As a millennial business casual wardrobe has been fun to maneuver around. As someone who went to a school with a uniform and who lived in Hawaii where the dress code is very lax, I strongly believe I was born for business casual. I feel the most confident wearing business casual pieces, I love transitioning them through the seasons here in New York, and come summer I can have some fun with color and patterns while sticking to my neutral looks. So here is my list of business casual staple work pieces:
Chiffon Tank Tops
You can find the chiffon or satin tops from just about anywhere, but my recent obsession has been the Lark & Ro – Amazon Satin tops. They are such a classic piece that look nice in skirts, trousers, etc. and just have such versatility. Not only that they are reasonably priced and have so many colors.
Black Pencil Skirt
I am not too comfortable with skirts in general but I have found the best knee-length/work appropriate pencil skirts are from Banana Republic.
Cotton or Linen Trousers
If you are more of a trouser person like myself, a good option would be to get Cotton or Linen trousers since they are the most breathable fabrics for the summer. I really like H&M or Zara for my work trousers and recently my favorite work trouser has been the infamous Zara trousers. Check out my post on how to style them.
Light Weight Cardigan
We all struggle with the AC blasting in the office so if you deal with that a nice light weight cardigan is a must! I love the Target cardigans and have them in almost all the colors. If you have a more professional environment then swap out the cardigan for a blazer. I like H&M blazers and Banana Republic.
Structured Work Bag
If you are in a professional work environment a structured work bag is a must. If you are in a business casual (slightly more casual) environment you can go with a nice tote bag. Check out my post on best work bags.
Loafers
Loafers might be the grandma shoe but they are the most practical for work. I would recommend ballet flats but those hurt my feet. Loafers are just the safe, conservative, closed toed option. You can get to your personal style and make sure to also get a simple black pair.
The two extreme weathers of hot and cold always pose the challenge of best work wear pieces so I can’t wait to do another version of this in the winter. Make sure to leave a comment below on what you think is the best business casual staple work pieces for the summer.
Great ideas! I am an educator & love casual formals. Light weight cardigans are a must