How to Look Polished and Practical at the Office This Summer

It’s the perpetual question: How do you dress for the office in the sweltering heat while still looking perfectly put together and work appropriate? The answer is updating your look with key pieces that skillfully strike the right balance of polish and practicality. In essence, thigh-high shorts and cropped tops, you’re fired. Billowy blouses and midi dresses, you’re hired! To help navigate the tricky rules of summer workwear, we’ve rounded up 27 essential picks to keep you looking cool, professional, and stylish when the temperatures are soaring, the humidity is unrelenting, and the AC is blasting. (Yes, we know all too well what it’s like to sit under an air vent for eight hours. Hello, layers.)

Click through for office-friendly outfits to beat the heat without breaking the dress code.

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(Image credit: The Outsider Blog)

A white shirt is the foundation of any great work ensemble. Opt for looser sleeves and a slightly boxy fit for a relaxed take on the corporate classic.

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(Image credit: Style du Monde)

Billowy blouses and puff-sleeve details are playful and professional, allowing for plenty of airflow on sticky summer days.

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(Image credit: Sandra Semburg)

Nothing beats a classic button-down, especially when paired with a high-waisted skirt and delicate jewelry.

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(Image credit: Adam Katz Sinding)

Is there anything more fun than sashaying through the summer breeze in an effortless midi skirt?

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(Image credit: Style du Monde)

A short-sleeve midi dress cinched at the waist is definitively the staple of our summer work wardrobe. Opt for an effortless yet elegant shirt or wrap dress for your easiest outfit of the season.

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(Image credit: @thestylestalkercom)

Cropped wide-leg pants are the easiest answer to looking sophisticated in summer. Trade black for a lighter, neutral hue.

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(Image credit: Style du Monde)

Stripes infuse every outfit with a nonchalant elegance. Negotiate a gentler approach to the classic print with a loose fit.

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(Image credit: Adam Katz Sinding)

Layering is essential when maneuvering from city streets to the subway to the boardroom and everywhere in between. Tackle unpredictable climates with a lightweight blazer, longline vest, or cashmere cardigan.

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(Image credit: Style du Monde)

Elevate your relaxed work look with refined accessories in black, white, and neutral shades.

Up next, a polished outfit you don't have to work hard for.

Judith Jones
Senior Fashion Market Editor

Judith is the senior fashion market editor at Who What Wear and has worked in fashion for nearly a decade. Judith started on the Shop Who What Wear team, creating content and managing a team of merchandisers for the Who What Wear shopping app. She later crossed over to the editorial team, where she shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands in her shopping-focused stories and social takeovers. She has become one of the top affiliate earners during her six plus years at Who What Wear. Before working in fashion, Judith was a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) and shared her passion for travel and food. She studied at the prestigious London Academy of Dramatic Arts as well as Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York. She later studied fashion merchandising and design, which laid the foundation for her career in fashion.


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