How to Beat the Summer Office Outfit Challenge

Summer office outfit ideas must meet the office dress-codes (typically at least short sleeves), but bridge the gap between AC cooled offices and the heat outside. Read to get inspired to dress your best comfortably and effortlessly chic.

Contents

The Challenge of Summer Work Outfits over 40
Change Your Outfit with Work Appropriate Timeless Accessories
- - Brooches, Necklaces, Shoes
  - Cover-Ups, Jewelry, and Shoes
  - Add Sleeves with a Halftee
What to Look for in Work-Appropriate Summer Dresses
Summer Heat Outfit Inspirations
- Shirt Dress
- Empire-Waist Dress
- Fit-and-Flare Dresses
- Full-Skirt Dress
What Dresses Are Best at the Office in Summer

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The Challenge of Summer Work Outfits over 40

In summer, dressing for the office is challenging for every women when the dress-code asks for business casual style or even corporate style. A skirt suit or pantsuit in summer wool is just too warm in muggy weather, and even dry heat during the commute and lunch break. Linen or cotton suits are a wrinkle nightmare and hence not stylish. Dressing during the dog days is a hassle.

Wrinkles are never in style. #agelessstyle #workoutfits Click To Tweet

Wearing your great summer dresses always the same way and/or getting into a style rut is not only boring for you, but it might also give a wrong impression at work. You want to come across as creative by wearing great summer outfit inspirations.

Change Your Outfit with Work Appropriate Timeless Accessories

A solution for the summer work dressing challenges are dresses. A dress plus bag and pumps are instant style.]

Get rid of the old-fashioned assumption that a dress can be worn only one way. Achieve different looks by using different accessories and shoes. A well edited collection of accessories like belts, scarves, necklaces, watches, shoes, etc. is a pre-requisite to vary the look of one dress in four different outfits or even more depending on the size of your collection.

This means accessories are your secret weapons!

Brooches, Necklaces, Shoes

over 50 years old fashion blogger in jumper and gingham shirt summer office look — Carhartt gingham shirt under eShakti jumper accessorized with brooch worn instead of a belt and Liz Claiborne open toe pumps, wooden watch c/o JORD

over 50 years old style blogger in jumper and sandals casual work outfit — eShakti jumper styled with Michael Kors sandals, and black pearl necklace. Inside wear a cardigan to feel comfortable in the chilly AC office/to meet the dress code.

Cover-Ups, Jewelry, and Shoes

Look beyond wearing a dress only as a dress. On rainy, cool summer days think about how to wear a dress as a skirt or wear a dress as shirt. See the examples with an eShakti floral print dress below.

fashion blogger in floral print cotton dress, wood-frame sunglasses, cork plateau heels — Michael Kors cork plateau patent leather sandals, Coach shearling bag, metal belt, and Winkwood sunglasses

woman wearing a pink leather jacket and a floral print dress — Newport News pink leather jacket, Ivanka Trump pumps, and Jaeger tote

style book author showing a different look with the same dress — Worn as skirt under Sofie cardigan worn as top, Nicole sandals, and wooden watch c/o JORD

abstract floral print fit-and-flare summer dress with scuba jacket — T. Tahari scuba jacket as cover-up at the office and in the evening

Add Sleeves with a Halftee

Banana Republic abstract print fit-and-flare dress with and without sleeves.

midlife blogger in a summer dress styled casually with sandals for the office — Very Fine Dance Sport strappy sandals, statement panther belt, Hermes collier de chien bangle, and Winkwood sunnies

mature woman in a Cami Confidential arm-coverage under a summer dress — Hermes collier de chien bangle, and camisole c/o Cami Confidential

What to Look for in Work-Appropriate Timeless Summer Dresses

The criteria of great office-appropriate dresses are that they

Fit you typical work dress code, for instance, business casual when you are in engineering,
Provide coverage at the typical problem zones of women in midlife like arms, love handles, wide hips, or sun damaged cleavage,
Have an ageless style, but modern vibe/twist (you don’t want to look conservative and Old Lady),
Are suitable for lunch with colleagues or clients outside,
Feel comfortable in an air conditioned office,
Are easy to style with other pieces to create several office outfits with the same dress (Tip: Sheath dresses permit multiple looks.),
Feature neutral colors that work with your fashion colors of your accessories,
Work in the winter to spring transition as well as the summer to fall transition with items from the cold season.

Don’t let the right outfit be a random thing. Wear the right look in every situation by looking up what to wear when in How to Dress for Success in Midlife. Buy my book now.

Summer Heat Work Outfit Inspirations

Shirt Dress

Empire-Waist Dress

Empire waist green print dress two ways.

Nicole of High Latitude Style in summer layering for work — Karina Dresses jumper, Hermes collier de chien Bangle, layering top c/o Halftee

mature woman in green dress, leather jacket, and bag — Statement necklace, Ray Ban sunnies, green saddle designer bag c/o Uno Alla Volta, and green motorcycle leather jacket c/o Leatherskin

Fit-and-Flare Dresses

Paisley and polka dot prints are eternal classics. Go for an ageless fit-and-flare cut like in the summer work outfit ideas below.

mature woman in summer business casual work outfit with polka dot dress — Jaeger tote, statement necklace, and Anne Klein sling backs

Alaskan woman in business casual summer work look with dress and blazer — Notations Blazer (dyed), Gucci bamboo enamel suede belt, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Calvin Klein block heel pumps, and pantyhose

mature style blogger in summer work outfit inspiration — Styled with navy blue. Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, Gloria Vanderbilt pumps, and halftee c/o Halftee

Leiza sandals casual summer outfit with fit-and-flare dress — Styled with brown. Musse & Cloud sandels, Star jean jacket, smoky quartz necklace, Gucci G-belt, Chanel bag, and wooden watch c/o Jord

Full-Skirt Dress

If you have to wear pantyhose, try black for an unexpected variation. See eShakti dress outfit idea below.

midlife woman in printed summer dress with leather jacket for a rainy day — Hinge quilted leather jacket, GNW tights, BCBG belt

printed summer layering outfit with dress and cardigan for the office — Isaac Mizrahi cardigan, GNW tights, Nicole sandals, and Prada bag

What Dresses Are Best at the Office in Summer?

Set criteria when to splurge or bargain. Best summer work dresses meet the following criteria

Wrinkle-resistant fabric
Moisture-wicking fabric
Loose, but fitted cut (to avoid sticking when you sweat)
Breathable fabric
Sun-protective if you have to spend a lot of time outside (see sun safe business casual outfits for female engineers)
Meet the office dress code

Photos of me: G. Kramm