Summer Fashion for the Office
By Abby on August 06 2008 at 12:29 PM
Summer is here, and you know just where you want to be… at the beach, of course. Unfortunately, though, you can’t live on the beach year-round. So unless you want to become a very cold-and-sandy beach dweller come wintertime, you’re going to have to keep paying your rent… which means you’ll have to keep coming in to the office instead of lounging around in your bikini.
Fortunately, while you do have to keep your poor, lonely bikini in a drawer until the weekend, you don’t necessarily have to look like you’re living the dull winter hum-drums in the middle of July. With a few little tricks, you can brighten up your office wardrobe so that you at least feel like it’s summer… even if you’re stuck listening to your boss drone on about your company’s mission statement. You just have to do it carefully, that’s all.
Simple Summer Guidelines
In summer, you want “business casual” to focus more on its “casual” side. But while most companies allow for a little dressing down during the hot summer months, there’s no forgetting that, well, this is a business. So you’ve got to dress the part. Some summer items are perfectly appropriate for the office… but there are others you’re going to have to leave at home.
All companies are different, so you’ll want to check with your HR department about dress code and keep an eye on the summer attire of your colleagues for guidelines. But in most companies, you won’t want to wear the following items to the workplace… no matter how sweaty and tempted you may be:
Jean Shorts
Really short skirts (and shorts)
Tank tops, strapless tops, and halters
Flip flops
Another tip? You can dress up a casual outfit with a pair of nice shoes. Or, if you’re called in to a sudden meeting, you can have a cardigan or blazer on hand, just in case.
“Summering Up” Your Work Wardrobe
If the clothing you’re permitted to wear to work is pretty limited, you’re not going to want to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe for summer at the office. But there are things you can do to help you remember that it is summer… and to keep you from feeling too down about being stuck inside.
Start out by buying a few items in nice cotton and linen fabrics. You don’t have to switch over your whole wardrobe, but if most of your work clothes are wool, you’ll definitely need to invest in some cooler pieces for summer. Another way to cool off your summer wardrobe is by adding in some white. White is acceptable now in winter as well as in summer, so this ever-so-cool color will be a good investment-- you can wear it all year round. Think about picking up a creamy white blazer for meetings, a wide white waist belt, and a pair of white slacks or a skirt.
And the best way of all to add a little summer to your office wardrobe? With accessories. Bold prints, bright colors, and fun shapes mark summer accessories… and just because you’re at work doesn’t mean you can’t add them to your “blah” work wardrobe. Invest in a few pieces of bright jewelry, a few fun and airy scarves, and as many summer bags as your paycheck can support. Because wearing an apple green designer bag on one arm is going to make you feel a heck of a lot better about being stuck inside… that’s a promise.
Comments
I like the part saying the best way of all to add a little summer to your office wardrobe? With accessories! This is the trick I use as well!
Posted by Ann 08/18 at 05:17 AM
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