Another dress me - Summer office wear

[pixy0stix]

I'm struggling to find the balance of summer office wear that isn't too casual, but also not business casual. Jeans are ok, and I'd prefer to wear pants. Office is comfortable - 72-74 degrees. No one in this office likes to be cold.

Would linen pants be too casual?

Where is a good place to shop for tops?

Details: Size 14-16, apple shaped

[Susie]

I think linen is fine.  

I've taken to wearing pants from Athleta.  The Brooklyn ankle pant and the Endless pant in particular.  Light, comfortable, and stretchy.  They're pricey, but you can catch sales even on the basic colors like black, navy.  I mostly wear them with Rothy's, although they fit loosely enough that I feel like I need to find more shorter length shirts.  I don't like to tuck into the elastic waist.

Our office used to be business casual pre-pandemic but no longer really is.  I'm in the office 3 days/week on a hybrid schedule.

[TR]

I like the wide leg, elastic waist linen pants for summer work. I've gotten some from Target and also Old Navy.

[ssmjlm]

I just got a pair of linen blend from JCF: factory.jcrew.com/p/womens/categories/clothing/pants/drawstring-pants/linen-cotton-blend-drawstring-pant/AW839

I ordered some fun tops from loft to try this weekend. They haven't come in yet.

I am a big fan of Old Navy's white jeans.

I also wear a lot of shirt style dresses.

[circa1978]

I've been wearing a lot of linen to work the past few seasons. I think it is very office-appropriate, though that might be regional.

ETA: Target has an adorable linen shift dress this season that is crazy cheap for the quality. It's been as low as $14, I think. I have it in two colors. 

[ellipses84]

Nordstrom Rack is my go to for short sleeve work blouses that don’t require ironing. Most of mine are flowy in the waist. Max Studio, Pleione, DR2 Daniel Raine, Adriana Papell, Calvin Klein, and Tahari (runs small) are brands to search for.

I don’t think linens pants are too casual as long as they don’t wrinkle horribly. I have some pants from Costco and the Rack with wide elastic waist bands and stretchy material that looks like dress pant material (and some nice denim). They are so comfortable.

[Scout'sHonor]

May 16, 2024 9:32:17 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

Nordstrom Rack is my go to for short sleeve work blouses that don’t require ironing. Most of mine are flowy in the waist. Max Studio, Pleione, DR2 Daniel Raine, Adriana Papell, Calvin Klein, and Tahari (runs small) are brands to search for.

This is what I was going to recommend. I get the short sleeves or tank tops and then throw over a three-quarter sleeve cardigan. Also check out clothes mentor as I’ve found new with tag stuff there.

[pixy0stix]

May 16, 2024 9:38:19 GMT -5 Scout'sHonor said:

May 16, 2024 9:32:17 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

Nordstrom Rack is my go to for short sleeve work blouses that don’t require ironing. Most of mine are flowy in the waist. Max Studio, Pleione, DR2 Daniel Raine, Adriana Papell, Calvin Klein, and Tahari (runs small) are brands to search for.

This is what I was going to recommend. I get the short sleeves or tank tops and then throw over a three-quarter sleeve cardigan. Also check out clothes mentor as I’ve found new with tag stuff there.

I never think to go to Clothes Mentor as in my mind it's all teenager stuff.

[sandandsea]

I’ve been wearing these lately. From Amazon soft like yoga pants but look like work pants. Very comfy and inexpensive.

Yogipace,4 Pockets/Belt... www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZNXBS38?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[Scout'sHonor]

May 16, 2024 9:41:26 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

May 16, 2024 9:38:19 GMT -5 Scout'sHonor said:

This is what I was going to recommend. I get the short sleeves or tank tops and then throw over a three-quarter sleeve cardigan. Also check out clothes mentor as I’ve found new with tag stuff there.

I never think to go to Clothes Mentor as in my mind it's all teenager stuff.

That’s Plato’s Closet , clothes mentor is for us of age 😆

[wise_rita]

Some great tips here (jokes):

www.instagram.com/reel/C69YpEop6d8/?igsh=MXh5OTg4bDFlendxNw==

[pixy0stix]

May 16, 2024 9:45:35 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Some great tips here (jokes):

www.instagram.com/reel/C69YpEop6d8/?igsh=MXh5OTg4bDFlendxNw==

LOLOLOL! I follow an older mid-size influencer who constantly has crop tops in her rotation for business/dressier outfits. Ms. Ma'am, no.

[holly116]

May 16, 2024 9:38:19 GMT -5 Scout'sHonor said:

May 16, 2024 9:32:17 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

Nordstrom Rack is my go to for short sleeve work blouses that don’t require ironing. Most of mine are flowy in the waist. Max Studio, Pleione, DR2 Daniel Raine, Adriana Papell, Calvin Klein, and Tahari (runs small) are brands to search for.

This is what I was going to recommend. I get the short sleeves or tank tops and then throw over a three-quarter sleeve cardigan. Also check out clothes mentor as I’ve found new with tag stuff there.

This is my go for most comfortable -- sleeveless top/shell/tank top, longer open cardigan over work pants/jeans/skirt etc.

I shop mostly at Loft or Jcrew factory because they're closest to me, but I love Nordstrom Rack if I have time to dig through.  An Ann Taylor factory shop has opened recently and I've found a few dressier options there.

[deadwing]

I bought and returned these when I was looking for pants for my business trip... and I regret returning them. They were breezy and comfortable. I haven't seen my size in short in stock since.

www.torrid.com/product/pull-on-wide-leg-washable-challis-pant/41606377-12622.html

[definitelyO]

I've also been wearing the elastic waist, linen flowy pants. I have some from CostCo, Target and recently Maurice's. I struggle with tops - most of mine lately come from Amazon. no crop tops here

[lavenderblue]

I think linen pants are a great option. I only have one pair currently, but I think I want to add a few more. I honestly end up in dresses a lot during the summer, but do like to switch it up and wear pants sometimes too. I usually pair pants with a short sleeve or sleeveless top and throw a cardigan on top because my office is generally freezing.

[shauni27]

I have a pair of white jeans from ON that I am currently obsessed with (straight leg, not skinny) and another straight leg jean and a very cute wide leg jean both from Gap that I just got and love. I cannot do linen because it has to be ironed and nope.

Lately (and this shows my age) all my tops come from Kohls Sonoma line because they are not cropped, lol.

[sdlaura]

Are you anti-dresses? I find them to be so much more comfortable than pants for doing a lot of sitting, and it's nice to grab one item instead of trying to match a top and pants. There are lots of comfy long dress options too if you prefer not to expose your legs. I get really excited when we hit dress season.

[pixy0stix]

May 16, 2024 11:26:46 GMT -5 sdlaura said:

Are you anti-dresses? I find them to be so much more comfortable than pants for doing a lot of sitting, and it's nice to grab one item instead of trying to match a top and pants. There are lots of comfy long dress options too if you prefer not to expose your legs. I get really excited when we hit dress season.

I'm not hardcore anti-dress, but I don't find them comfortable.

[midwestmama]

I think linen is fine. I have two pairs of linen-blend pants from J. Crew Factory that I plan to wear to work this summer. I tend to get most of my work clothes from LOFT, LOFT Outlet, or J. Crew Factory. In the summer, I tend to wear a lot of cardigans over a top or blouse in case of changes in temperature.

[jamaicam]

I get a lot of my work stuff from ebay lightly used - it is a pain but i feel better preventing stuff from going to landfills and not buying new for environmental reasons. I narrow stuff down by the brands I know work for me which helps. Bonus si that I get some nicer brands without spending too much!

My office is more formal so I wear black or grey regular trousers year round with shell tops and a jacket, or dresses. But for looing nice outside of work, I too am in the linen trousers group.

[pixy0stix]

May 16, 2024 13:29:06 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

I get a lot of my work stuff from ebay lightly used - it is a pain but i feel better preventing stuff from going to landfills and not buying new for environmental reasons. I narrow stuff down by the brands I know work for me which helps. Bonus si that I get some nicer brands without spending too much!

My office is more formal so I wear black or grey regular trousers year round with shell tops and a jacket, or dresses. But for looing nice outside of work, I too am in the linen trousers group.

My problem is that for the last 10 years my work outfits have been jeans and a t-shirt or sweatshirt. I had gotten rid of any sort of office wear items.

[bugandbibs]

I like linen pants with a short sleeve or 3/4 length sweater. I can throw on a neutral jacket if I need to be in a meeting or if the AC is too chilly. I also do a lot of straight or wide leg, ankle length pants with flats.

If you have brands you know you like and fit you well, I'd recommend searching someplace like threadup and filtering by size, material, and brand.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Loft is my go-to for work shirts. I wore this one to work today with black capris and white slip on tennis shoes and felt cute (work is pretty casual for me)
www.loft.com/clothing/tops/catl000011/760917.html?priceSort=DES