Don’t let the heat get you fired
I know it is summer and depending on where you live, you might feel as if it is too hot to work. But since your lifestyle requires you to bring home a paycheck, your best option is to find ways to stay cool in the summer heat. This does not give you permission to be inappropriately dressed at work! So before you head into your office in your “cool” work wear, make sure you aren’t committing any of these five office attire mistakes:
1. Flip flops. No matter how much you dress them up, flip flops are meant for the beach. Even if you have on long linen pants to cover them up, the words flip flop automatically suggest that your boss and everyone else in the office can hear you coming and going.
Alternative: Strappy sandals will keep your shoes on your feet and eliminate the flip flop noise. Plus a little more material makes even strappy shoes look more work appropriate.
2. Low back tops and dresses. I know you gave up those deep v-necklines so you would not be too sexy at work but that deep v-back line can cause the same issues. Believe it or not, women’s backs are sexy and wearing tops that expose the back, no matter how hot, is not appropriate for the workplace.
Alternative: If your closet is already packed with low back and strappy shirts, leave a cardigan in the office so you can cover up while you are in the workplace.
3. Shorts. No matter how long they come, shorts do not signal a professional in the office. It actually suggests that you might be headed for a play date. So avoid the confusion and just forgo the shorts.
Alternative: If you want to keep your legs cool, just put on a skirt.
4. Cropped and cutout tops. These tops are in trend this season but if you wear this trend to work, you might get cut out of a job. Even if this minimal material helps to keep you cooler in the hot sun, it will not instill confidence to your bosses or to your customers.
Alternative: Go for a more polished blouse in a breathable material like cotton. It can keep you just as cool and it might help you stay employed.
5. Maxi dresses. I love this easy flowing dress as much as the next woman but it doesn’t flow in the office place. This unstructured dress that dusts the floor is better left for your day off.
Alternative: If being restricted is what keeps you hot, try an A-line knee length dress that will give you more room through the hips and thighs but still stops at a work appropriate length.
Now that you are cool and appropriate in the office, you can sweat over work for reasons other than the heat.
Kim Turner is a professional image consultant located in Washington, DC. She works with both men and women to also help individuals align their appearance with their goals from being more polished in the office to just making their style fit their lifestyle. Her services include image assessment, individual personal shopping services and closet analysis. To learn more about her services and for more great style tips, visit her blog at fashioncents.tv.
