What should you wear — and not wear — to look professional (and stay cool) when it's hot outside? Which summer work clothes are the best? We've recently gotten two reader questions on the question of how to look professional when it's hot. 

First up, Reader M wonders:

Hi. I'm 30 years old. I am a rock and roller. Meaning that I work in the music industry. In the past my job was to chaperone the concert site. I was very good at my job. Got a new job in Orlando, FL, that has me now working at a desk. I am now a supervisor. I came into this job in the fall so I had some leftover black wool slacks, nice dark wash denim, and black sweaters to get me through.

It's now almost spring (feels like summer) and I don't know how to do professional for summer. I work in a business casual environment, which helps. I like to keep all of my color in accents like purses, shoes, scarves, etc. I wear monochromatic. It's my signature and super versatile when starting a new wardrobe.

Can you advise cuts, fabrics, etc. of office appropriate summer wear for a newly professional, young lady like myself that's trying to beat the heat without looking like a concertgoer?

Reader T also wonders:

I am heading to D.C. from California this summer for a legal externship, and am in need of advice on the dress code in the legal world when it's 95 degrees. I worked on the Hill for several years and (sadly) recall a lot of flip flops and sundresses during the hotter months.

I imagine that this won't be the case in a legal setting/government agency, but I would love some basic outfit formulas, fabric suggestions (is tweed taboo?), and other ideas for a 30 yr. old to look like a lawyer while fighting the humidity and sticking to a budget.

The Best Summer Work Clothes for Women

In terms of outfit formulations, my go-to looks are boring, but they're classic for a reason: think sheath dresses plus a blazer (to be added once you're inside), and nice, lightweight trousers (look for cotton or cotton blends) with a nice tee and a classic pair of pumps (and ideally a matching blazer). 

As we've noted before, natural fabrics like cotton, silk, and linen are going to breathe a lot more than non-natural fabrics, so do pay attention to that when buying new pieces. 

(Also: pay attention to the laundry instructions. That $20 pair of pants starts to look less appealing — and less of a deal — when they start to smell to high heaven after two wears and the only way to launder them is to get them drycleaned.)

Our Favorite Lightweight Summer Pants for Work

Some of our favorite summer work pants for women as of 2024 include options from Nic + Zoe, M.M.LaFleur, Ministry of Supply, Uniqlo — and Banana Republic Factory sometimes has pants in their AirStretch line, also!

Fitted, Elegant T-Shirts

Fitted T-shirts can be great because they layer so well under blazers and sweaters, but in the summertime they're also easy to wash and polished enough with the right accessories.

Looking for the best work-appropriate T-shirts? As of 2024, some of our favorite dressy T-shirts for work are from Amazon Essentials, Theory, Everlane, J.Crew, Banana Republic, Nic + Zoe, and Vince — also check our posts on opaque white tees and the best plus-size tees for work!

Hunting for opaque white T-shirts for work? As of 2024, we'd suggest checking the double-layer lines from Boden, Express, Old Navy, and Hobbs, as well as great sources for basic Pima cotton such as L.L.Bean, Uniqlo, Everlane, Banana Republic, and Talbots. (This $268 tee also gets great reviews for opacity, and Elizabeth swears by this tee under $30!)

As of 2024, the best spots to check for nude-for-you undergarments are Gap, Old Navy, or Nubian Skin for tons of options — Victoria's Secret also has a bunch!

The Best Lightweight Blazers

Hunting for lightweight blazers for summer in linen and other fabrics? As of 2024, J.Crew's Helena blazer in stretch linen is a bestseller, as is this super affordable Quince blazer and Old Navy (regular, tall, and petite up to 4X). Along related lines (all machine washable!), check out Uniqlo's Airsense jacket (lightweight and stretchy), Madewell's Drapeweave line (lightweight and drapey) and Brooks Brothers' seersucker line (lightweight and cooling). You can find silk/linen blazers at Ann Taylor and Hobbs; Ann Taylor also has a number of cotton pique options.

White Blazers

White blazers are another great summer work outfit basic because they make everything seem more sunny and fresh.

As of April 2024, some of our favorite stylish white blazers for work include options from J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, Ann Taylor, Liverpool, and Amazon (Cicy Bell, The Drop). If you're looking to splurge, try Smythe or L'Agence.

Lightweight Sweaters for Summer

You don't always want or need a sweater for summer, but these can be great both for navigating the cold air conditioning inside, as well as adding a third piece if you want to look more polished or more covered up…

Our latest favorite lightweight sweaters for work include this Nic + Zoe cardigan and this M.M.LaFleur jardigan. We've also rounded up 100% cotton sweaters, as well as the classic summer sweater, the twinset.

100% silk sweaters are incredibly hard to find at the moment, but Nordstrom has a very limited collection, and J.Crew has a short-sleeve silk sweater.

Some of our favorite silk-cashmere sweaters for work include these from LaLigne and Brooks Brothers; if you're looking to splurge, Akris has a bunch right now.

As of 2024, you can find cotton-cashmere sweaters at Quince, L.L.Bean, and Reformation. You can also sometimes find them from brands like Nordstrom Signature.

Another lightweight but luxe option: cashmere-linen sweaters, such as this option from Vineyard Vines.

Hunting for cotton-merino blends? Everlane has a bunch as of Feb. 2024.

Side Note: Our Favorite Sunscreens

Don't forget sun protection (especially face, hands, and chest)! Sunscreens readers have loved over the years are pictured above: Elta MD, Supergoop!, and this $17 sunscreen (Kat's favorite). Sephora's 2024 Sun Safety Kit is also out and a huge hit with readers. If you're hunting for cute rash guards, check out J.Crew, Boden, Coolibar, and Athleta.

What Not to Wear as Summer Work Clothes

We've talked about what not to wear as a summer associate, what not to wear to work in general, and how to stay cool during a heatwave — but not in many moons. So let's revisit!

A caveat: As we've noted in previous discussions, this is very much a “know your office” situation. If you're working at a NEW office, though, or are still learning your office, you should wait until you see someone significantly more senior than you break these rules before you consider it “office culture.”

(For example: if you're a summer associate at a law firm and see a first-year associate wearing sandals, that doesn't necessarily mean it's ok for everyone to wear sandals.)  It's a bit of a spectrum, but here's my list:

Probably Not OK For Summer Work Clothes (But Know Your Office!)

• Sandals of any kind (shoes that expose at least three toes per foot)
• Shorts (and yes, despite our April Fool's shorts suit roundup a few years ago, we do include short suits on the list of NO)
• Completely wrinkled clothes (linen has its own challenges, but it shouldn't look like you balled it up, packed it in a suitcase, and then decided to wear it)
• Short skirts — there is a spectrum here, but for business it really should be as close to your knee as possible!
• Spaghetti-strap tank or other top that makes no effort to hide bra straps (or worse, requires you to wear a strapless bra)
• Off-season items such as heavy tweed, boucle knits, thick wool trousers (but the thin, light seasonless wool is, you know, seasonless).
• Tights are probably not ok… but pantyhose may be required.
• Cleavage of any kind. If at any point you look down during the day and see your bra, you need a camisole. (You may want to check out some of the newer demi camisoles if the idea of another layer makes you swelter).

Probably OK For Summer Work Clothes

These are probably OK for all but the most conservative of workplaces, but KNOW YOUR OFFICE (and your situation — I wouldn't wear any of the below on my first day or a day with a big meeting)…

• Peep toe pumps (a bit of toe exposed)
• Bare arms (i.e., sheath dress or nice top with bra straps fully covered)
• Bare legs. This varies HUGELY by office and by region — in most places, I'd guess, it's a “of course you don't have to wear pantyhose every day!” situation — but on Big Days in a lot of places (court appearances, client meetings), they may be expected or preferred.

Ok in all places, I'd guess (but know your office!):

• Sleeveless dresses, tops, tees, and blouses, worn with a blazer or cardigan
• Sleeved dresses, tops, tees, and blouses, worn by themselves

We've also talked more about how to build your wardrobe for a summer internship, with what I think is still a solid list of the minimum pieces you should buy.

How to Cool Down Quickly After Your Commute

We've talked about how to stay cool during a heatwave, but here are a few fast tips for cooling down quickly (or to stay cool enough to avoid completely wrecking your clothes):

• a simple fan, carried in your purse or bag — yes, you're expending more energy as you fan yourself, but the bit of a breeze can be amazing if you're stuck on a hot subway platform
• an ice-cold can of soda, held against the inside of your wrist, the back of your neck, or even the back of your knees
• convenient ice packs — there are even necklaces designed to be iced and worn!

These are some interesting products to help you cool down or stay cool on your commute… see more clever products like this in our Amazon shop!

Readers, what are your go-to outfits for the summer? What fabrics and styles do you avoid? 

Picture below via Stencil.

This post was originally written in 2014, but substantially updated as noted.

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What are some guidelines for wearing tweed in the spring and summer? We talk a lot about “lightweight tweed” — but what the heck is it? (For example!)  Reader C wonders when you can wear tweed in summer…

I was wondering if you could do a post on tweed — maybe a “Guide to Tweed” or similar. I frequently see you mention “lightweight tweed” for summer, but I'm not sure I actually know what that means. Can light/bright colours bring an otherwise heavier weighted tweed into the summer months? On a more specific note, I recently bought a cropped black and white tweed jacket from BR a little while ago, and I'm wondering if I can wear this well into the summer, or if it is more of a late winter/spring piece. (I couldn't find a picture of the exact one, but it's similar to the jacket at this link, just cropped.) Thanks!

What is the Difference Between Summer Tweed and Winter Tweed?

Interrrrrresting question, C. We've talked a lot about dressing professionally for summer, including how to avoid looking like a doctor in a white blazer, wearing pantyhose in the summer, and fabrics that are good for hot weather … but we've never really talked about what makes a summer tweed a “summer tweed.” (On the flip side, we've talked about the propriety of bare legs in winter, and I agree with what I said there re: wearing winter tweed in the summer — it can be seen as a judgment call by your coworkers.)  Now is a great time to talk about it because as spring starts to turn to summer, which tweeds you wear start to matter more and more.

Kate looked into this a bit, searching for a technical answer — from Encyclopedia Britannica, we learned the term “tweed” can apply to “any of several fabrics of medium to heavy-weight, rough in surface texture, and produced in a great variety of colour and weave effects largely determined by the place of manufacture.”

I asked a friend with more fashion chops than I — the wonderful Julia DiNardo of Fashion Pulse Daily — who noted that to her, a “lightweight tweed is more of a contemporary notion to modernize the fabrication… a more lightweight summer version could perhaps be done in a combed and carded cotton, a supima-like feel, for ultimate softness.”

When To Wear Tweed to Work in Summer

So here's my answer for how to know when a tweed is lightweight enough to wear in the summer: you'll know it when you see it (much like other things). 

Reader C is right that lighter colors will be involved — but just because there is white or beige or pastel in a tweed doesn't necessarily mean you can wear it year round.

Ultimately I agree with Julia that a summer tweed will have a much higher cotton content, whereas a winter tweed will have a much higher wool content. A lightweight tweed will physically feel lighter, less heavy than a more wintry tweed, which will feel thicker, warmer, heavier.

For example, these tweed jackets (below) read as very wintry to me. I suppose you could wear the colors in the two black/gray ones farther into spring, and earlier in fall — but I think these would look out of place in, say, July, even if the office A/C makes it arctic. (Pictured: Ann Taylor (19% cotton), Ann Taylor (86% wool), Michael Kors, Vince Camuto.)

Meanwhile, all of the below jackets read very summery to me.

Note the lighter colors, sure, but also the much higher cotton content; some of them are blended with even lighter fabrics like linen as well.

While the jackets above would look out of place in July, these jackets would look out of place to me in January no matter how thick your bottom layer was (e.g., merino turtleneck or something). (Pictured:  Ann Taylor, Classiques Entier, Joie, J.Crew, and Oscar de la Renta.

I  was going to try to round up a bunch of “seasonless tweed” — stuff at first glance that could be in either category — but looking at the pictures now I think they do fit into one category or the other. I'll post the graphic just for the sake of discussion. (To me: winter, winter, summer.) (Pictured: Ann Taylor, Zac Posen, Austin Reed.)

Ladies, what are your thoughts on tweed — what is the difference between summer tweed versus winter tweed? Now that it definitely feels like spring (68 degrees yesterday, woohoo!), which blazers will you pull out of your closet first? Is there any such thing as a “seasonless” tweed, or is all tweed necessarily “best” in 2 or 3 seasons at most?

Our Latest Favorite Tweed Blazers for Women

In general, a lot of the below tweed blazers are best for winter months — what are your thoughts?

Our Latest Favorite Chanel-Style Jackets for Women (Many in Tweed!)

In general, a lot of these Chanel-style jackets are either seasonless or lightweight tweed for summer.

Some of our latest favorite Chanel-style jackets for work in 2024 include these, but in general check brands like Chanel, St. John, IRO, L'Agence, Sandro, ba&sh, and J.Crew. On the budget side of things, check out Mango and White House Black Market.

Stock photo via Scop.io/Jean Goh.

The post Summer Tweed, Winter Tweed — What’s the Difference? appeared first on Corporette.com.

How do you dress professionally for a heat wave? I got an emergency email from a reader, who noted that given the heat wave here in NYC her BigLaw firm has told her she's free to dress “comfortable casual” (but not in denim) for the duration of the week. Given that the firm is already “business casual,” she's a bit perplexed.  (Pictured:  Cute, but probably not what the firm had in mind…)

{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}

This is a new phrase to me, but here's my advice to any woman told that this week: I would stay the course and wear your usual “business casual” to work until you see your female superiors dressing differently. My guess is that this email is intended for the men, who may now be able to include polo shirts, short-sleeved shirts, and khaki pants in the mix. (To any male summer associates who are reading this blog: I'd be shocked — shocked! — if this email was the firm's way of encouraging you to wear shorts to work during the week.)

{related: the best summer work clothes}

I'm curious to hear what the readers say about this, but my attitude is that if you're dressing properly for summer (for “business casual”) that most women are already sitting pretty, whether it's Hot or Very Very Hot. For example:

• If you're wearing dresses or skirts, you already have a built-in ventilation system. If you've been wearing pantyhose to work, my guess is that you can relax that for the next week and skip the hose (but keep a pair or two in your office in case you're called to a big meeting).
• If you've been smart purchasing your summer wardrobe, fabrics like linen, cotton, and silk all breathe very easily. If you've worried that you look too “wrinkled” for work, I would also take this “comfortable casual” as an invitation to not worry about the wrinkles.
• Know your office on this one — but ladies, if you feel vastly more comfortable wearing capris than pants to work, you might also want to see if other women in your office are doing it and then take that step. If you're seeing knee-length shorts around your office (worn by your superiors, not the staff), and want to wear them, my best advice is to keep the rest of your outfit as professional as possible. For example, wear the knee-length shorts with a pair of closed-toe pumps (perhaps in a nude-for-you color) and a nice blouse. (But ultimately: are you THAT much more comfortable in shorts or capris than proper pants? I never have been, but maybe that's me.)

(Also:  who wears denim to be comfortable during a heat wave?)

As always, I recommend keeping a blazer and/or cardigan (at least) in your office in the likely event that the A/C will be blasting, as well as a pair of closed-toe pumps in case you're called into a big meeting at the last minute.

Readers, how do you dress professionally for a heat wave? What's your take on “comfortable casual”?

The post “Comfortable Casual” for a Heat Wave appeared first on Corporette.com.

We've had a few great conversations on here about summer internships and summer associates (including what not to DO at your internship) and general professional fashion gaffes, but I thought we should have an open thread of advice for all the interns and summer associates starting out this summer.

We've talked about what not to wear to work — and we've rounded up all of our favorite workwear essentials if you're building your wardrobe (including affordable wardrobe essentials!).

For my own $.02, here are some tips:

What Not to Wear as a Summer Associate

DO NOT WEAR SHORTS OR SANDALS OF ANY KIND UNLESS YOU SEE A SUPERIOR DO IT. Similarly, your first week has probably already passed, but take a look around your office at the women superiors (NOT the other interns): are they wearing pantyhose when they wear skirts? If they are, do not go bare-legged.

How long are your skirts? Even if you didn't grow up watching Ally McBeal, far too many skirts that are sold as professional ones are a bit too short for the office. Check out our diagram and poll on how short is too short for an office skirt.

If you wear flip-flops for the commute, get those suckers off the second you get to the office. Going to a cocktail party after work does not count as “commuting” — find shoes that are comfortable to stand in.

Assess your hair. I passed a girl on the street yesterday wearing a messy bun on the very tippy-top of her head (a look I wore myself in my early 20s) and thought, “Perhaps she works in a creative field.” My point here: There are a ton of cute ways to pull your hair back on the weekend, but make sure that your casual “need to get my hair out of my face right this instant” look is appropriate for your office culture. Hint: a low pony-tail works most everywhere; any ponytail or bun that sits higher than your ears may be suspect.

If you're still learning the office culture but you interviewed in a blazer, bring one in to the office. Just a simple black one or white one will do. Then, if you get called to an important meeting at the last minute, throw a blazer on top of whatever you're wearing.

Some of the best blazers for women in 2024 — great for wearing as separates! — include options from Cinq à Sept, J.Crew (collarless and collared), Everlane, and Madewell. Hunting for a deal? Check out J.Crew Factory and Amazon (Cicy Bell, The Drop).

Don't carry a Birkin or any other accessory or clothing item that suggests that Daddy (or your sugar Daddy) buys you things. As I advised the young woman who wanted to carry her Birkin to her internship:  Even if you're 100% committed to your career, the first impression you're making is a negative one, and you may not get a chance to correct it personally with every person who notices. So don't do it.

Finally, this isn't a fashion tip, but a more general one: Know your place. One of the weekend commenters mentioned going to a business meeting and being shocked that her opponent's intern blocked the exit and talked loudly about her own general studies in the field — and I found myself nodding in agreement because I've seen that person (male and female) a million times and it never reads well. When you're at a meeting with anyone outside your immediate company — e.g., clients, opponents — your role is to observe. Contributions are fine, but brevity and quality are the name of the game unless whoever you're speaking with presses further.

This should be a fun discussion — readers, what advice do you wish you could give the interns at your workplace? What gaffes have you seen?

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