The Style: Summer Work Wear

 Milou Van Groesen by Richard Bush, for i-D Magazine Summer 2011, courtesy of TFS

The temperature has been rising slowly but surely in the last few weeks, signalling the long-awaited arrival of summer! This can be a difficult season to dress for professional environments, as your typical suits are probably not very temperature appropriate. Therefore, we asked our favourite image consultant, Erin Miller (click here for her website) to give us some tips on how to jazz up your wardrobe.

Now that the weather has turned and the sun is out, it's time to adjust your work wardrobe. There are several ways you can do this and still be work appropriate. Leave the sandals, shorts and halter tops for weekends or the beach, your summer work wardrobe needs to bring your A game.That being said, you can and should have fun with your wardrobe.

1. Add a pop of colour! 

I always recommend colour but this season colour is everywhere you look. Sunny yellow, royal blue, fire-engine red and tangerine orange are in every store. It instantly jazzes up your outfit and your mood! For men, this can take the form of ties or prints on shirts and for women, the possibilities are endless, dresses, skirts, shoes, accessories. Zara has great choices for both men and women this season.

2.  Switch to cotton 

Cotton is more breathable and will keep you cool in the summer heat. There are lots of great professional options that also have lycra built in, so you are not spending all of your time ironing. While cotton and can still be work appropriate, linen is not. Linen is great for a summer party but it has a huge wrinkle factor which won't have you looking polished and professional at the office. Jackets are still the best way to pull a look together and look professional so invest in some cotton ones. 

3. Accessorize

Accessories are the quickest and most affordable way to update an outfit. Sunglasses, belts, bags, watches, jewelry, scarves, ties and cufflinks. Everything from clean and architectural pieces to chunky pieces are in the mix. Coloured plastics are also huge this season.

4. Modesty

Modesty is always in vogue, and if you want to be taken seriously at work, modesty is a business imperative. The summer months tend to bring out the exhibitionists out there but it is a career limiting move to be showing too much skin at work. For women, keep your skirt lengths to the knee of just above and check with your organization about sleeveless tops or open toed shoes. Men, keep the button ups, buttoned up and NO sandals in the work place. T-shirts are also a definite no if you are looking to climb the corporate ladder.

5. Occasion

Summer is when us Canadians come out of hibernation and that means summer parties, socials and nights on the town. Look for pieces that will transfer from day to night with ease so you can be ready for drinks or dinner after work but don't sacrifice your professionalism, there are ways to make both work, it just takes a little time and effort.




Erin Miller 




A+P Daily Look Board:

Being Modest 

Our inspiration for the modest look is the look from Celine's resort collection. It is cool, relaxed and the proportions are universally flattering. The color palette is also perfect for summer, with a mix of different neutral tones layered to create a sophisticated look that is appropriate for the office. Here, we present a variety of options in different neutral tones that we feel will last more than one season, and are versatile enough for several different outfits. We in particular love the navy pleated skirt, it is the perfect length at just above the knee, and will look amazing with an array of blouses, making it a wardrobe staple.  The 70s is also a big source of inspirations for designers this spring, and a great way to introduce this trend is through wide leg trousers and a pussy bow blouse. 


Items List: 
Clockwise from top left, J.Crew Bedford Aggie dress, $180, Raoul Pleated Skirt, $203, Zara sleeveless white shirt, $45.90, Maison Martin Margiela high waisted skirt, $775, Zara double button blazer, $119, Theory Primo top, $245, Zara wide leg pants, $49.90, Giuseppe Zanotti  shoes, $558, Marni silk and wool blend skirt, $220, Vince cropped trench, $159, Zara wrap skirt, $79,90, J.Crew Crame Dress, $250



Shot of Color

We have to admit, this look is probably best reserved for the creative professions. If not done correctly, it might be dangerous if the work environment is more serious - usually seen in corporate businesses. However, our inspiration look from Moschino resort 2011,  could be a vision of sophisticated glamor.  If you do decide to experiment with color, we advise you to be careful on how much color you sport in the office.  You could either choose a bold ensemble that plays with shades of a certain color, color-block an outfit, or highlight one specific color.  If you are in a creative environment, by all means, color-block your outfit like Prada or Gucci this S/S season; however, if you are in a more reserved office, choose a garment that exhibits a pop of color and keep everything else neutral. Normally, a colored silk blouse (exhibited by those shown above) would be chosen as the focal point of the outfit, with pants, skirt, blazer, cardigan, and shoes varying between blacks, grays, and beiges.  Although the blouse is a popular choice to wear either patterns or solid bold colors, we advise you to have a little more fun with your garment choices!  Choose a standout shoe (like the orange shown above, or a red) with a solid colored suit, or switch out the plain black pants and try on white tailored pants for a change. 


Items List(clockwise from top left):
Assorted ties, $120-$135, Dsquared2 cashmere cardigan, $615, Carven High Throat Pump, $500, Aldo Croner Pump, $70, Topshop orange contrast collar shirt, ~$50, A.L.C Mason tank, $196, Diane Von Furstenberg Slice dress, $325, Zara Pique Blazer, $119, Equipment Signature blouse in various colors, $208, Zara Fashion City bag, $159, MICHAEL Michael Kors Ring tote, $348. 

Day to Night 

For the day to night look we wanted to demonstrate two good ways to plan an outfit that will last all day. One is to exude opulence at night, and the other is to layer effectively. We took a basic pencil skirt and shirt combo, since the shirt is sheer we decided that a tonal tank underneath would make the sheer blouse more appropriate for work. The important thing here is to choose a shirt that is made with a slouchy soft fabric that will create a draped silhouette. Note that when playing with different shapes, if you decide to wear a tighter/form-fitting skirt, your top should be slouchier (and vice versa) to ensure that you do not look inappropriate for work. For day, we paired it with a simple black blazer, a structured bag to create a frame, and a simple pair of black pumps. There are several ways to style this outfit for night, the simplest is to take off the shirt, and wear the tank with the blazer over it. For the tank to feel not too casual, it should be slightly loose and still create a shape for your body. You can also wear the shirt without the tank or blazer for a sophisticated look. Since the shirt is sheer, make sure the undergarments showing are not embarrassing or outrageous. For a more glamorous look, shown here, layer the tank with the sequined vest, and finish off with glittering accessories. The inspiration look is from Alexander McQueen's 2011 resort collection.

   

Items list 

Day: Zara two tone blazer, $139, Mulberry Oversized Alexa, $1450, Aldo Capecoral pump, $80. Base: T by Alexander Wang long sleeve blouse, $188, Vince side drape tank, $88, T by Alexander Wang jersey pencil skirt, $140. Night: Zara Necklace, $49, J.Crew sequin lattice tank, $190, By Malene Birger Typaro bangle, $135, Zara Sequin box, $49, House of Harlow 1960 Sunburst cocktail ring, $50.

Erin is a Toronto bases certified Image Consultant. She has had previous experience working as a recruiter for some of Canada's top firms, understanding the critical need for  employees to look professional and confident. She has worked with many notable clients like  Nestle, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, Rotman School of Management, Mosaic, and Cushman Wakefield.