Dressing For Work – The climate emergency has meant hotter temperatures nationwide. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), heat waves are more common and becoming more intense.
Humans have been forced to adapt to changing weather conditions. Unfortunately, going to the office or working outside during a heat wave is plain miserable. Switching up your wardrobe to accommodate the searing temperatures is crucial to staying healthy and comfortable.
Here’s a short but sweet guide to Dressing For Work for your job during the year’s hottest months.
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Check the Clothing Policy
Employers will have a different policy on what you can wear at work. It largely depends on the industry and whether you’re customer-facing.
A small computer development studio may not care what you wear if you show up and do your job. However, lawyers, accountants, and clinical settings may have a rigid dress code that offers you few choices.
Check your company’s policy before spending if you’re trying to work out your summer wardrobe.
Choose Light-Colored Clothing
Dressing for Work in the summer means dressing in lighter colors. Whites, browns, reds, and blues can help you stave off the stifling temperatures.
There’s a science behind the colors you wear. Darker colors will absorb the sun’s rays and warm you up faster. Lighter colors will reflect the sun’s rays and keep you cooler for longer.
Button-down shirts and white dresses are the order of the day.
Pay Attention to the Sleeves
Staying cool in the summer means promoting airflow as much as possible. Your sleeves are the gateway to the rest of your body.
Rather than stiff, rigid dress shirts for the office, choose something with loose sleeves that don’t button up tight around your wrists.
Women in the office have more flexibility in this department because they can choose between loose sleeves and sleeveless outfits. If your boss allows it, try some sleeveless camis, puff-sleeve modest blouses, or an off-shoulder outfit.
Men may want to ask if they can opt for a short-sleeve button-up. Unfortunately, this is where it depends on your company’s clothing policy and how flexible it is.
Avoid Tight Clothing at All Costs
Tighter clothing cuts off the airflow to the rest of your body. In the same vein as opting for loose sleeves, ensure the rest of your clothing also has some looseness.
In more formal settings, this is easier said than done. However, women may want to consider loose shirts, oversize blouses, and dresses to give them room to breathe.
Tighter clothing will quickly lead to you sweating up the joint, so put them back in the wardrobe until winter.
Invest in Athleisure for the More Casual Workplace
Casual workplaces give you far more options in terms of staying cool. Consider athleisure wear if you’re lucky enough to work in such a setting.
Athleisure wear is the term used for casual clothing that incorporates technical fabrics, such as nylon and merino. Sometimes they can be a little too tight to handle, which isn’t always great for summer, but the moisture-wicking capabilities and breathable fabrics offset this disadvantage.
Choose Something Breathable
The industry for breathable fabrics has accelerated in recent years. Synthetics are great for many things, but they’re rarely breathable and typically trap moisture instead of getting rid of it.
The summer is when you’ll notice the difference between breathable and non-breathable fabrics.
Check the clothing labels to ensure that you’re wearing 100% cotton, silk, or linen. You can even opt for seersucker or eyelet to stay fashionable by adding some interesting textures to your wardrobe.
Never Wear Jeans in the Summer
Jeans are made from denim, and denim is one of the heaviest fabrics. So if you’re skinny or a stretch jeans fan, high temperatures will make you extraordinarily uncomfortable.
An excellent alternative to denim is lightweight cotton or linen pants. They look much the same as jeans, with a different texture.
If you have to wear denim, think about wide-leg jeans. Of course, wide-leg jeans aren’t perfect, but they’re better than the alternative because they still allow for airflow due to the baggier bottoms.
Rely on Dressing for Work
The idea that a dress is for those formal offices and special occasions is a thing of the past. Instead, you can opt for a comfy summer dress that keeps you cool but still looks professional.
Summer is the perfect time for a variety of dress options, such as rompers, miniskirts, and minidresses. Choose a sleeveless maxi or a long skirt if you prefer a longer dress.
Tie-front dresses are particularly effective at enhancing the amount of air circulation.
Change Flip-Flops for Leather Sandals
Everyone would love to wear flip-flops all summer, but they tend not to fit into the workplace. So instead, letting your toes breathe is an excellent idea because much of your internal temperature regulation begins and ends with your hands and feet.
Class up those flip-flops with some espadrilles or strappy sandals. Leather is an excellent material for making you look more stylish while maintaining the comfort of some foam flip-flops.
Wear Fewer Accessories
Accessories are a great way to set off an outfit. However, in summer, accessories are a nightmare because those bangles and dangling necklaces can stick to the skin as the mercury climbs.
You don’t have to stop wearing accessories entirely, but you should reduce the number you wear at any time.
Choose a single accessory that makes a statement, such as some hoop earrings. Then, mix and match daily to freshen up your wardrobe and leave you looking as stylish as ever.
Another top tip for accessories is to choose looser ones. Tight wristbands will allow moisture to gather, for example.
Conclusion
The heatwaves battering the U.S. in recent years have meant that staying stylish while surviving the heat has become a conundrum for people who love to look great wherever they are.
Examining your employer’s clothing policy is the key to staying cool in the workplace. Find out what’s appropriate and determine how much flexibility you have.
