Summer holiday dressing I can do: bikinis, cut off shorts, vest tops, flip flops, done. Summer in the city office dressing, well, I’m struggling, and that’s despite the office I’m currently working in being pretty much anything goes.
For the past two summers I’ve been working from home so I don’t really have much of a high summer workwear wardrobe and my holiday clothes, while fine in my home office, aren’t really acceptable in even the most casual of workplaces. Over the last couple of weeks the women I’ve spotted who are looking chic in the heat are sporting loose tailoring, throw-on dresses and menswear-style shirts in light colours. Clothes you don’t have to think about that are more than one season wonders. I’m always cautious about spending a lot on summer clothes, because who knows how many hot days we’ll have, but – yay! – there are plenty of well-priced pieces on the high street.
For tailoring Zara is hard to beat. This crepe blazer is the perfect balance of slouchy and smart and comes in white too. I’m yet to try a culotte but I’m coming around to them and I like this pair. I think the key is getting the shoes right, they need to be on the chunky side, like a flatform sandal or a brogue.
I can’t stop wearing menswear style shirts this summer, like this white one from Topshop or this striped one from Mango.
This week’s Grazia made the case for the SOS dress, a simple no-fuss frock you can throw on when the temperature soars. This black t-shirt dress from Finery London is the ultimate SOS dress, the front pleat detail stops it looking sloppy but it’s slouchy enough for all-day comfort.
Round-neck vest and t-shirt tops that can be worn alone on your commute and under a jacket in the office are a beat-the-heat must-buy, extra points if they add a pop of colour or pattern to your outfit. I bought the vest version of the Wildcat Polly Top in pink from French Connection a couple of weeks ago (only £14 in the sale!) and I’ve worn it lots already.
On hot summer days when my feet are in need of a little TLC and but I don’t have time for a DIY pedi, I want shoes that keep keep my toes covered but let my feet breathe like these tan T-bar sandals from Topshop.
How are you keeping cool in the office and on your commute? Do share any beat-the-heat purchases below!
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I’m also in need of some summer workwear. However, I wish more retailers would make clothes in fabrics more suited to hot weather. Out of interest, I’ve clicked through on the links above and many of the items are not what I’d consider suitable for summer. The culottes are 100% polyester and the dress mainly viscose. After a half hour drive to work on a hot day I know I’d end up with either of these items sticking to me! I wish there were more nice clothes in cooler fabrics (the shirts are cotton, which is good). Yes, they’re a bit more expensive, but if they were good quality and could be guaranteed to last a few seasons I’m sure people wouldn’t mind paying a bit more?
Hi Laura, good point, fabric is of course an important consideration. Cotton and linen are great for summer, my only problem with them is that they can often look quite creased by the end of the day (or sooner!). I have a shirt I bought recently that creases so quickly it looks scruffy before I even get to work. Very annoying!
I’m definitely having this problem at the moment! I’m a trainee speech and language therapist on a placement in early years (under 5s), so I have to wear something that is respectable work/office wear, hard-washing, enables me to get on the ground to play with the children comfortably without flashing any body parts (so skirts are a no-no), and is cool! It’s tough – I’m finding that I basically have one pair of cropped trousers that I’m wearing over and over. Oh and discovering that sandals often have buckles that dig into your feet when you’re sat on the floor. The woes!
Oh my goodness, so many things to consider Kate. I often end up in cropped trousers in the summer, but at a tad under 5’4″ they’re usually closer to full length trousers. Urgh to uncomfortable shoes, I bought a pair of tan sandals at the beginning of summer which I love and are ace, as long as I just basically just stand still in them. If I actually walk anywhere they take a layer of skin off my heel. Not great!