When summer rolls around, the last thing you want to do is spend all day trapped inside a pair of pants. Luckily, this season, breezy wide-legged trousers that rival your favorite maxi dress are the pant of choice. To avoid looking like you're strolling into the office in a pair of pajama pants, look for a pair of trousers with folds and pleats for a greater sense of structure, or a fitted high waist to give your whole outfit shape and direction. For a crisp, polished look, Martini suggests clean-cut white or nautical navy to make light tops pop.
"Lace up stilettos, booties and sandals are the dressier shoe of the summer," Martini says. To avoid looking like you're headed to the club at 9 A.M., look to the shootie, the perfect hybrid of a bootie and sandal that easily transitions from desk to drinks. The shootie hybrid has the airiness of strappy summer sandals and cutouts that give the same illusion of lace ups without all the tying.
Big flowers and bright polka dots can run the risk of looking too junior and distracting for the workplace. Martini suggests skipping the neon and choosing pieces with black and white graphic prints. Everything from abstract shapes to traditional checkers in the contrasting colors are not only aligned with runway trends, but guarantee that you look sophisticated rather than saccharine.
Luckily for working girls everywhere, this summer trend is one of the most office-friendly. Look for a pleated midi skirts to get all the airiness of a summer dress with structure. Better yet, you'll never have to worry if your skirt is too short as the most stylish pleats this summer are all cut in modest lengths.
Shiny metallics really pop on the runway, but in an office setting, silvers, golds and bronzes can come off as flashy. For a sleek, streamlined look, choose pieces with subtle metallic accents or stick strictly to metallic accessories -- a cute pair of flats or on-trend peep toe mules -- for your metallic fix.
