My Style, Street Chic

See my office appropriate look in a floral cardigan

by Nicole Mölders
mature style blogger presenting how to look office appropriate in a floral top

Floral prints for tops in work clothes

Printed tops, scarves and blouses are easy ways to wear floral prints to work.  When wearing floral prints be aware that a full-on floral long dress reads too much party, weekend or vacation and is never work appropriate. Medium size prints are best. Very small prints look to romantic too provide a professional look. Of course, you can also mix a floral print with snow leopard or stripes in a more casual work environment.

Abstract floral print scarves or blouses are great pieces for a summer work outfit. Click To Tweet

Wear pieces beyond their purpose

Here I am wearing a cardigan as a blouse. The big advantage of wearing a cardigan as blouse is that it would not wrinkle so easily in your luggage. Furthermore, you will not have to trust that the iron in your hotel room is actually working appropriately. Who likes a blouse with the curvy triangle shape of an iron as pattern?

#fashionover40 woman in work outfit with abstract floral print cardigan and a white leather skirt
GNW abstract floral print cardigan worn as top, dagwood statement necklace, Bulova watch, and Oliveo leather skirt with studded slingbacks (all own)
#fashionover50 woman in leather skirt work outfit with two cardigans
The Limited striped cardigan styled as a cape provides a polished look to the summer work outfit with GNW cardigan worn as top and Oliveo white skirt, statement necklace, Hermes collier de chien bangle, Esprit bag, and Paloma Picasso sunglasses (all own)

Dress for the temperature contrasts between outside and inside

Air conditioning is certainly nice when it is in the 100s outside (warmer than 37.8oC). However, one can catch quickly a cold when the AC becomes to chilly, which they often do after a heat wave. It obviously takes the AC a while to adjust to the less hot conditions. To avoid catching a cold in this scenario wear a cardigan as a top over a silk camisole or light cotton tank top. It is not too warm in the morning on you way to work and prior to leaving you just take the cardigan off. Then you are ready to enjoy the nice warm conditions outside in your camisole or tank top that you wore underneath.

Even in summer layering is needed due to the heat outside and the AC inside. #layering Click To Tweet

When you live in cold climate you may wear the above outfit when after a warm episode a swap of polar air invades town at work. In cold climate regions, AC has the same problem that it takes awhile to adjust after a warm episode, However, when you come to the office you take your second cardigan off and when you leave the office you put the second cardigan on again to stay comfortable, but still stylish outside as shown below.

How to look office appropriate in a floral top. #workstyle #dress4success Click To Tweet
fashion blogger with floral top and leather pants
London Jean leather pants with Notations floral cardigan worn as top, Nicole sandals, Hermes collier de chien bangle and Ray Ban sunglasses (all own)
style book author in floral cardigan as top, rain coat and light blue leather pants
Burberry trench coat of Notations floral cardigan worn as top, Halogen leather pants, Nicole sandals, Ray Ban sunglasses, and Longchamp pliage bag (all own)

Color coordinate your wardrobe

In the outfit above I paired a floral cardigan with my light blue leather pants and a trench coat for the office and the commute to work. This look works also fine for going shopping in a mall or visiting a museum. Swap out the plateau heels for flats it is perfect for sightseeing in a windy town when light showers and temperatures in the 50s (10oC) may be in the forecast.

Have you already some plans for your vacation?

P.S. If you liked any of these outfit inspirations, it would help me if you pinned them to your own Pinterest board. It’s a great way that your friends, family, and others can see them too.

Do you like floral tops? How do you style them to look professional at work?

Stay warm and comfortable in style. Click To Tweet
Stay cool and comfortable in style. Click To Tweet

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Photos: G. Kramm

© 2013-2019 Nicole Mölders | All rights reserved

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