Tips for the Office Summer Dress Code

With summer finally upon us and stories about boys wearing skirts to school to make a point about not being allowed to wear shorts in the news, it got me thinking about what is appropriate to wear to work in the hot summer months.

For women, it’s a wide selection of dresses, skirts, shorts, vest tops, strappy tops, blouses, sandals,  heels, but for men is it simply a choice of trousers  or shorts and a long sleeve or short sleeve shirt?

 

When the weather gets hot and the dress code is Smart Casual, do people get confused about what smart casual actually means?  It may be hot, but remember to keep your dress code professional in the office environment. Ladies skirts should be on or below the knee and the same goes for men’s shorts. 

 

Smart casual seems to cover such a broad  spectrum that it can be easily misinterpreted and it may depend entirely on the office environment that you work in. Smaller companies tend to have more of a relaxed approach, letting their employees wear pretty much what they want- in moderation- , but is wearing flip flops to work pushing it a bit too far? I agree that shorts and a polo shirt can look smart, but team it with flip flops and you may have just crossed over to "too" casual, but wearing a full suit and tie in 30 degree heat is going to raise some eyebrows when clients are put off by the sweaty mess in front of them.

Here are our top tips for Your Office Summer Dress Code

1. Know your work environment and your company’s dress code- before you walk in to the office in your shorts and t-shirt get a feel for the dress code. Some companies may be more relaxed than others (or the contrary!).


2. Don’t put too much on display- low cut tops and short skirts are generally not appropriate for the office and should be kept for the weekend!


3. Don’t get too comfy - If you could lounge around the house in it or wear it to the gym it’s probably not appropriate for the office.


4. Flip- Flops are a no no. Not only are they a health and safety issue, but they give off a much too relaxed impression for work.


5. No Hawaiian shirts! Expressing yourself with a vibrant shirt is one thing, but Hawaiian shirts are just too casual and unprofessional for the office!

I’m sure there are going to be a few faux pas as the sun is out and people try to cool down, but even if you do have a slip up, your wardrobe disaster won’t last long and it will be back to coats and jackets before you know it!

Visit www.kuborecruitment.com for all our latest job openings!