Style Tips for a FREEZING Summer Office
Oh yes, how we love Summer! We’ve missed the sun on our skin, we long for lazy weekend days by the pool, the beach, or the lake. You skip out early on a Friday because hello, Summer hours!
We can’t wait to bust out those sleeveless tops and our cute Summer dresses. But what if you’re dressed for work in your Summer faves and the office temperature is set for a polar bear?!
I read a few sources (see one above) that studied the standard setting for office air conditioning. They discovered the average temps are set for a middle-aged man wearing a 3-piece suit and that the guidelines have been the same for decades. NOT COOL!
One such study found that “raising the office temperature from 68 degrees to 77 degrees increases the productivity by 150%.” Hello! That would be great. But until your office gets on board, let’s talk about getting dressed for your chilly office in the Summer.
I am one of those people who is always freezing when the temperature in ANY space is under 80 degrees so here are my favorite remedies. All of the following are pieces I use myself AND they are pieces my clients love to use. First up…
Layering
Make sure your layering game is strong. Depending on the formality of your office (or your outfit on a particular day), be sure you have various options in your closet from casual to formal. Denim jackets are great for more relaxed office environments. They’re great for Summer dresses or a sleeveless blouse and trousers combo. Blazers are essential for adding polish to your looks. The sweater blazer above is stretchy and movable, the black option is dressier.
Next up, think about switching up your bottoms silhouette. If you’re strictly a skinny pants kinda woman, think about a loose silhouette for the Summer season. When you run out into the Summer heat for lunch or you travel in between appointments, skinny pants or slim cut pants give your legs less room to breathe. Consider a wide leg crop or a fluid, straight silhouette which allows the air to circulate while you're out and about but your skin is still covered in the office.
Always balance a non-skinny silhouette with the top tucked in. So consider the pants below… tuck in a sleeveless blouse and add a denim jacket. If you need more formality, style pants with a button up blouse, closed toe heels, and a more formal blazer.
And finally… just bring a blanket. Ok seriously, if you can’t do that you might consider a silk scarf. Did you know your neck can be really sensitive to cold? Silk is a nice option because this tightly woven fabric can help keep the body warm. There’s a reason a lot of Winter outerwear is lined with silk!
These silk scarves come in a bunch of colors and they’re the only ones I recommend to clients.
And there you have it. What are your go-to pieces to keep warm in the freezing office? As always, I am available for personalized styling and I’m booking Summer mini sessions now! Here.
Xo, Jaime