Women2Women - Summer 2017 - 18

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Dress for Success

Business Casual during the Summer
By Maggie Walker, Intern
Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Here comes the sun.
As the summer months approach, it is hard
to keep your cool in the office. Figuring out
how to dress for the hot weather and remaining
completely professional can be a balancing act.
Some things to consider when searching for
a business casual summer wardrobe are color
scheme, hemlines, practicality and fabric choice.
Color schemes can help keep your cool
in the hot summer heat. It is important to
avoid dark colors, especially black. Darker
colors will absorb the heat, making you get
hotter faster and stay hotter longer. Blues are
a great alternative being lighter than black but
still keeping the formal feel for those days
you have a meeting and have to dress a little
more conventional. Black can be a great go
to color because it seems to match everything.
Substitute those blacks for whites and nudes
as your universal colors this summer.
As the temperature rises during the summer
months, so do the hemlines. People tend to
lose the layers and select something a little
skimpier to handle the hot temperatures. If
you have a feeling it isn't appropriate for the
office, chances are it is not. Your hemline
should always be around your knees when
wearing dresses and skirts. Determining what
is appropriate goes for tops as well. Revealing
tops are not an option; your shoulders should
stay covered and no midriff should be shown.
Wearing looser lighter tops can help you stay
dry while maintaining a conservative look.
Practicality in the office is important as well.
Summer can give you opportunities to dress a
little more fun and free versus bundling up for
winter, but those ensembles shouldn't encumber
your practicality. A comfortable employee is
going to be a more productive employee. One
rule of thumb, always bring a sweater, jacket
or blazer. It is over 100 degrees outside but
your workplace has the air conditioning on
18 Women2Women Summer 2017

65 degrees. Sitting at your desk you can get a
little chilly so always having a jacket on hand
can make you more comfortable.
This is also a time where you throw the boots
to the side and slide on some strappy sandals. Be
sure to make sure your shoes are office appropriate. When getting up to speak at a meeting or
walking around the halls it can be embarrassing
stumbling around. Your footwear should be cute
and practical at the same time. Perforated shoes
are a way to keep your feet breathing. These holes
will allow some cool to get to your toes without
wearing flip flops or sandals.
Sometimes keeping comfortable in the
summer heat is dependent on the material of
your clothing you're wearing. When sporting
a jacket or cardigan you might want to grab
something more delicate or lacelike. This
substitute is going to be more breathable
than your traditional sweater or cardigan.
Another useful tip when picking a jacket
is to opt for something without lining. A
blazer with a lining is essentially two layers
instead of one. You can avoid the extra
baggage by picking something that doesn't
have that extra layer.
It isn't just about how much you're wearing
but what it's made from. Natural fabrics tend
to be more breathable. Try to lean towards
selections more like cotton, linen and silk.
Summer trends of 2017 are something
to incorporate into your summer wardrobe.
You can still have some summer fun in your
business casual outfits. Lighter clothes can
tend to look a little too relaxed for office attire.
Chunky necklaces are a great way to dress
up your relaxed look. You don't have to stop
there, you can choose statement earrings or
bracelets too! It is always exciting to throw a
pop of color into your look. Color blocking
can be a fun way to add tropical hues to your
midsummer garb. Color blocking is using a

bright color block to break apart the different
colors in your clothing. It is also fun to use
some contrasting colors to put a twist on
your outfit. Some trendy color pairings are
blue and orange, white and gold, pink and
red, and yellow and light blue.
Summer is upon us. Make sure you are dressing the part when switching out your business
casual wardrobe. Pinterest is a great place to
look for trendy office attire. Dress for success
this season, keeping down the temperature
without losing style or professionalism. Stay
cool and confident this summer in whatever
you end up wearing to the office! n

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Women2Women - Summer 2017