Professional Clothes for Warmer Weather
Custom business uniform attire may seem at odds with hot weather. If you’ve ever worn a suit, then you know what we mean. The ubiquity of business suits is one of the primary reasons offices around the world crank up the air conditioner in summer. Trying to look composed and cool in the scorching heat is a familiar challenge to many. Looking crisp and professional on hot summer days seems like an insurmountable feat, but, there are ways to help you achieve the impossible!
Some office settings offer a more relaxed summer dress code or even casual Fridays. But, dressing down isn’t the norm everywhere. These are some tips on picking out custom business workwear for warmer weather and how to dress to beat the heat while staying within the guidelines of a professional office dress code.
Look at Clothing Fabrics
Professional clothes, such as business suits, are often made with heavy fabrics, which is great in the colder months, but means they are unfortunately unsuited for warm weather. When shopping for your work attire, carefully check and inspect the weight and weave of the clothing fabrics. Linens, silks, and kinds of cotton make great summer fabrics. Men’s dress shirts and custom dressy blouses can all be found in these lighter fabrics, which are overall lighter weight and more breathable. These lighter shirts can also be worn in the winter under a sweater, making them versatile and professional options year-round. Swap wool pants for cotton chinos in the summer months to keep your legs cooler. When shopping, aim to have a variety of weight and weaves to meet your needs throughout the year, be sure you have lighter shirts, skirts, and dresses so you remain comfortable during the summer without compromising on professionalism.
In addition to lighter fabrics, you can also try wearing lighter uniform jackets to help beat the heat. These include blazers and sport coats made from cottons and other lighter fabrics and that are partially lined to unlined to keep them lightweight and breezier. Another great tip is to wear an undershirt under your dress shirt to help wick up a sweat and prevent staining. If you thought being sweaty in a suit was bad enough, looking sweaty in a suit is even worse.
Consider Neutrals
There’s a reason whites are so popular in the summer. Whites and other lighter colors can help keep you cool in warmer temperatures. Lighter neutrals such as white, tan, taupe, or pale gray will help you look summery but still sophisticated. If you still want to wear darker colors, try swapping out standard dark tones like black and gray for a navy to lighten your wardrobe a little. Navy won’t reflect the heat like white does, but it will lighten your look. The saving grace of darker colors is that they can help to disguise sweating! Light colors aren’t just reserved for your clothing. Lighten up your accessories as well! Trade in your black cashmere shawl for a brightly colored or patterned silk scarf.
Wear Looser Fits
Pencil skirts and snug suits felt super cozy in the winter, but now it’s time to loosen up the fit a little to let in some extra breeze. Women can explore wearing longer, looser, and flowing skirts to let in some ventilation — which will also cover their legs so they can ditch the tights. Summer clothing can appear a little more casual than cold-weather attire, but with the proper accessory, such as statement jewelry and cool socks, you can add sophistication and polish. For men, try wearing looser fitted khakis with a seersucker jacket and a light blue or white dress shirt. You’ll look professional while having some extra breathing space.
Dress Lighter
If you are lucky enough to work in a business casual environment, there is a lot of room to relax your wardrobe for the summer months. For women, custom uniform work skirts, dressy sandals, and sleeveless shirts are acceptable in their workplace. If your work environment is more business professional, a skirt suit with closed-toed shoes will allow for some extra airflow while still staying polished. It is also easy to dress up summer clothing by simply adding a professional garment, such as wearing a blazer with a sleeveless dress. For men in a business casual environment, they can ditch the suit and tie and wear some cotton chinos with a button-up short-sleeve dress shirt or polo. If your office offers a casual summer dress code, then perhaps you can wear some professional-looking shorts or loafers.
Looking professional in warm weather is possible with a little extra creativity. Just remember to always check in with your boss or coworkers to ensure your warmer weather outfit is appropriate.