June is the official kickoff to the summer, and while there are plenty of vacation outfits to plan for this season, there’s still work to be done—literally. Deciding what to wear to the office in the steamy summer months is no joke. On the one hand, you have to survive a sweltering commute, and then, once you arrive, you have to endure the arctic air blasting from the AC—all while maintaining a professional and polished look.
But don’t sweat it. There are myriad pieces you can use to refresh your office wardrobe this summer. For instance, you can ditch your floor-skimming pants in favor of lighter fare, such as silky midi skirts or capri pants. If you’re looking for an easy, no-fuss outfit, a monochromatic pantsuit or shirtdress with a playful scarf print will earn high marks at the office.
Keep scrolling for 10 office-approved summer work outfits you and all your co-workers will want to wear.
Layer Up With Linen
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When it comes to summer-proof fabrics, it’s hard to top linen. This lightweight, breathable material is both stylish and practical, making it the perfect choice for the office. Keep things from looking too beachy by layering your linen pieces in unexpected ways, such as wearing long trousers under a mini dress or an oversized button-down with a maxi skirt.
Simplify With a Shirt Dress
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A shirt dress is the perfect one-and-done office outfit for summer. A collared neckline and cuffed sleeves lend effortless sophistication to this look, while the silhouette also offers a looser, flowy fit that makes getting dressed a breeze.
The key to making this piece office-appropriate is the accessories. A pair of bookish loafers or a neutral statement belt can easily take a shirtdress from summer soiree to the office cubicle.
Stylish Scarf Prints
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Another way to elevate your summer office style is to add some scarf prints into the mix. An intricately printed dress can exude the same effortless sensibility and look of silky scarves. Add in accessories with hard lines, and you have an office-appropriate look that is anything but standard issue.
Standout in Solid Suits
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I know what you’re asking yourself: Can you wear suits to the office this summer? The answer is a resounding yes. The key is to forgo conventional corporate iterations (and heavy fabrics) in favor of super-saturated colors.
A bold, monochromatic suit can easily command attention in any boardroom, and you can beat the heat by swapping out a business button-down for a matching vest or thin tank top.
Keep Things Cool With Cropped Blazers
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When planning an office outfit, a good rule of thumb is to start with one piece that you love and base the rest of the outfit around it. A summer staple I can’t recommend enough is a cropped blazer.
Whether you pair it with a simple white tee and jeans or a printed sundress, your outfit will retain an air of professionalism when grounded by the tailored neatness of a blazer, while the cropped hem will keep you from looking stuffy.
Be Mindful With Midiskirts
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As much as I love a mini skirt moment during the flaming heat of summer, there’s no denying that a midi-length offers the same comfort and will always check off the boxes of your office dress code. A silk or linen option will keep things even more chill.
Style your midi skirt with a more structured element, such as a sleeveless denim vest or a tailored tunic top, to give your outfit the perfect balance of pragmatic professionalism.
Business-Approved Balloon Sleeves
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Believe it or not, you can, in fact, wear black in the summer. If you’re like any typical New Yorker, wearing head-to-toe black to the office is practically second nature, but the summer months certainly present more precarious conditions for donning the moody hue.
Keep things breezy with your all-black office outfits by going for bottoms with higher hemlines and tops with some airy volume. The shorter hems keep things light, while a balloon sleeve can add a breezy, bold touch to your look.
Round Up Some Ruffled Hems
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A pencil skirt is a failsafe office option that pairs with just about everything, from a sleeveless silk blouse to a spaghetti-strap cami. Choosing a pencil skirt with a ruffled hem can lend a soft, romantic flair to any summer ensemble. Skirts in semi-sheer or embellished fabrics can heighten the desk-side drama of a ruffled hem.
Put On Pretty Pastels
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A soft color palette for summer will keep your office attire from heading into drab territory. Pieces in pretty pastels like butter yellow, pistachio green, and bubblegum pink instantly inject playfulness into any outfit without sacrificing professional points.
When it comes to styling your soft summer colors, keep things simple to let your light shades really shine bright.
Go Corporate Chic in Capris
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Capri pants can be a controversial choice for some, but if you ask me, they’re the perfect office pants for the summer. Once you reframe them as the pant equivalent to a midi-skirt, the styling possibilities become wide open—just avoid pairing them with clunky shoes.
Instead, pair your capris with sleeker options, such as open-toe sandals or slingback kitten heels.
