You’ve made it through the worst of summer dressing—the linen button-downs that wrinkle before you leave the house, the sleeveless tops that looked “professional enough” until you saw yourself on Zoom. However, even as we edge toward late summer, getting dressed for work still feels like navigating an escape room with no clues: Will the office be freezing? Is this meeting casual or capital-I Important? Are we still pretending puff sleeves are business-appropriate?

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the annual disconnect between summer fashion and the professional world—a world where most of us aren’t, in fact, spending July lounging on a yacht in Positano. If that post helped you survive July, this one’s here to help you finish strong.

THE TEMPERATURE PROBLEM

There’s hot, and then there’s office hot, which is actually freezing cold. Many of my clients layer like they’re packing for two different climates—because they are. Walking to work? It’s 87° with humidity. Walking into work? It’s 65° and your seat is under a vent.

What helps: Lightweight layers in breathable fabrics that look polished but feel like athleisure’s better-dressed cousin. Think cotton-linen blends, knit blazers with structure, and cardigans that don’t make you feel like the receptionist in a ‘90s rom-com.

Some of my favorite not-sad layering options:

  • Quince: Their cotton cardigans and ponte blazers offer a clean, elevated look at a non-scary price point.
  • M.M.LaFleur: The Jardigan is practically a legend at this point—a structured knit that reads professional but feels like a cardigan.
  • J.Crew: Surprisingly consistent lately with their cotton and linen blazers that layer well and hold their shape.
  • Theory: If you’re building a minimalist, breathable capsule. Their Good Linen and Stretch Knit collections are office-approved and summer-functional.
  • Universal Standard: For inclusive sizing and smarter-than-average basics. Their cardigans are great for air-conditioned purgatory.

THE AMBIGUITY PROBLEM

“Business casual” now seems to mean “not actively wearing pajamas,” and expectations shift based on team, day, and location. For hybrid workers, the confusion multiplies—what’s appropriate for the office might feel overdressed for your own kitchen.

What helps: A closet of easy mix-and-match pieces you trust. A relaxed trouser that always looks intentional. A knit tank with clean lines. A jacket that sharpens everything up, even if you’re wearing it over a tee. The goal isn’t “perfect.” It’s “I’m competent and not sweaty.”  Here are som tips: 

1. Create Your Personal Work Uniform (aka “You’niform”)
When external rules are fuzzy, internal consistency becomes your best tool. Identify a few silhouettes or outfit formulas that make you feel credible, comfortable, and like yourself—then repeat them. No one will notice you’re wearing similar outfits. They’ll just think you look consistently put-together.

2. Use Fabric and Fit to Signal Intention
Even when you’re dressing casually, look for tailored shapes, textured fabrics, or details that say “I thought about this.” Knit tanks in a fine rib, pants with an actual waistband, or shoes that aren’t house slippers all nudge the outfit upward, even if it’s still low-key.

3. Zoom From the Waist Up, IRL From the Ankles Down
A lot of hybrid clients are stuck trying to dress for “both realities.” One easy fix? Focus on the parts that matter most for the day. Got a video call? Prioritize tops, earrings, and polish above the keyboard.
Going into the office? Shoes, pants, and outer layers deserve more attention.

Bonus tip: Choose one “anchor piece” each day that feels styled—like a standout belt, bold shoe, or clean jacket—and build around it.

4. Keep a “Meeting-Ready Layer” On Hand
This is the modern equivalent of the “desk sweater,” but smarter. A blazer, cropped jacket, or polished cardigan you can throw on when someone adds you to a client call with five minutes’ notice. Choose a lighter neutral—think soft taupe, light camel, stone, or dove gray—so it plays nicely with whatever you’re wearing underneath, whether it’s a printed top, a bold color, or just a basic tee you didn’t expect the world to see.

THE STYLE PROBLEM

You might want to dress more professionally—but try finding something that actually fits the bill. Retail racks right now are full of options that belong more at a rooftop bar or beach brunch than in your 9 a.m. strategy meeting. Cropped, sheer, frilly, and weirdly backless are having a moment—and they’re not doing your wardrobe any favors.

What helps: Don’t try to make trend-forward pieces work for a setting they weren’t designed for. Instead, focus on three things:

Structure
Look for pieces with clear lines and some shape to them that also don’t sacrifice comfort. 

Try: Athleta’s Pinnacle pants, Theory’s Treeca pull-on pants, or M.M. Lafleur’s suited Colby pants and Moreland blazer in their Origami Tech fabric.

Proportion
When you balance silhouettes, everything looks more intentional. Wide-leg pants with a clean, tucked-in top. A midi skirt with a cropped-but-not-too-cropped sweater. Slouchy + sleek is the formula to remember.

Try: M.M.LaFleur’s Milo Jeans, Me+Em’s  midi skirts, or a slim cotton modal sleeveless tee from Quince.

Intentionality
You don’t need to go full power suit to look put-together. One well-chosen piece—a standout shoe, a waist-defining belt, a sharp earring—can shift an outfit from “I gave up” to “I’ve got this.”

Try:

  • Sezane for sculptural, work-appropriate shoes with personality
  • Margaux for elegant, walkable flats and block heels that don’t feel orthopedic
  • Cuyana for modern leather belts and sleek bags that elevate without screaming
  • Mejuri or Monica Vinader for jewelry that’s quiet but confident

YOU DON’T NEED AN ENTIRELY NEW WARDROBE

You don’t need to reinvent your style to make sense of dressing in this murky, over-air-conditioned, under-defined moment. You just need the right pieces—and a strategy that works in real life, not just in a lookbook.

If your closet could use a recalibration (or you’re just tired of starting your mornings with outfit dread), now’s the time to get on my calendar before fall kicks into gear. Schedule an Image & Style Assessment with me here.