When summer arrives many professionals tend to forget the basics of professional attire. You must always remain professional no matter the season.
1. Cardigans Women may get away with going sleeveless in the summer. You can go sleeveless, but, still must remain in professional dress. A thin cardigan should be placed over a sleeveless dress or shirt. You may think cardigans are for your mother or a teacher but they are a great accessory for the professional women. Pair a sleeveless dress with a cardigan and pearls and you will stand out while also looking professional.
2. Vests Men can opt to leave the suit jacket at home and wear a dress for summer months. Vests give off the look of being polished and well- together without making you feel as stuffy. Choose a vest that will be complementary to your slacks and you will have a great combo. Not only will you look professional but you may even see some heads turning.
3. Peep toe shoes Open toe shoes may not be acceptable in your professional job setting. So, you can opt for peep-toe shoes. They allow for a small opening, hence the term peep-toe. You can wear these with pants or a skirt and still look professional. They don’t give off a casual look as most open toe shoes or sandals do.
4. Linen or Poplin Suits Linen and poplin suits are great for men in the summer. Professional men wear wool suits most of the time and these are just extremely too hot for the summer. Choose a nice color linen or poplin suit or a blend. The blend can be linen/silk or silk/wool. These two suits are also cooler than a wool suit. Just make sure not to choose an entirely silk suit, you still have to look the part of a professional.
5. Skirts If you are accustomed to wearing pants, make a decision to wear skirts for the summer. Pants can get hot in the summer and as a woman you have another option. Skirts allow for the legs to not be covered as they would be with pants. Enjoy your womanhood and wear a skirt. They are still just as professional as pants, but not as hot.
6. Linen Socks Men try to stay cool in the summer the best they can. You have chosen a linen suit so don’t forget about the linen socks. Summertime can be a drag with the hot weather. Even worse is wearing dress shoes with thick socks in ninety degree weather. Linen socks will allow for your feet to breathe a little more than thick cotton socks would.
7. Bare legs If your company does not mind go bare leg under your pants or skirt. You can still be professional with bare legs. Just make sure that your skirt is not too short. That is a negative in and of itself and as a professional you should already be aware of it. Going bare leg will allow your legs to breathe without the constrictions of pantyhose or stockings. So, if it’s acceptable go bare leg. Just make sure you shave!
This article is based on the principles found at http://www.professionalattire.net It’s your source for everything professional.