When it comes to styling, a thunderstorm often causes a bit of a design conundrum. There are still some clear dos and don’ts when it comes to summer workwear as the temperature rises and our collective moods rise. Even though dress rules have changed over the years and people have long been suffering in tight suits, it also pays to look professional in the office despite the cold.
We asked two English developers and Bazaar‘s style director, Avril Mair, to share some valuable tips on how to dress properly for job during a thunderstorm, all while keeping cool and looking fashionable. Plus, we’ve picked out some wonderful workwear-appropriate items to get this summer.
Here’s how to hammer hot-weather business dressing.
Often wear the appropriate underpants
Consider your underpinnings carefully because they determine how smooth you look in the most important ways. Make sure you have “a flesh-tone underwear underneath something white or light, a strapless bra underneath everything with pasta straps,” advises Mair. “A word of warning about off-the-shoulder heads, to: viewed from the other part of a machine, you can look completely nude. Depending on where you work, this may not actually be okay.”
A white top generally works
“There’s a reason this is a classic item – all looks good in a, without exemption,” says Mair. Cos is a top brand for summer fashion, offering a wide range of exciting cuts for a unique spin on the search. “For a new-season release, consider changing light to blue”, says Mair. “Then, look for interesting information like long collars.”
Claudio Lavenia//Getty Images
Choose hard-working, dynamic items
When Wiggy Hindmarch, the architect, started her company after realizing she needed to spend both on vacation and in London during the summertime, she became frustrated. Following a background in retail, Hindmarch (whose sister-in-law is the accessories designer Anya) decided to solve the problem herself.
“I realized it was insane having two summer clothes, and thought there must be a way of combining the two”, she recalls. In the city heat, I realized I wasn’t the only woman who was looking for clothes. For a post-workout party, she began with an assortment of 11 items that were made to be as “easy to put over a bikini” as “wear with a pair of golden heels.” A apron shirt, which is still a bestseller today, and a largely dress-and-dapper, were part of the range, which was a testament to Hindmarch’s idea that fashion should not be disposable and that good fashion should continue to evolve season after season.
Respond essential items from your spring wardrobe
Hero pieces are the secret to a wardrobe that works hard for you all year round for Jane Lewis, whose brand (previously Goat) is the secret workwear weapon for women in the know. She advises purchasing a few essentials, including a good A-line skirt (which gives you a lot of flexibility because it goes with a straightforward tank top or crisp cotton shirt), a great pair of pants (peg, Capri, or palazzo) and a very good silk or georgette shirt with a loose-fitting jacket. “The best gets don’t fit only into a summer of spring wardrobe – they can leap over months,” she says.
Edward Berthelot//Getty Images
The key to fantastic footwear is good footwear.
The importance of a summer foot that is office-appropriate is both stressed by Hindmarch and Lewis. “If you’re going for a sandals, you have to choose carefully – it should be quite stylish and not introduce too much of the heel area,” advises Hindmarch. Flat mules are a good choice because they avoid that problem and also leave you with an open foot experience. And I suggest getting a sharp ballerina flat to “upgrade” a look from the weekend to the workday. Lewis reflections this view: “Very noted dance pumps look fashionable with, say, a sleeveless ink gown for a Sixties-style silhouette.”
When it comes to shoes, Lewis says that she would “personally steer evident” in the office, but Mair thinks they can operate – provided you have the proper planning. “If you work in an office where open-toe shoes are allowed, – Chanel’s top layer makes any color especially long-lasting,” she advises. “But no matter how relaxed your work culture, flip flops are not okay. The judge’s out on share slides.”
Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin//Getty Graphics
Black is always in.
“Black and white looks fantastic at work”, tells Mair. “Appropriate doesn’t need to be boring, though: a white T-shirt plus a black is the easiest summer outfit imaginable.”
Jeremy Moeller//Getty Images
However, take in the subtleties of color and pattern.
“I think the way we dress in the office has become less formal and a lot more pleasant, especially in terms of color and expressing your personality”, says Hindmarch, whose company is known for its mood-boosting designs and styles. Try pairing a white T-shirt with a statement blazer in a stunning color, or add a pair of offbeat shoes, if you haven’t the bravery to go all-out. A good way to gently introduce style is using stripes.
Focus on organic materials
Hindmarch advises focusing on non-synthetic fabrics ( “is hard to beat” ) to make your summer-holiday wardrobe work for the day. These will maintain you cooler in warm weather, meaning you can wear more ladylike, looser models to the office without feeling miserable. “I’d even avoid anything too form-fitting for comfort”, she says. Some of Wiggy Kit’s dresses and skirts have drawstrings, making for a more or less cinched-in neck.
Christian Vierig//Getty Images
Get smart with layering
For Lewis, blending is the key to adapting your closet for summer. I’d suggest choosing a peaceful version of a typical two-piece, possibly a jersey-based sleeveless change dress with a light jacket on top, if you’re going from a blazing commute to a very warm, air-conditioned office. “An costume like that is smooth and pleasant, but still has form.” White usually looks good and allows you to experiment with bold accessories, but in the summertime, brighter hues also work well for the business.
During the summertime months, a suit may be your best friend. To “enhance up your look,” Mair advises wearing an oversize army or light jacket. You’ll not regret investing in this clothing staple, they say.
Alternately, look for a somewhat more secluded coverup that will still look good and maintain your temperature. “Take a hint from Victoria Beckham, who is often seen with a little sweater layered over her clothes,” says Mair. “From the heat of the pipe to snowy air conditioning, a slim can be a very stylish cover off. Put a pulley to update the appearance. Also, take into account a compact cropped jacket without collar.”
Raimonda Kulikauskiene//Getty Images
Workwear doesn’t need to be dull
Although it depends on where you work, “it does depend,” Mair says, “but trend-led items like oversized shorts or sportswear can excel brilliantly with condos or block pumps in the office and then be significantly dressed up for a night out.” Find wardrobe items that can be changed to make them look bright for the office.
Your trip attire is exactly that.
There are, nevertheless, some models that will just not work. “Denim short, slogan T-shirts, thigh-skimming clothes, coloured underwear, cheesecloth tunics, strapless super dresses: some things should be left for the garden or restaurant garden,” says Mair. “Just because it’s appropriate for the weather doesn’t mean it works in the office.”
Christian Vierig//Getty Images
Shop the revenue
“It’s worth investing in a great summer work attire and you’ll find lots of timeless pieces in: the, the pleated trousers, the slightly oversized skirts, the change outfit, the button-up shirt,” says Mair. “Buy wisely in neutral colours – camel, grey, monochrome or even animal print – and you’ll never regret it.” A summer skirt purchased in January will be useful when the temperature rises, so it’s worth checking the sales when off-season as well.