, sweaty legs. And thus the loose trouser will be your best friend. Looser fitting pants will allow air movement in case you find yourself somewhere significantly toastier, but will save you from the freezing onslaught of cold air. Paper bag trousers seem to be in right now, and if you can find a jogger in the right material, you will be set. (I have a linen pair, and am on the lookout for a second pair.) A quick tip: if you are going to do a jogger style pant, ensure that your top and shoes are formal enough to balance it out. (You don’t want it to look like you are wearing pajamas, because that will NEVER be the image you want for work.)
Pantyhose/ Nylons/ Stockings
This is my one without fail recommendation that everyone always balks at for some reason. However, it is also one of the most useful recommendations I have for summer work wear. I love wearing skirts and dresses year round. And in the autumn and winter, black tights are my go-to. They don’t really work in the summer though, it rather looks like you don’t have a grasp on what season it is. Enter: pantyhose. No matter what name you use, they go a long way to cutting drafts and cold air down. Just like a cardigan can help with the breeze on your arms and neck, pantyhose will do that for your legs. Also, it just finishes an outfit. You don’t need to look ultra-casual everywhere you go. Leave them at home when you are walking your dog or heading to the beach, but grab them for work and special events! My two tips for pantyhose: 1) Don’t cheap out- a good pair will last you months, and 2) Put them on properly. Roll them up in your hands, and then roll up your legs (after checking your nails for snags). Two easy ways to guarantee they will last for you!
What are your summer work wear tips? How do you brave the arctic tundra that we all work in for five months of the year?
Cheers,
The Historian
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I work in an office with an extremely casual “dress code” (quotes because even calling it a dress code is too formal), so I tend to focus on accessories and shoes to make my outfits look more finished. To deal with cold temperatures (either in the winter or during the summer when the air conditioning is turned on), I always keep a black or gray cardigan in my office so I have it if I need it (obviously this is easier to do if you have your own personal work space). I’m so glad you suggested pantyhose in the summer – I like wearing dresses because they are so simple to put on in the mornings, but leaving my legs bare makes me feel like I’m just wearing a beach cover-up or something. 😆And I so wish I could wear yellow, but it does not work for me either.