FASHION

The 11 Wardrobe Essentials You Need To Create The Ultimate Summer Workdrobe

These go-to outfit saviours will have you sorted.
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Summer can be a glorious time of year—the days are longer, our favourite dresses come out of hibernation and post-work beach trips become possible again.

But on the other side, the humidity can be… frustrating, to say the least, and the office air-con can become overkill, making us reach for our knitwear once again. 

And while years of lockdown seemingly made us forget how to dress altogether, we’re finally back into the swing of office life again. But with that, comes the daily struggle of choosing an outfit—which is hard enough before you throw in the tricky weather. 

There are, however, simple tips and tricks that will guide your workdrobe this summer, no matter what work looks like for you, as well as some key staples and trend pieces that can make the world of a difference to your morning routine (less time choosing clothes = more time to sleep in). 

Here, we breakdown the eleven wardrobe essentials that are going to make dressing for work in summer a breezy affair, and, dare we say, fun

The Staples

The Crisp Black Shirt

summer work fashion

It’s a fairly common misconception that black and hot weather do not mix. But, we reckon that there is definitely such thing as ‘crisp’ black shirt, and the colour can actually make a relaxed style seem more polished. 

black-shirt

Frankie Shop Lui Organic Cotton-Poplin Shirt, $283 at Net-A-Porter

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The Lightweight Blazer

blazer summer work fashion

Another way to instantly dress up an outfit is by throwing on a blazer. But naturally your winter go-to won’t quite work for summer. Look for lighter fabrics like linen and cotton that will keep you looking chic—without overheating. 

shona joy
Ivy Oversized Tailored Blazer in Bone, $320 from Shona Joy

Irena Oversized Tailored Blazer in Cream, $360 from Shona Joy

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The Straight Leg Jean

jeans summer work fashion

Let’s be real, office dressing can get a little lax in the warmer months, but that doesn’t mean tank tops and daisy dukes. If you’re looking to loosen up a bit but still look sharp, opt for straight-leg denim, paired with dressier items like a blazer and slingback heels. 

straight-leg-jeans

LEVI’S Ribcage Straight Ankle Jeans, $159.95 at THE ICONIC

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The Jumpsuit

jumpsuit summer work fashion

The lazy girl’s best friend, the jumpsuit is a must-have for anyone that struggles with deciding what to wear. And despite what people may believe, they’re actually quite versatile and can be styled in multiple ways to get your mileage out of them. 

One way to make this look more office-appropriate is to throw your hair up in a slicked-back bun.

jumpsuit

Isabel Marant Étoile Kendra Cotton Jumpsuit, from $580 at FARFETCH 

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The New Classics

The Tailored Bermuda Short

short summer work fashion

Since 2020 we’ve seen the Bermuda short become a summer fashion staple, with the tailored silhouette dominating everyone’s work wardrobes. 

There’s a bit of skin to be shown here, but try to keep it to just above the knee to keep it more sophisticated. 

long-shorts

AERE Longline Linen Shorts, $80 at THE ICONIC 

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The Voluminous Dress

dress summer work fashion

Puffy sleeves, tiered layered and trapeze shapes have all been the dominating dress trends in recent years, and luckily for us, voluminous dresses can easily be adapted to workwear with the addition of some luxe accessories.

Comfy, light and cute to bootwhat’s not to love?

work-dress

Prairie Pleated Midi Dress, $525 at Aje 

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The Printed Blouse

shirt summer work fashion

Summer usually inspires us to get a little more bold with our sartorial choices, and what better way to embrace your wild side then with a printed blouse? Keep it on the looser side and tuck into some tailored trousers for professional appeal. 

silk-shirt

Esme Long Sleeve Shirt, $490 at SIR 

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The Short Sleeve Shirt

short sleeve shirt summer work fashion

One of the newer pieces in our collection of staples, the short sleeve shirt is the versatile throw-over that will serve you well this summer.

Play your cards right with styling and you’ll find yourself with an outfit that can easily be taken to the beach for a post-work dip and drinks. 

shirt

Academy Brand Frankie Shirt, $79.95 at THE ICONIC

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The Standout Pieces

The Bold Purse

bag summer work fashion

Does anything add excitement to an outfit like a vibrant handbag? We think not. 

While it’s not always going to go with everything, it will add an element of fun to any standard office outfit and that’s good enough for us.

bottega

Teen Puch In Parakeet, $4,590 at COSETTE 

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The Silk Slip Dress

summer work fashion slip dress

You’d be hard-pressed to find a marie claire staffer that doesn’t have at least two slip dresses in their work outfit rotation, but we understand that it’s not an every office kind of deal. 

If you are one of the lucky few who can get away with this style, try throwing a button-up shirt over the put the business in business casual. 

silk-slip

Stella Silk Satin Vintage Slip, $499 at Lee Mathews 

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The Chunky Necklace

vanessa hong summer work fashion

If you’re worried about keeping things a little too relaxed, or you just want to add some garnish onto an already killer work look, opt for some on-trend jewellery pieces that allow you to look like you’ve put more effort in than you actually have.

We’re currently love chunky chain styles and pendants.

necklace work summer fashion

Bold Link Chain Necklace, $150; mejuri.com, $275 at Mejuri 

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