Call me crazy, but I love dressing for work. This mainly has to do with the fact that I work in fashion and fortunately there are not (too many) confines of a corporate dress code, which means heading into the office always brings an enjoyable sartorial opportunity to be creative and chic with my workwear choices. Moreover, I’ve grown pretty tired of wearing sweats all day every day after the last several years of working from home so dressing for a day at the office has become rather thrilling.
Now that I’m back in the office a little more this summer (and probably a lot more by fall), below I wanted to share the pieces that I’m gravitating toward this warm-weather season. These items strike the right sartorial note of smart, sophisticated yet easy, and effortless—moreover, they feel fresh and altogether on-trend (I do work in fashion, after all). Keep scrolling for six key items I can’t live without this summer at the office and shop my favorite picks if you too are looking for a workwear refresh.
Maybe it’s the coastal grandma in me or maybe it’s the fact that a breezy oversize button-down is so incredibly versatile, reliable, and effortlessly chic—but I simply can’t stop reaching for the cool-girl staple every time I’m headed to the office. I often style it over a white tank, relaxed trousers, and with chic jewelry to pull the look together.
Lightweight, relaxed tailored trousers are on heavy rotation this summer and it’s easy to see why. Not only is the silhouette on-trend, but whether you opt for linen or a more structured fabric, they always look polished and work-appropriate.
Blazers are a year-round office staple but when the temps hit above 75, I lean towards a lightweight linen option or a short sleeve silhouette that feels fresh and of-the-moment.
Vests are having a major moment this year—and luckily thanks to its smart nature—it’s the perfect piece to wear at work, whether styled over a white tee or worn alone with matching trousers or jeans.
There’s no doubt midi-length skirts and dresses are a great work-appropriate option no matter the season, but it’s the longer-column maxi skirts (a trend we saw all over the runways) that is catching my eye for work this summer. It feels fresh and looks chic when paired with flat sandals, a tank or button-down, and an oversize blazer.
Fisherman Sandals
I always favor comfortable shoes in summer, and fisherman sandals are my new favorite to wear to the office. Firstly because they are slightly closed-toe so they feel a little more polished than the average pair of sandals and secondly they really do go with everything in my closet—from tailored trousers to skirts and dresses. And it goes without saying they add a modern cool factor to any ensemble.
