Each season has its own peculiarities when it comes to choosing the right outfit for work. Summer, as the warmest of them, has its own undeniable charm. However, composing an outfit that will provide a professional look, but at the same time keep you thermally comfortable, can be quite a challenge. Summer dresses for work that fit into the dress code of your company can come to the rescue.

Summer dresses for work: a practical guide

Choosing an elegant dresses for work for the warm months, it is worth paying attention to several aspects. The cut, color and pattern should be in accordance with the company's dress code. Also key is the type of fabric that will work when air temperatures are high. To maintain an impeccable appearance throughout the day at work, it is best that the fabric is not too squishy. The ideal dress should combine elegance with comfort and durability. The latter aspect can ensure, among other things, high quality workmanship, but also the type of fabric.

Best fabrics for summer in office dresses

On hot days, airy fabrics will work best. Such can include cotton, linen or viscose. Linen in office styling can be problematic due to its high tendency to crease. Cotton, on the other hand, is a very good choice. It is a natural material that is lightweight and has excellent hygroscopic properties, that is, it absorbs sweat very well. Its undoubted advantage is the ease of care. Cotton dresses are ideal for work, but it is also worth paying attention to models made of viscose. This is a fabric that also does an excellent job of wicking moisture away from the body during hot weather, just like natural materials. However, it is slightly more durable than cotton, which is an important advantage.

Fabrics that have a mixed composition can also be great for summer. For example, cotton with elastane is an airy and slightly stretchy fabric. Elastane allows the dress to fit the figure better. Viscose with polyester will be less "breathable" than "100% viscose", but can still work well in the summer. Polyester adds durability to the fabric, increases its resistance to creasing and makes the dress easier to care for. You can also often find beautiful dresses made of fabric that has viscose and polyamide in its composition. Modern fabrics, combining different fibers, are designed to make the most of the strengths of each fiber.

Dresses for work - summer cuts

An important rule, which is good to keep in mind, especially in summer, is that dresses for work should not reveal too much of the body. A business creation must not be defiant, as this could be inappropriate in the workplace. Therefore, the best are subdued, classic cuts, not too deep necklines and no strong cutouts or transparency. The most popular cut for work seems to be the pencil cut. However, in summer it is also worth betting on slightly looser dresses, which can increase thermal comfort. Both A-cut and trapeze cut models will be perfect. Also suitable will be creations with a raised waist or with a marked waistline, flared. Great for work in the summer can be tunics, as well as shirt or jacket dresses. Contrary to appearances, not only short creations will work well on warm days. Also perfect are office dresses midi and maxi. Lightweight materials look great in these lengths. If the dress code in force in the company allows short sleeves, it is good to take advantage of this. This solution will even better preserve thermal comfort. On the other hand, straps (even more so their absence!) can already be a controversial choice. In many workplaces, an outfit that reveals the shoulders may be considered inappropriate. However, this does not mean that there is no way around it. However, if you have a favorite strapless dress that you would like to come to work in, wear a short-sleeved shirt in a contrasting or neutral color underneath. It is worth noting that the T-shirt should be made of airy material to keep you thermally comfortable in such a layered outfit.

Office dress colors

At work, classic colors such as black, gray or navy blue may apply, but in most cases you can use a wider color palette. In general, however, dresses for the office should be in muted shades, which adds a professional touch to the styling. Usually in summer, you can bet on practically the entire palette of pastel colors, but not only. Shades of white, beiges, blues, muted pink or purple will work. Mild greens are also perfect. A great option are two-color dresses, for example, combining black and white. This classic combination is great for professional situations. A combination of navy blue or white/ecru can also be a great option. Of course, it's a good idea to choose your favorite colors in which you feel most comfortable.

Vibrant colors in styling for work, or the 60-30-10 rule

Especially in summer, it is all too tempting to incorporate some vibrant colors into subdued colors. In this way you can liven up the styling and give it an individual touch. One way to achieve such an effect, while maintaining a professional look, can be the use of the 60-30-10 rule.What does it consist in? The idea is that 60 percent of an outfit, such as a dress, should be in a primary color, let's say gray. To this we add 30 percent of a neutral color or another shade of the primary color. This could be a jacket or cardigan, for example, in black or white. On the other hand, 10 percent is an accessory of a vibrant color that we want to introduce. It could be a belt, it could be a scarf, or, for example, shoes in red, maroon, cobalt or even yellow. An alternative to the above rule is the 80-20 ratio. For example, you can wear pink shoes and a scarf with a navy blue dress.

Of course, these rules can also be applied to other types of outfits. For example, they are great for suits and suits, but also when you want to wear pants or a skirt and blouse to work. It is worth remembering that when introducing more intense colors into business styling, it is better to opt for slightly dim shades rather than very flashy, even neon colors.

Fashionable and timeless patterns that work for styling for the office

This season's trendy floral prints can be a great choice if the dress code is not very restrictive. Trends 2024 allow a lot of freedom in choosing the size of the pattern. They can be both large and smaller flowers. At work, however, huge floral patterns may look not very professional. It is better then to bet on a smaller pattern. Of course, you can always consider this issue individually, and this is not an absolute rule.

Speaking of fashionable patterns, it is impossible not to mention peas this year. This is a timeless pattern, which is triumphant in the 2024 season. As with flowers, small peas will be more suitable for work. Other classic prints to look at when choosing a dress for work are stripes or checks. Modern geometric patterns can also work well. Animal prints seem the least suitable for work, but a black and white zebra, for example, can stand up well in a work environment.

Different challenges, different styles

The daily challenges of working in an office require styling that is elegant, but still comfortable and thermally comfortable. Depending on the rules of the company, you can afford to dress more or less formally. If a lot of freedom is possible, both maxi, midi and knee-length dresses will work. The color scheme can be varied, with the predominance of subdued colors. For the dress it is worth choosing comfortable footwear, for example, pumps on a small post, moccasins, espadrilles or shoes on a low-height anchor. In many cases, sneakers will also work well.

For business meetings, however, it is worth composing styling a little differently. In this case, more attention should be paid to the cut of the creation, as well as the accessories. Business dresses ideal for such occasions are knee-length, slightly below the knee or slightly behind the knee creations. Pencil, navy or A-cut dresses are perfect. The color black, blue or navy emphasizes the professional nature of the styling. In this case, it is advisable to avoid patterns and opt for minimalist elegance. As for footwear, the best choice is pumps on a post.

Elegant work clothes for summer - not just dresses

Of course, dresses are the most popular choice, but they are not the only option when it comes to dressing for work. Suits and suits will also work great, especially if you are bound by a more formal dress code. In many cases, sets consisting of pants and a blouse or shirt, or analogous sets with a skirt, are also an excellent option. A modern and stylish alternative can also be an elegant jumpsuit. Dresses, however, still seem to be one of the more comfortable options for the office for summer.

Dresses for work from Polish brand Poza

Looking for the perfect business dress for summer, check out the collection of the Polish brand Poza. The perfect cut and careful finishing of each model make the creation look extremely elegant, regardless of the cut. Impressive designs and a variety of colors allow you to choose the perfect dress for you. The advantage of the brand's collection is also a wide size range.