Olivia Jeanette

It’s 95 degrees outside and the last thing you want to put on is a wool skirt. I understand. Trust me. Summer is a difficult season to dress professionally and not suffer through the workday. But just take a minute and think about the men, yikes, can you imagine wearing a suit and tie when the humidity is through the roof and the sun is beating down on everyone? No thank you. That’s besides the point. Here’s an easy way to wear your favorite summer to work and still look professional.

I’m wearing a lightweight cotton dress from Old Navy and it’s currently on sale for $15! As you can see in the photos the dress hits just above my knees and it’s a little longer in back. A few details about the dress, it’s one of the most comfortable pieces I own for summer. The material doesn’t stick to my body, it’s sleeveless and comes in several different colors. For my body type I love v-neck tops and dresses. If you’re a little bustier and petite, I’d highly recommend a v-neck over a scoop neck or high collar. The v-neck elongates your torso and gives the chest area the illusion of less bulk. I wouldn’t say the belt is necessary, but it makes the look more professional and cinches in the waist (an added bonus). Blazers automatically make an outfit look professional, so this was an easy way to make this look “work appropriate”. The blazer is from Banana Republic and purchased last season, here’s a similar style. It’s not necessary to wear your blazer on your commute to work. You can carry it to work or lightly toss it in your workbag. Most blazers won’t get too wrinkled in 15-30 minutes. Depending on your workplace, you could probably get away with not wearing the blazer while you’re sitting at your desk. If you have a meeting that day, throw on the blazer and you’re ready for business. Since there is a lot going on up top, I went for a simple nude pump to finish the look. Last but not least, I twisted my hair back on one side and pinned it with a few bobby pins. My hair is still professional, but also playful and practical for a hot summer day.

Here is the dress from Old Navy. The dress runs true to size, I went up one size because I wanted the dress to be loose for the summer. I’m 5’1″ without heels, so keep that in mind when purchasing this dress. Check out these other dresses from Old Navy that can easily be transitioned from weekend to workweek with a blazer and belt.

Shop by favorite summer blazers here:

 Old Navy Dress | Banana Republic Blazer (similar here) | J.Crew Belt (similar here) | Coach Bag | Prada Sunglasses | Christian Louboutin Heels

xo, Olivia

Photos by Lydia Hudgens