What To Wear To Work In August

This letter was made with support from John Hardy.

Ok, we’re coming up on the last month of what we think of as summer, but realistically, with weather patterns being what they are (ugh) summer goes on and on. But even if we’re not talking strictly about weather and the heat, it’s hard to let go of all of the sillier, more fun elements of summer dressing. And still, there’s all of August left to go, and I’m a glass half full kind of person.

So, for the last little gasps of summer, I’m thinking about ways you can bring that warmth, joy, and heat into the office. And as a surprise to nobody, color has a lot to do with that. Depending on your industry, it might feel weird or intimidating to wear brights to work, but weaving it in with accessories can make it feel like less of a thing. When I saw John Hardy’s new Color Gemstone collection, I thought this was the right kind of touch to bring in a colorful element without wearing bright pink pants (but of course you can wear bright pink pants to work…). The designs are so classic, and the gemstones bring in something extra-special and a little unexpected—which if you’ll let me be cheesy is exactly what summer is all about.

Maybe you’re a lawyer, in a kind of old-school way. Maybe you’re, I don’t know, a financial planner, or your job requires you to work with gross guys who are sexist and you have to look un-fuck-withable all the time because they don’t want to listen to your ideas and you can’t give them any ideas that you’re not totally serious and hardcore. This is the category if you have to present a very traditional version of what’s “professional”. No matter what you like to wear and do in your personal life, sometimes the job calls for a little bit of a buttoned up vibe. So this is that - but the summer version.

On the left, the Kallmeyer top (1 Kallmeyer, $580) gives a lot of great volume, and a really breezy feeling, but is in a substantial enough fabric that it doesn’t look or feel too bohemian. It still has great structure. The pants (2 Posse, $390) are classic, but have a really elegant rope belt with tassels on the ends. They feel very summery, but in the fall you could just as easily wear them with a big sweater. Meanwhile, the shoes (3 Bottega Veneta, $1,100) are light and open, and a gorgeous burgundy, but they’re not so loud or insane that they distract from what you’re trying to say.

These earrings (4 John Hardy, $2,425) work with any of these—the mixed silver and gold give a lot of interest, but also don’t scream mixed metals. I also love the texture in the silver to give a bit more interest, PLUS! The Orange Citrine, for a suggestion of summer sun, but in a color that will still look at home in fall and winter.

I love this pink collarless button down (5 Another Tomorrow, $690) - it has little fabric covered buttons and is the prettiest pink shade! It’s great with the burgundy of this Burberry skirt (6 Burberry, $1,650) which is the most gorgeous color and the fullness is very sweet and feminine but still structured. Another one that will be great through fall, though with these orange sandals—unreal! The orange of the sandals (7 Jimmy Choo, $850) goes back to the orange earrings and man, the whole thing is so good.

And then! I love this contrast piped satin shirt with short sleeves (8 Cos, $139), it looks so luxurious and elegant, but not too stuffy. This vibrant Lemon Quartz and diamond pendant (9 John Hardy, $495) will really stand out against the cream of the outfit. (BTW, these pendants come in a whole host of stones in different colors, I’m also partial to the Peridot.) The pants (10 Wardrobe.nyc, $1,300) are a classic pleat-front, and would really sing with little patterned heels like these (11 Manolo Blahnik, $950)

Maybe it’s a creative office, maybe it’s all kinds of people doing all kinds of things. Maybe it’s marketing! Or PR! Or media! I don’t know, maybe you’re a very cool doctor! This is neither traditional nor non-traditional, kind of middle ground, but still polished and pulled together.

These earrings! Oh man, the tanzanite with silver and diamonds (1 John Hardy, $995) feels so classic, but then the color is the prettiest ever. They give a little something without overwhelming your outfit or distracting from your gorgeous face. I love them especially with a blue shirt (2 Comme Si, $350) to highlight that blue and to meet it halfway. And then the skirt! This kind of Dries scarf skirt (3 Dries van Noten, $845) is so comfortable and has the best print and pattern. It feels very very summery, and very light but also doesn’t show skin in a way that’s inappropriate for work. I love these sandals (4 J.Crew, $100) with everything too. They ground the outfit but don’t close it off.

This is a little more casual, but still feels pulled together and classic. The gingham blouse (5 Doen, $205) would also be perfect with the Tanzanite studs, and I love it with a classic braided belt (they echo the texture of the studs!) (6 Polo, $198) and these long, lean mid-rise jeans (7 Seven For All Mankind, $200). And then these shoes (8 Herbert Levine, $1,245) make everything feel more polished, but also keep it from looking too picnicky and sweet.

And finally I really really like this camp counselor plaid shirt (9 Madewell, $98) and how grounded and earthy it feels, especially with the silver, yellow gold, and Orange Citrine ring (10 John Hardy, $1,250). They contrast each other, but the colors work beautifully together. The whole thing feels polished with a classic navy trouser (11 Gap, $90), but the clog heels (12 Chloe, $1,250) make it interesting and cool and keeps with the summer camp vibe without going too literal.

Maybe there’s no dress code! Maybe anything goes! And you still want to look pulled together but not like a narc! Maybe you’re me and you can wear shorts and you do wear shorts to work but not in a sloppy way.

This is actually very close to what I wear to the store/to work on a normal day. I love the striped shirt (1 Madewell, $98), it’s very graphic and would be so beautiful with this melon-orange skirt (3 Mango, $46), but even more with the added color from these stacked bracelets with colored gemstones and semi-precious stones (3 John Hardy, Peridot Bracelet (top), $1,095 ; Yellow Gold and Orange Citrine bracelet, $4,745). This silhouette is great in the depths of August heat, very breezy and open but still pulled together, and looks the very very best with silly flip flops like these (4 Balenciaga, $625), which are not only pastel green, but also covered in rhinestone embellished studs.

The middle is another (in my opinion) perfect summer work outfit. I love these tees (5 Ayr, $145), they have a vintage look, but are substantial and super tidy. I especially like them with longer denim shorts (6 Toteme, $350), the combination feels tomboyish and relaxed but also very pulled together, especially with these Christen wedges (7 Christen, $1,300).

Red and tan is one of my favorite combinations, and this terry tee (8 Suzie Kondi, $225) is a great color, but this tee is also so good. We have it in store, and it has a perfect structured fit, and looks great with slouchy things…like these cargo pants (9 Citizens of Humanity, $360). The stacked bracelets would give this a little flicker of metallic to make it all feel super special, but also a pair of gold sandals (10 Ancient Greek Sandals, $325) will give it a tiny bit of a twist.

There we are! Stay cool.

Your friend,

Laurel