Business Casual Wear for the Summer (NSFW)

I understand that summer is almost over, but it gave me just enough time to weigh in on what I see as appropriate summer work wear, and what is definitely NOT.

Even in the most casual environments (jeans + t-shirts), we should all strive to not only fit into the office environment, but to also look professional.

Think about this contrast:
A girl wearing a loose beer t-shirt with whiskered trendy jeans and flip flops working alongside a girl wearing dark rinse jeans with a casual t-shirt-fabric like top that doesn’t look like a t-shirt with ballet flats.

Which one do you think you’d consider promoting first?

You get the picture.

Here’s my list of stuff that I’ve seen in the workplace that is utterly inappropriate.

See through tops and pants

Tops where you just wear a bra, and in the faintest of light you can see an outline of the bra and the girl’s belly button is inappropriate.

So is wearing skintight white pants that show your underwear line AND your underwear against the colour of your skin. In this situation, if you truly MUST wear white or ivory pants, please keep in mind the 2 following items: thicker fabric & nude underwear.

Never, ever, ever, ever wear white underwear (panties and bras) underneath white clothing. It is like a BEACON screaming: “Look at my underwear!!!”. Now, if you’re into that style, then by all means I’ve affirmed that it elicits the desired reaction. If you’re not, invest in nude coloured, skin, flesh-tone coloured underwear (hold it up to your body to assess the tone).

Tank tops and Camisole

Underneath a sweater? Very cute.

Alone with jeans or nice pants? Not so cute.

Why? Very thin straps that don’t at least reach the end of your shoulders at the top, are INAPPROPRIATE. It’s much too revealing (call me conservative if you want), and distracting. A woman’s shoulder can be very sexy you know.

This goes for tank tops as well. The only no-sleeve top that is appropriate is a short-sleeved sheath top.

Excessive cleavage

It ain’t Moulin Rouge up in here!

Enough said.

Excessive leg

I saw a girl wearing a knee-length skirt the other day, but the slits were cut RIGHT UP to 2 inches below her hip bone.

Inappropriate, much?

Yes.

Miniskirts, and any skirt that goes 3” above your knees when you’re standing are inappropriate (some exceptions may apply with looser A-lien skirts) only because when you sit down, the skirt rides up another 2” and it becomes 4” too inappropriate.

I don’t care if the skirt came with the suit – look for another suit, or just wear the jacket and leave the skirt for the weekend.

Flip flops/Crocs

No kidding. Flip flops = inappropriate. I’d daresay that in even more conservative environments, even sandals with open toes, or heels with the toes showing are inappropriate.

But generally speaking, those tend to be okay. It’s the ones that are flip flops, Crocs or other WAY TOO CASUAL footwear pieces that should never been worn to the office unless your office is the beach.

I’m not saying wear heels, wear ballet flats if you must, or consider other shoes that are close-toed and pretty.

Wrong Fabrics

Leather and Vinyl, are never appropriate for the office, no matter the season. Enough said.

Too much flash

Anything with excessive sequins, glitter, glittery thread or ANYTHING AT ALL that is just too much glitz for day time should be kept at home, for night time.

So that tight, sequined minidress? Nuh uh. Not at work ,honey. Save the Beyonce style for after work at the bar at cocktail hour.

Final words

Just because it’s summer, doesn’t mean you can show MORE skin at work. You don’t have to wear as much, but there’s a bare minimum – keep the sleeves up until the end of the shoulder, save the beachwear for the beach, don’t show off the girls or your gams excessively, and keep night-time wear for night.

They’re about the same rules as for winter, but these fashion faux pas seems to appear with more frequency during the summer. No one wear flip flops in the winter! Or at least.. not if you live in Canada.