The sun is blazing. The office thermostat is broken. The Diet Cokes have run dry. What is a guy to do but sweat through his shirt and hope no one notices?
Come this time of year, this is a scenario that happens to men, nationwide and on the daily, who punch in for a toasty day at the office. This confluence of swampiness — unbearable heat coupled with long commutes, stressful work demands and a heat-induced brain fog — demands immediate resolution to one critical question: what the hell should you wear to the office when it’s really, really hot outside?
Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Slutty, Crumpled White Dress Shirtarticle
The more crinkled, sweatier and unbuttoned the shirt, the betterGiven that there hasn’t really been a standardized workplace dress code in two decades (tech pants don’t count), this can also be a fraught quandary to try and parse. There are some general benchmarks for business-casual style that most every guys knows — the proverbial no shirt, no shoes, no service rings true for Wendy’s and in-office Wednesdays alike — but beyond that, finding something to wear that both keeps you cool and passes an HR vibe check can feel impossible, especially when the mercury spikes to cartoonishly high levels.
Know that, even in the sweatiest of conditions, there is a path forward. With the new abundance of loose cuts, lightweight fabrics and overly-engineered officewear out there, there are options galore to conquer the heat and maybe even get a look off while you’re at it. I’ve rounded up a few looks below for you to try out — there’s something for every worker bee out there, from banker bros to the nominally employed.
The Summertime Suit Up
To all the sorry SOBs out there who have to pull on a suit before stepping into the swamp that is any major metropolitan area this time of year, we salute you. Still, there are plenty of ways to stay cool while looking sharp; summerweight fabrics are an obvious answer to the plight of the 90-degree-day two-piece, but don’t forget your colorimetry, either. Science is real — those black and navy suits will absorb more heat than something light and linen.
The Office to Al Fresco ‘Fit
Boardroom to bar is a phrase I never really understood, given that I am not a CEO and also cannot imagine leaving the earnings call for a hole-in-the-wall dive. The sentiment, however, is sound — an outfit that is classy enough for work and based enough for the hot new outdoor dining spot is a balance that can be hard to nail. Tonal is a good place to start, as is footwear that toes the line of business casual. Just no flip-flops in the office, please.
The Coworking Kickback
Let’s be real — if your office is a WeWork situation, or worse, your local cafe, this general conundrum has nothing to do with you. That being said, if you really want to get in the productive spirit while fielding emails and sucking down matcha lattes, I won’t stop you. Look good, feel good, or something. Ditch anything that could be remotely labeled as stuffy, and just opt for the basics — a solid, lightweight pant, your favorite well-worn tee, and accessories you wouldn’t mind showing off if you ever happen to land a real job. (Creative director doesn’t count. Sorry.)
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