Summer Wear to Work Looks

Summer or not, every office I’ve ever worked in was always freezing cold. It was easy to dress professionally for the season because adding a blazer to my look not only made me look polished, but it provided some warmth! In talking with one of my clients recently, she was complaining about finding things to wear to work during the summer and I assumed she meant because her office was so cold. But, she corrected me. “No, the AC at my office is a mess and it’s hot!” She went on to say that she definitely couldn’t add layers and was feeling unprofessional in how she was dressing for work. Thinking about this, I imagine that some of us in midlife who run hot might be experiencing this dilemma, too.

The good news is there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to summer workwear—and they don’t have to include layers. Don’t let the heat (or cold) keep you from feeling empowered, comfortable and put-together at the office this summer.

Summer-Friendly Fabrics

First, fabrication matters. Natural, breathable fabrics are a must for the office when the AC is on the struggle bus. That’s things like linen, cotton, tencel and chambray. Although rayon is a semi-synthetic, it’s another solid choice for summertime because it’s light, airy and dries quickly. A blend of a natural fiber and a semi-synthetic is another good choice.

The TLDR here: read your labels and know what fabrics you’re putting on your body in the summer.

A note on linen, my all-time favorite summer fabric. It wrinkles. This is well-known and simply a characteristic of the fabric. Think of it as part of its charm. That isn’t a free pass to skip the iron altogether, but know—and accept—that you’ll have creases at your thighs immediately after you get up from sitting. If you can’t handle this and/or feel like it isn’t acceptable for your workplace, I recommend focusing on linen blends which are better behaved when it comes to wrinkles.

Summer Wardrobe Staples for the Office

Let’s get into the actual pieces of clothing that should be in your regular summer workwear rotation.

I love a dress for summer—work or otherwise. It’s an easy choice because it’s one-and-done. There’s nothing more to think about when you wear a dress, save for your shoes and bag, and maybe a belt. Arguably the airflow in a dress is more optimal than in trousers. To really ensure dry, cool comfort without thigh chafing, pair your summer dresses with a slip short (I really like this one).

A tailored vest is summer’s answer to a blazer. You can achieve the same polished aesthetic but in a markedly cooler silhouette. And while a vest looks chic and professional, you effectively get the cool comfort of a tank top. Depending on what goes at your workplace, pair a vest with trousers or possibly even a trouser short in a longer, work-appropriate length (7-9”). If you find a vest too low-cut or revealing, a cami worn underneath is a fine option.

A sleeveless jumpsuit is another easy and cool one-and-done. You can opt for a jumpsuit with a full-length trouser or a cropped style if your office is a bit more casual. Again, a belt is a great way to pull the look together to achieve a put-together, work-appropriate look.

Perhaps an obvious choice, a button-up shirt works well for summer because it doesn’t hug the body, keeping you cooler. Plus, a collared shirt automatically equals more polished.

I’ve made my love of linen clear, but if you aren’t open to linen trousers for work, consider cropped pants. A bare ankle will be cooler than a full-length trouser, and you can choose a fabrication that works for you.

While it might feel counterintuitive to put something around your neck to keep you cool, a cotton neck scarf can be really effective—and up your style game. I often wear one of my cute bandanas from Madewell this time of year to keep me cool—and they work well.

Inspirational Lookbook & Shoppable Finds

Interested in seeing these ideas come to life?

If these ideas have you thinking about how you can fashion your own summer work looks, I’ve compiled a few head-to-toe outfits to help you visualize how these looks can work for your workplace. You can also shop individual items from the featured looks. View the free lookbook here.

Like what you see and interested in a more personalized lookbook of your very own? Get on my waitlist for personal styling services.

What’s your must-have item in your summer work wardrobe? Do you have any questions on the ideas I shared above? Leave a comment below.