Winter is finally gone! It's time to shed the extra weight of layered clothing, pack up the sweaters and jackets and add a little color to your wardrobe. Some employers will loosen up the dress code a bit during the summer months, but be careful not to go overboard.
To keep your professional image intact, follow these basic summer dress code tips and your summer style won't land you in hot water.
Tops
For men and women short sleeved shirts that button up and short sleeved cotton tops with crew necks or v-necks are perfect to wear with suit jackets, lightweight button up sweaters, or alone. Polo shirts are acceptable, but stay away from tank tops, halter tops, spaghetti straps and t-shirts, especially those with graphics and words. And men, either wear the tie or don't wear it, but avoid the open collar with a loose tie hanging around your neck as if you worked all night or are headed to happy hour.
Bottoms
Trade in your dark colors and heavy fabrics for dress pants and slacks in light colors and lightweight fabrics. Lightweight fabrics include cotton, linen, and polyester/cotton blend. Save the shorts (no shorter than halfway up the thigh), capris and jeans for the office cookout and save the exercise wear for exercising.
Dresses/skirts
In general, hemlines should not rise with the temperature. Skirts and dresses should fall between an inch or so above to an inch or so below the knees. Neither nightclub wear (tight and made of spandex), daytime fun wear (long and flowing), nor sports wear (tennis skirts) should be worn at work.
Accessories
Keep the style of accessories consistent with clothing: conservative. For example, while you may trade your gold and silver baubles for a little color don't let jewelry become too distracting and certainly don't go too big or add too many pieces. In most cases, you should stick with no additional visible piercings beyond the ears and don't wear sunglasses inside, not even as a headband.
Footwear
While it's not inappropriate for women to wear sandals in the workplace with properly groomed feet, they should be more dressy than casual. Leather sandals in neutral colors and around two inch heels are safest, but flip-flops are never ok. Most men's sandals will appear too casual for the office, so opt instead for a soft leather slip on dress shoe, like loafers.
Colors
While it is ok to wear brighter colors and patterns, don't go overboard with flashy designs. Fluorescent colors, very busy patterns and Hawaiian-print are more on the casual side of patterns. Stripes, small polka dots (the smaller, the better) and solid colors are more appropriate for the summertime workplace.
No matter the season, presenting a professional and polished look is important to your career. So while workplace attire may be a bit more relaxed during summer months, your employer's expectations won't be.
