The Lilia jacket, Lisey cami, Astor skirt, Ella sandals, and Beatriz earrings.
5 Business-Formal Summer Outfits That Aren’t Suits
In 2022, the definition of business formal has expanded far beyond the suit. We’ve updated our popular style guide to help you dress for the office this summer.
When you think of a business-formal dress code, what do you think of? I’ll admit that before I worked at M.M.LaFleur, “business formal” brought to mind two things: boring suits and endless dry-cleaning bills. But if you’ve tried our elegant, office-ready styles—many of which are machine-washable—you know it doesn’t have to be that way. And after the pandemic led many companies to rethink what dressing for work should look like, our definition of business formal expanded even more.
In 2022 and beyond, business formal means so much more than just suits. Maybe you stick with a blazer and slacks, but you switch it up with contrasting fabrics. Or maybe you forego the jacket altogether and instead opt for a floaty silk top. Read on for five non-suit outfits that are absolutely business-formal.
Want more M Dash?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter.
Thank you!
The Color-Blocked Look
Let’s start out with something simple: a classic, tailored dress paired with a cropped jacket. The Audrey-Hepburn-esque Cynthia dress features a belt at the waist, which looks beautiful with the cropped, slightly angled hemline of the Sant Ambroeus jardigan. A more traditional business-formal wearer would get the Cynthia and the Sant Ambroeus in the same color, but not you! You’re switching things up with a color-blocked look. Finish the outfit with some textured flats and bold earrings.
The Lilia jacket, Lisey cami, Astor skirt, Ella sandals, and Etel earrings.
The Monochromatic Look
Dressing in monochrome is an easy way to create a formal-feeling look. Tuck the silk Lisey cami into the stretchy-yet-structured Astor skirt, then finish the outfit with the tweed-like Lilia jacket. The strappy Ella sandals will hint at the swanky evening plans you may or may not have, without detracting from your professional appearance. Unconventional pearl earrings complete the look.
The No-Blazer-Necessary Look
One main function of a blazer is to incorporate formal design elements (think lapels, crisp lines, and unique bits of flair) into your outfit. But with a top like the Darcy—which features a scarf-like front panel that you can style however you want—those design elements are already taken care of. Simply tuck your top into some wide-leg trousers, then finish the outfit with a pair of slingbacks and some hoop earrings.
The Darcy top, Horton pants, Irene slingbacks, and Claressa earrings.
The Cordelia top, Cobble Hill skirt, D-Ring belt, Rowan flats, and Ponza earrings.
The Not-a-Skirt-Suit Look
Business-formal dress codes often get pigeonholed as bland or boring, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Take this outfit, for instance. The bold D-Ring belt defines your waist and creates an unexpected focal point between the camel Cobble Hill skirt and ivory Cordelia top. Plus, wearing different colors on top and bottom will help you stand out from the black-and-navy-suit-clad crowd. Add the Rowan flats in leopard print for texture and the Ponza earrings to complement the ivory top.
The Column Look
This outfit has all the makings of a classic pantsuit—sleek pants, an underpinning, and a blazer—but unconventional color and fabric pairings give it a unique point of view. Instead of matching your pants to your blazer with a contrasting top underneath, wear pants and a top in the same or similar color (like the Foster pants in black and Aubry top in cool onyx), then add a contrasting blazer (like the Gaia). This creates a “column outfit,” which is apparently so named because it makes you look extra tall and statuesque. Want even more height? Add the Ella sandals.
The Gaia jacket, Aubry top, Foster pants, Ella sandals, and Mardy earrings.
