We’re in the dog days of summer, and it can be tough to know what to wear when it’s blazing hot outside but you want to maintain an air of professionalism. Here are some tips for work fashion in the hottest days of the summer to help you stay stylish, comfortable, and professional.
Just a heads up, if you’re dealing with days that are not just hot, but humid as well - well, make sure you check out this guide on what to wear in humid weather by Flokka.com.
Onwards to our summer tips for work fashion. The first thing you want to keep in mind is fabrics and colors. Wearing lighter fabrics like cotton and linens in lighter shades (like creams, beiges, whites and so forth) will help you look trendy and keep you cooler in the heat (we all know that lighter colors reflect light and heat and darker colors absorb them!)
If you want to go a little more casual during the summer, that’s fine - but remember to mix and match. If you want to wear a t-shirt, pair it with a blazer or something else a little bit more formal.
If you want to wear jeans, pair it with a more professional shirt or top. Don’t go full casual on both tops and bottoms - t-shirt and jeans would probably push your outfit into the ‘too casual’ category.
As a general rule, shorts aren’t appropriate office wear. They’re too casual and often too short to be appropriate for a professional environment. Tank tops and spaghetti straps should generally also be avoided (at least without another layer on top). If your outfit would fit right in at the gym or at the beach, it’s probably best to avoid wearing it to work.
Summer dresses can work, but avoid anything too revealing or too translucent/see-through. Choose dresses that won’t show off anything you don’t want to show off when under the hot summer sun.
Don’t go for anything strapless or anything with a plunging neckline, and avoid tops that show off any of your midriffs. Save those for more social situations – your number one priority at work is to look smart and look professional.
We get that it’s hot, and it may seem sexist that spaghetti straps and other more revealing options are frowned upon in the work world – but hey, lots of guys need to wear suits to work every day even in the summer, so there’s really no misogyny at play here.
Generally, sleeveless tops are OK – just not so sleeveless that your shoulders are bare. Also, it’s smart to keep a cardigan or other top layer handy in case you end up in even more formal situations (like client meetings, or if the CEO of the company drops in or something). Have something with you that will transform your look from smart casual to fully professional.
Hopefully, these tips for professional attire in the summer help keep you cool, trendy, and smart in the heat!
Again, if you’re dealing with humidity as well, make sure you check out this post on Flokka.com about what to wear in humid weather!
