Dressing for summer is a minefield at the best of times, but as temperatures climb, many of us will be wondering how little coverage we can get away with while remaining professional and whether it’s acceptable to wear shorts into the office. 

But instead of fearing the prospect of getting dressed during a heatwave, we should view building our summer work wardrobe as a fine art – one that merely needs to be practised and finessed. There is, after all, a balance to be struck between being work-appropriate and put-together without melting into a puddle at the foot of your hot desk. 

Consider this your summer office outfit best friend, or make it easier for yourself, and follow these five outfit formulas for foolproof heatwave dressing. You’re welcome.

The true MVP material of summer is linen, which manages to morph itself into being exactly what its wearer requires. Should your get-up need a structural touch, employ the services of a tough linen; should it need a billowy breathable hand in the right direction, linen is a no-brainer. For workwear in the summer though, it’s the linen two-piece suit that ought to be given your full attention. 

It’s the summertime perennial that you most likely already rely upon to carry you through the rest of the year in style, but for trips into the office, allow your floaty floral dress to do all of the talking for you. Should your place of work adopt Summer Fridays or just team drinks on Thirsty Thursday, a floral frock is the seamless stylistic option that will transition you from desk to dusk with minimal effort. 

Whether you steal one from the man in your life or invest in your own, a pinstriped cotton poplin shirt is a summertime essential. Avoid sweaty ’pits on the commute and keep it light and airy by sizing up and wearing with XXL trousers that allow skin to breathe for optimal summer style points. 

There are few style combinations as foolproof as jeans and a classic pair of sandals, and for the office in summer, this singing duet truly comes into its own. The key is to keep jeans ankle-length and sandals chunky, so as to avoid any sloppy flip flop-esque connotations. Forget the old rule of never showing your toes in the office – this is summer after all. 

The virtues of the humble dress and trainer combination have been extolled at large. Here’s a sartorial duet that is the sum of merely two components, both of which are likely already lying in the dusty corners of your wardrobe. To make it as office-friendly as possible, reach for a punchy-coloured dress in a primary colour and a pair of crisp, white trainers, and there you have the two-second office dressing hack you never knew you needed. 

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