The Anatomy of a Work Outfit: Ladies’ Warm Weather Addition

The Top. A white sleeveless top that is office appropriate is a key piece for a summer work outfit. The princess seam detail of this BOSS Hugo Boss top is clearly flattering, and allows you to take your jacket off with confidence – your outfit will be just as polished and professional with or without it. The tailored look is perfected with hidden zippers on the sides, so the shirt perfectly skims your figure, keeping you looking neat and pulled together while still wearing your top untucked. The open clean lines of the patterned jacket we featured in this outfit play perfectly with the sleek lines of this top.

The Bottom. Like Hugo Boss, Lafayette 148 New York does timeless work pieces like no other. The coordinating modern fit makes these cotton pants, with a hint of stretch, the perfect bottom for this jacket – and a staple in your summer wardrobe all season long. The side zip waistband looks great with the featured top as well, since it will lie smoothly underneath it and not add any bulk. The slightly cropped length, at just above the ankle, is professional yet updated looking so you can wear them with confidence at any office.

The Shoes. You should have a timeless nude pump that will go with everything, including everything in this outfit. These Cole Haan patent heels certainly fit the bill, yet have an updated look with their pointier toes and still comfortable heel height.

The Finishing Touch Accessory. Vince’s new collection of handbags represents the line’s always modern and timeless aesthetic, making this tote a new staple for work. It comes in several colors, and this nude is a top pick for its effortless summer style – and of course, it will complete a timeless work look like this one. The easy, open interior allows you to throw your stuff in with ease. It accommodates files and even most laptops, in their padded cases.

The Dress (The Core Piece of the Outfit). A shirtdress makes for easy office dressing, and the army green color of this cotton one from Equipment plays up the stylish military inspirations of the season in a wonderfully work appropriate way. With free shipping and returns from Equipment’s website, you can feel safe ordering this one – but once you have it, you surely won’t want to send it back. Equipment’s known for their beautiful shirts and modern fit, so a shirtdress from them is an easy choice. While it’s shown buttoned up, we suggest wearing it open as you would any shirt – especially if you have a larger chest. If you prefer a sleeve, Alice + Olivia’s shirtdress has the same feel, and can be worn with everything else in this outfit.

The Professional Layer. Vince’s textured linen cardigan is a great alternative to a blazer for a more creative work environment. The longer length works stylishly with the shirtdress in this outfit, and it looks just as good with slim pants or jeans and a simple tank. And it’s just a great staple to have in your wardrobe. Sure, the easy fit and fabulous Vince quality is always a crowd pleaser, but this is a gem you’ll reach for with everything for summers to come. This style comes in XS-XL, so if you can’t find your size through the ‘shop it’ button, try Vince’s website. Both sites we’re sending you to offer free shipping & returns.

The Stylish Accessory. The dress we’re featuring in this outfit comes with a fabric belt, but with an easy change to a leather one, you automatically get an even more polished look. This Michael Kors belt not only adds style, it does a better job of accentuating your waist and slimming your hips than a simple fabric tie can do. It’s a dress trick we always recommend.

The Finishing Touch Accessory. A piece of jewelry is a great way to add that finishing touch to your outfit. Play up the earthy tones of this outfit by adding this bold wood choker. Handmade by a fabulous LA jewelry designer, this necklace pops the neckline of this shirtdress when it’s worn with the first couple of buttons open, as we suggest. It also looks great with a simple white tee and jeans.

The Shoes. These chunky Joe’s Jeans sandals have the rugged balance for this outfit that not only plays up the army green color of the dress, but the details of the leather belt. They look great with jeans and maxi skirts, too, so you’ll love having them in your closet.