How is it remotely possible that we are halfway through 2018 already? Well, we are, and hopefully June will bring many more sunny days.
In the office, team R29 are swapping overcoats for blazers and keeping it sunny indoors with colourful office staples. Printed sandals, oversized jumpsuits and shirt dresses all made it into our top picks.
Ahead, we share what we'll be wearing to work (and après-work) this summer...
Zara's white shirt with black contrast stitching has been my workwear staple this spring, so when payday arrives I’ll invest in the young designer who probably inspired it: Rejina Pyo. I love the brick red Amber shirt, which has a strap that can be used to drape it in several chic, nonchalant ways.
Rejina Pyo Fold Sleeves Shirt, £563, available at Farfetch
One of the most thrilling fashion shows I've attended was the Spring 2014 menswear presentation by the now-shuttered (and much missed) London label Meadham Kirchhoff. Fashion loves the perverse, and it was exemplified in that season's cigarette-stain-yellow clear plastic macs. This translucent Rains x Opening Ceremony mac coat reminded me of it, and is ideal for British summer weather.
OC Mac Coat, £89, available at Rains
Sometimes meetings and presentations call for a more formal look, but if I’m to wear a white shirt, I want it as Tudor-esque as possible. The ballooned sleeves of this Kitri number add a touch of drama and femininity to an otherwise safe staple.
Kitri Isabella Panelled Shirt, £75, available at Kitri
Blazers are a failsafe workwear piece – smart enough to wear in the most high-pressure settings, but can be dressed down for more casual environments. This Isabel Marant Étoile piece is fun because the exaggerated collar gives it a ‘70s flare, while the pink check nods to Clueless.
Isabel Marant Étoile Laney Checked Linen Blazer, £350, available at Net-A-Porter
I know this might not be totally workwear-appropriate but I’m a strong believer in a tailored trouser and smart trainers making anything work for the office. Plus anything that has the word 'art' on it is a winner in my book. This tee is another favourite of mine.
Être Cécile Hot Art Boyfriend Tank, £65, available at Être Cécile
It’s so hard to buy jeans that don’t come cropped, which if you’re tall ends up in some sort of 2005-pedal-pushers nightmare. This Arket organic cotton pair screams summertime workwear; ideal with an oversized shirt.
Arket Straight Rinsed Ecru Jeans, £55, available at Arket
I like 'high impact, minimal effort' clothes. Things you can throw on that don’t need a lot of styling, and can carry their own. This top is interesting enough with the gathered collar (without being too prissy for my minimal tastes), is smart enough for work (when I’ve ironed it), and goes with everything that’s already in my wardrobe.
Uniqlo Women 100% Extra Fine Cotton Half Sleeve Blouse, £19.90, available at Uniqlo
Trying to find a jumpsuit that fits when you’re tall is tricky. Trying to find a jumpsuit that fits when you’re tall, have an abnormally long torso and average length legs is impossible. The camel toe is real. Thanks to its oversized fit, this jumpsuit fits me like a dream. It is so comfortable I could live in it. Wearing a shirt underneath makes it suitable for work, and the linen material is cool in a stuffy summer office.
Uniqlo Women Linen Rayon Sleeveless Jumpsuit, £34.90, available at Uniqlo
A brightly coloured suit is such a smart investment for your work wardrobe, and if you don't believe in an investment piece then hear me out. How I look at it is by purchasing this lovely co-ord, I'm really getting three pieces in one – a blazer, trousers and a matching suit. Plausible?
Topshop Contrast Stitch Suit, £110, available at Topshop
The netted bag is one of the biggest bag trends of the summer and using one will help reduce plastic waste in our oceans. Double win.
Arket Turtle Bags String Bag, £5, available at Arket
All I need for summer is a minimal, moderately priced slide that needs no breaking in. Voilà!
Free People Shore Thing Slide Sandal, £88, available at Free People
I have yet to go full co-ord but I'll dip my toe in the water for this apricot skirt and jacket. Obviously the crop top makes it not entirely appropriate for all workplaces but I feel as though, worn the right way, this is very Rachel from Friends in her first proper job at Bloomingdales. Although she did end up turning down Louis Vuitton for Ross so maybe her judgment wasn’t always on point.
ASOS WHITE Pleated Button Through Crop Top & Skirt Co-Ord, £115, available at ASOS
This dress, worn with a mad necklace, bonkers hair and wildy unsuitable earrings will help in my quest to eventually evolve into a mad but wildly stylish art teacher lookalike. See you in class, kids.
Zara Rustic Button Up Dress, £19,99, available at Zara
Finding summer dresses for those scorching hot days that are also office-appropriate is a bit of a minefield. I’ve just invested in this midi from & Other Stories and find it does the job perfectly.
& Other Stories Midi Pleated Shirt Dress, £59, available at & Other Stories
Name a better colour combo. I’ll wait.
Vagabond Aisha Rose Pink Goat Suede Sandals, £75, available at Vagabond
The perfect bag to add a bit of pizzazz to a drab Monday morning outfit.
Zara Beaded Mini Tote Bag, £29.99, available at Zara
I’m loving anything pastel this summer. This dress is simple and understated. You can team it with statement jewellery and a smart shoe for work, then dress it down and make it a summer holiday number too. Bonus.
& Other Stories Oversized Shirt Dress, £79, available at & Other Stories
I love this short-sleeved blazer for summer. It instantly dresses up a chilled dress if you’re heading to a meeting, without it feeling too Mad Men.
Mango Double-Breasted Blazer, £69.99, available at Mango
Those buttons are fun, aren’t they? I’m really happy that red, orange and yellow are having their moment this year and this is the perfect 'can’t be arsed to make an effort but look like I have' dress.
Nobody's Child Orange Asymmetric Button Dress, £25, available at Nobody's Child
A good white shirt is hard to find but this ticks so many boxes. From the ‘Committed’ collection. Organic cotton. Length that works both tucked into a midi skirt and worn loose over long wide trousers. Also suitable for swanning around at home like Tom Cruise in Risky Business.
Mango Committed Oversize Organic Cotton Shirt, £29.99, available at Mango
A wise woman once said that she saw no reason why women should have to dress differently in work than they do out of work – and I’ve embraced it wholly. Hence I’m picking two dreamy ‘Sunday best’ dresses. I like this cognac-coloured J.Crew wraparound paired with leopard-print sandals.
J.Crew Point Sur Faux-Wrap Dress In Sparkle Floral, £165, available at J.Crew
I’ve never (intentionally) print-clashed correctly but it's a lifelong goal. Until I get there, this very lovely Orla Kiely dress will do the job for me. Can someone loan me £380 please?
Orla Kiely Annabel Ruched Bodice Dress In Crimson Lily Pad, £380, available at Orla Kiely
I get that Monsoon is normally somewhere your mum drags you to look at the 'nice embroidered stuff' but can we talk about this jumpsuit? It is a chic, well priced little linen number that with a change of shoes would take you from the office to a fancy dinner. And that green looks amazing on just about everyone.
Monsoon Jamie Linen Embroidered Jumpsuit, £59, available at Monsoon
These trainers basically make you feel like you're walking on clouds beneath which are rainbows (I have a pair). Also they add a few inches, which is always cool, and I defy you to find one summer item that they don't go with.
Nike Air Max 97 SE, £149.95, available at Nike
Perfect for summer workwear when wanting to make a floral dress/ band tee look a bit more serious, this & Other Stories blazer has become a staple in my wardrobe.
& Other Stories Double Breasted Blazer, £165, available at & Other Stories
This works for summer workwear as well as summer pubwear with a quick sandal to Converse switch. It’s a loose enough fit to layer all year round, with a white T-shirt in autumn and a polo in winter.
Ganni Fairfax Georgette Wrap Dress, £200, available at Ganni
Sometimes the answer to making any basic look a bit more magic and summery is the right accessory. This lemon belt with a gold heart-shaped buckle does it all.
Wear Lemonade Lia Lemon Belt, £31, available at Wear Lemonade
Girls On Tops celebrates female voices in film and I am in.
Girls On Tops Agnès Varda T-Shirt, £18, available at Etsy
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