I don’t know about you guys, but summertime for me means shopping! I just feel like it’s the optimal time to freshen up your wardrobe and try to find some summer business casual outfits (and maybe throw in a fun summer outfit or two). Summer business casual outfits can be tricky because a staple work ensemble is composed of pants, a perfect blazer, and a cotton-based blouse. Even if you’re working indoors, that much layering does not sound comfortable.
If you are looking to change up your wardrobe this summer season, you will want to incorporate light materials and ascending layers. So how can you do all that and remain looking like the professional, high-end, boss-lady that you are? Here are my summer business casual outfit ideas that you will need this season.
RELATED: How Your Work Wardrobe Affects Your Personal Brand
Summer Outfit Ideas For Business Casual Women
If you work at an office, coming up with summer business casual outfits might be a bit more of a challenge than those who work from home. Your office may have certain dress code restrictions, so you will have to abide by those before you take my ideas into consideration. Or, the entrepreneur in you can take it as an opportunity to suggest a more lenient summer outfit policy!
For business women who are constantly on the run to get to meetings, run errands, or attend networking events, you will want to reconfigure your wardrobe to withstand the heat. The good news is, there are plenty of options that give you the freedom to feel comfortable while still looking professional. Here are my three favorite options for my summer business casual wardrobe.
Dresses
Favorite Seasonal Dresses
Dresses are my go-to summer outfit. They are fitting for nearly every occasion and they come in enough styles and textures so that they can work for any sort of environment. This Diane von Furstenberg works as a great summer outfit. It’s a knit-wrap dress that comes just above the knee in the color Cabernet. It is long sleeved but the material is light enough to allow you to breathe even during the hot summer months! I paired mine with my leopard print stilettos to give the ensemble a fiercer vibe.
Another favorite of mine is this paisley dress from Zadig & Voltaire. I wore it for I Dew Care’s Spring event, but you can bet that I will be pulling this one out of the closet all summer.
Skirts
Favorite Skirts
Skirts give you a more feminine touch while giving you the freedom to dress up or dress down. A midi-dress like this black ruffled hem from Nordstrom gives you that business-chic look without melting in the sun like you would in a pantsuit. Any kind of vibrant or patterned shirt will look great with it. Extra points if it’s a flowy tank top.
This J. Crew pencil skirt is made out of bi-stretch cotton so it fits snug, but cozy, which makes it a great addition to your summer business casual wardrobe. I’m partial to black, but it also comes in bright summer colors like pastel pink, red, and yellow!
Tanks and Jeans
Favorite Jeans and Tanks
Hear me out on this one because I know there are going to be some people who disagree. Tank tops and jeans can be just as professional as a stitched blazer or an expensive blouse. You just have to style them the right way. These parke blazer jeans are made with stretch linen. See, even J. Crew’s thinks jeans make a great summer outfit! Pair it with a floral shirt and a blazer (for those freezing boardrooms) and that’s all there is to it. It’s 2019, no one is going to bash you for wearing jeans. Even if it’s not “Casual Friday.”
An over-sized pastel colored shirt also tucks in beautifully with jeans. It’s a simple combination, but it’s a summer outfit that I could not do without. An outfit like this is great for a day where you are zipping around town full-filling errands and answering emails.
RELATED: 5 Tips For Finding the Perfect Blazer
Make Your Summer Business Casual POP!
Another favorite summer business casual trick of mine is to incorporate bright colors into your style. It instantly gives your look a summer impression. Don’t worry about the colors being too bold. I mean, that’s the point after all! Personally, I always go for purple. I know it’s not the brightest color in the crayon box, but it still helps to lighten my mood on the tough days. So not only will colors make you stand out, but they will help lift your spirits!
Another way to make your summer business casual pop is by incorporating sheer tops and florals into your wardrobe.
Bright Colors
It can be your top, your bottoms, or a dress. Whichever way you choose, adding bright colors as an accent to your summer outfit will have you looking and feeling unstoppable. This navy collared sheath dress from Alexia Admor makes me look and (more importantly) feel like a total boss lady. It’s simple and elegant but gives me enough edge so people know that I mean business. Pair it with a patterned leather shoulder bag and some subtle black heels, and you’re ready for your next networking event.
I’m partial to purple (it’s been my favorite color pretty much my whole life), which is why you see me choosing this color most often. If you have your own favorite color, pick it up in a few different hues just to mix it up. But don’t be afraid to branch out of your comfort zone. Yellow may not look appealing on the rack, but you may be surprised when you try it on!
Sheer Tops
Sheer tops can be worn for summer business casual purposes if you find it in the right materials. A nice sheer blouse should be thick enough to where you might not need to wear a tank top underneath it. I’ve seen tons of shirts at places like Forever 21 that are essentially transparent. I’m not knocking it; this look works, but you’ll obviously need a coordinating shirt to go underneath. As opened minded at our fashion culture is, a sheer top that shows your bra doesn’t exactly scream summer business casual.
Another suitable material that I love wearing with my summer outfit is satin. This purple one from Nordstrom is light and breezy. Plus it looks super classy. It comes in about 11 different summer colors like baby blue, pale green, and crushed orange.
Prints and Florals
I know some people aren’t fans of patterned material, but I really think they add to your summer business casual coordination. One of my all-time favorite shirts is this printed Lilias top. It can be worn for literally any business venture and it feels great during the summer heat.
A simple floral maxi can also work for the summer settings. It can even double as a Friday night outfit so that you don’t have to change when you leave the office!
RELATED: Date Night Outfits That Are Stylish And Sexy
What’s your favorite summer outfit? Tell me about it in the comments below!
