The Working Closet
with Susan Wagner
The Working Closet is your source for the best of what's hip and fresh in fashion and beauty. Susan Wagner keeps you up-to-date on trends and offers tips and tricks for making everything in your closet truly work for you.
You can also catch Susan over at Working Closet.
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Photo via Nordstrom.com
Summer is coming, which means getting dressed for sweltering temperatures outside and freezing conference rooms inside. We all know that you need a cardigan for the office, but how else can you make your summer clothes work-appropriate? You can start by not making these five mistakes.
Tank tops are weekend wear. A sleeveless blouse is fine for the office; the tailored shape of a blouse raises it from casual wear to work attire. Opt for a blouse with a little pizzazz, like the one pictured above.
Save shorts for after work. Unless you’re a PE teacher, shorts are not appropriate for work — not even so-called “dressy” shorts. Opt for a skirt instead.
Keep your hemline professional. When I say “opt for a skirt,” I mean a skirt that is appropriate for work. Miniskirts are super fun for summer, but not for the office. Keep your hemline close to your knee; wear a slip with very thin, unlined skirts.
Keep your feet covered. A peep toe or slingback is fine for work, but a flat, strappy sandal is too casual for work; likewise flat espadrilles. A wedge espadrille is one good option; another is a chunky sandal that covers up your foot, like the one pictured above.
No strapless for the office. Make a strapless or spaghetti strap dress office-appropriate by layering a cardi or jacket over it — but don’t go bare at work. And for the love of all that is holy and professional, wear a bra, all the time. I’m begging you.
What are your warm weather work DON’Ts?
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The sad part is, I have seen several of those violated already. In Houston, it has been warm for a while now, and I still cannot believe what people will wear to work.
I’m just now breaking out peep-toed shoes; others have been in flip-flops every day we haven’t had ice.
Kelly O | April 18th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
This is all great advice. I agree with every single rule!
rb | April 19th, 2011 at 11:34 am
No Flip Flops at work (especially the loud ones)!! It shocks me that people think this is appropriate, even in a fairly causal work environment.
One other little pet peeve of mine: after lunch, put your sunglasses back into your purse!! I have a coworker who wears them on top of her head the rest of the day. I mean, it’d be NICE if we were all sipping drinks on the patio, but we’re in a meeting. You look ridiculous. Rrrr.
el-e-e | April 21st, 2011 at 5:27 am
I’m with el-e-e — NO flip flops (not even Jack Rogers, people! and a big NO to the ones with a heel — they’re not real shoes). And your sunglasses are not a hair accessory.
Susan | April 21st, 2011 at 7:12 am
I was just reading a comment thread elsewhere where a few people were discussing their regular usage of sunglasses as headbands. I was a little baffled.
Where I live it’s perfectly acceptable to show up to a meeting in sweaty workout clothes if you rode your bike to the office. I. just. can’t. do. it.
Katherine | April 21st, 2011 at 1:41 pm
Sadly we cannot wear sandals at my new office. Slingbacks, yes. peep toe yes. But not sandals and not slingbacks with a peeptoe.
And I have such nice dressy sandals, sigh.
Mich | April 26th, 2011 at 12:20 pm