And while months in lockdown seemingly made us forget how to dress altogether, we're slowly getting 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
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.
Matteau Classic Pocket Shirt, $350; theundone.com
The Lightweight Blazer
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.
Ivy Oversized Tailored Blazer in Bone, $320 from Shona Joy
The Straight Leg Jean
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.
Totême Ease Mid-Rise Straight-Leg Jeans, $375; matchesfashion.com
The Jumpsuit
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.
Witchery Utility Jumpsuit, $279; The Iconic
The New Classics
The Tailored Bermuda Short
2020 saw the Bermuda short become a summer fashion staple, with the tailored silhouette dominating everyone's working from home 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.
The Voluminous Dress
Puffy sleeves, tiered layered and trapeze shapes have all been the dominating dress trends of 2020, and luckily for us, voluminous dresses can easily be adapted to workwear with the addition of some luxe accessories.
Comfy, light and cute to boot—what's not to love?
Faithfull The Brand Romilla Tie-Detailed Tiered Linen Midi Dress, $339; NET-A-PORTER
The Printed Blouse
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.
Jules Shirt Sepia Floral, $279; Hansen & Gretel
The Short Sleeve Shirt
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.
The Standout Pieces
The Bold Purse
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.
The Silk 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.
The Chunky Necklace
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.
