Summer Lovin’ had me a ……. Oops, wrong place for this song

Summer is here!! Yay! Wahoo! We made it to the sunshine. With this new-found freedom also comes responsibility in the form of your attire.

Most offices are a bit more lenient than they were 20 years ago when it comes to summer time work clothes. You can leave the stockings and long sleeve shirts and blouses at home. Some even allow an open-toed shoe and sandals. However, let’s all remember we are going to work. We are not going to the beach – sundress and strapless maxi dresses – or the park – short skirts and flip-flops. We are going to the office, the place where we have a presence, a reputation for high standards and are being looked to for guidance by younger staff members.

Nothing wrong with a summer khaki skirt, just make sure it hits no shorter than above the knee. If the length is appropriate, throw a summer jacket over that maxi and sundress. Also sleeveless shirts, my personal favorite, still look on point in the office with a blazer or sweater thrown on. As for your footgear, keep it simple. Sparkles, gem stones and dangly chains are not really office friendly. Stick with neutral colors for the office – brown, nude, navy, black, maybe even a red. You can go with a bright summer color, but keep the style basic. And please PLEASE NO flip-flops!!!! Think of the Dr. Seuss green eggs and ham cartoon … not on the bus, not in the elevator, not out at lunchtime. I am a proponent of you are “at work” from the time you leave your front door. Nothing looks more deterring than a pulled together professional woman flip-flopping her way down the hall from the elevator returning from lunch. I never cared for the whole wear your sneakers to work on the train or bus thing either.

Capri pants are fine, but again keep in mind where you are. Stay with the basics of colors. No one comes to work to see a rainbow in the conference room. While I’m talking colors, some tops are best kept for after work. The lattice, bejeweled, string laden tops of summer are really not work ready. Yea, I know some of the other staff wear them, but keep in mind what image you want to project. Your professional image does not have the summer off.

Summer accessories are fun. Dangle earrings, wearing multiple bracelets, big flower rings all say “I’m stylish and fun”. Well, we here at Xyz Company don’t really care how much fun you are. Some short dangles are not bad. The kinds that are in one of the metals – gold, silver, and rose gold – that are simple hoops or even seed beaded dangles can blend with an office outfit; Those huge earrings that are beaded and move every time your head moves are the no-go. Again, I’m not trying to stifle you. I too have been bound up by winter. That’s why when I get home I break out my summer fun clothing and chill out.

Well, I hope my words didn’t bring down your summertime high. I just wanted to make sure when summer is over your professional image is still in tact.

I’ll be talking to you!