Upgrade Your Summer Office Wardrobe With These Four Looks

Tackling high fashion and high temperatures can be a daunting task. The heat survival tactic of putting on less and simplifying outfits is an understandable coping mechanism. However, this comes at the price of putting your favorite closet staples on the back burner so you can beat the heat.

If you’re anything like us and find yourself sitting desk side rather than poolside all summer, dressing down and dressing less isn’t an option. For the corporate nine-to-five girlies, this season undoubtedly has us standing in front of our closets scratching our heads in hopes of conjuring up something worthwhile that won’t get us sent to HR. Offices are notorious for keeping the A/C on blast, and when you’re commuting in 90+ degree weather to a 65 degree office, trust us when we say, you’re not the only one who contemplates bringing in a snuggie.

To put a hard stop to this seasonal frustration, The Curio Cabinet team assembled several looks from local boutiques, designers and vintage clothing curators to help us all move the needle on our summer work wardrobe. From classic pantsuits to bold hues and prints, leverage this guide below to help you stay inspired and sophisticated all summer long. Because if we must work, outfit-wise…we should also werk.

Deep dive: She’s booked, she’s busy, but she’s not boring. For the boardroom badass, suiting up in an outfit that commands the room while checking off agenda items will brighten up any stuffy meeting. Layering and embracing fitted silhouettes can upgrade classic base colors like black, white, navy and gray. In this case, pinstripes got an upgrade in the form of a fitted mini-suit dress with box pleats and silver double-belted details. There’s no doubt that a white button-up is the ultimate office staple. Its legacy is boundless, genderless and timeless. It has the capacity to serve as the perfect canvas for a well-refined look. To add some flair to this neutral piece, opt for a white button-up with added details like ruffles, unique cuffs or a collar tie. The white button-up with a black collar tie was paired with a high-waisted black skirt with metallic button-down finishes. For this look, we converted the skirt into a strapless dress so the shirt can act as a layering piece. To close the loop on this elevated look, we tied the collar into a bow and added a gold snake clasps necklace and a vintage broach.

Deliverables: On Yashi Uppalapati (left/right): Navy Strap Detail Blazer Dress, $99.00 available at M. Bolden Boutique. On Dana Good (middle): White Tie Collar Loose Fit Shirt, $53.98, Cropped Blazer & High-Waisted Slit Skirt Set, $273.00, Snake Clasp Belt/Necklace, $88.00, all available at M.Bolden Boutique.

 On Uppalapati: Empire Wallet, $50.00 available at D’Chris Handbags.

Deliverables: On Uppalapati: Fuchsia-Salmon Striped Jacket and Pants Set, $90.00 available at M. Bolden Boutique.

Deep dive: Bold colors, ornate patterns and vintage accessories are a chic and elevated spin on the classic pantsuit. Although these outfits may be bright, they definitely do not lack in structure. A tailored fit has the power to make anyone feel polished and put together. To embrace the essence of summer, we suggest pulling in citrus and warm colors as seen on Uppalapati and Good. This bombshell striped set from M.Bolden Boutique puts the power in power suit. With a suit this vibrant, you don’t need to go overboard with the accessories. To let this look speak for itself, it’s complimented with vintage Jimmy Choo kitten heels and a thick gold chain necklace. Good is rocking everything vintage with a bold citrus blazer as the focal point. With styling, we didn’t allow just one color or pattern to limit our styling choices we embraced them! Utilizing the science behind complementary hues on the color wheel, this vintage 80’s chain pattern button-up from vintage shop, stylist and curator The Denver Ginger, paired well with this vivid blazer as shades of blues and purples are complementary colors to orange and yellows. To pull out the chain design from the blouse, a multi-jeweled chain loop belt was paired on top of high-waisted tailored beige pants. 

Deliverables: On Good: 80’s Chain Pattern Button Up, $30.00 provided by The Denver Ginger. Beige Tailored Pants, Gold Cheetah Broach, Multi-Jewel Gold Belt Loop, and  Orange Cropped Blazer, provided by Lisa Mae (Thrift Girlie) – Style Bundles available HERE.

Deliverables: On Good: 90’s Plaid Trouser Shorts, $32.00, provided by The Denver Ginger. Navy Double Breasted Vest, and Silver Chain Belt,  provided by Lisa Mae (Thrift Girlie) – Style Bundles available HERE. On Uppalapati: White Long Collar Tunic, $67.00, Lace Trouser, $30.00, available at M. Bolden Boutique.

Deep dive: Setting the tone of playfulness, charisma and overall vibes – comes personality hire. In order to disrupt the norms of corporate environments, especially the outfits, we’ve curated two looks that mean business but still have all the luxury of play. As a personality hire, you’re meant to stand out and with all your charm and wit, you still get the job done – teach us your ways. In terms of styling, people should expect the unexpected. Your outfits speak volumes and the louder the better. For the office rockstar, we paired a navy double breasted vest over a pair of navy plaid shorts. To piggyback on the cooler hues and go above and beyond with accessories, long blue gloves and a silver chain belt added all the personality to this outfit. For the employee who’s just trying to finish those EOD deadlines, comfort and style are a necessity. Breathable, lightweight and stylish, lace pants are a fresh alternative for summer workwear trousers. While it’s easy to stick with linen or cotton fabrics, utilizing textiles like lace is a low lift way to introduce something new to your summer wardrobe. To make these lace trousers office-proof, this oversized white long collar tunic gives us all the business up top.  

Deep dive: After a long and grueling week, some days an office outfit needs to be lowlift and attainable while still looking polished. This can be achieved by harnessing the potential of your basics in your closet and combining them with vintage statement pieces and pastel colors. The basics to accomplish a low lift ensemble are beige or white loose fitted trousers and a lightweight long sleeve blouse. What amplifies this look lies in the details. A structured pastel blazer with a unique design or silhouette will act as the front runner of the outfit, while your accessories help with cohesion. A statement belt or bag like this leather Sheath Bag in Copper from D’Chris Handbags is a timeless addition to any casual office look. Last but not least, don’t forget to pop on your favorite slingback heels and you’ll feel ready to take on the day.

Deliverables: All clothing provided by Lisa Mae (Thrift Girlie) – Style Bundles available HERE. Leather Sheath Bag in Copper, $180.00, available at D’Chris Handbags.

And there you have it, The Curio Cabinet’s summer office wear guide at your disposal. Whether you’re constantly serving the businesswoman special or just a lover of all things fashion, circle back on this guide anytime for some high-fashion inspo. 

---

Models: Dana Good & Yashi Uppalapati

Writer/Creative Director: Jordan McClendon

Photographers: Victoria Glidden & Cruz Arias

Fashion Editor: Abby Schirmacher

Stylists: Lisa Mae, Cruz Arias & Casandra Perez

Makeup: Jessica Engen

Hair: Casandra Perez

Clothing/Accessories: M. Bolden Boutique, The Denver Ginger, Lisa Mae: Thrift Girlie, D’Chris Handbags

Location: WellBiz Brands, Denver Colorado