Want to Make Your Favorite Sundresses Work Appropriate? Add a Blazer

Now that we’re entering the hottest part of summer, dressing for work is a real downer. (Well, for most people anyway—my commute involves walking from my bedroom to my home office. But trust me, I remember what it was like to try to look professional while avoiding a heatstroke on the way to the office. And that memory is not fond.)

If the mere thought of walking to your car, the train or subway cloaked in your typical office garb makes you long to call in sick and camp out in front of the air conditioner, you need an easy solution. Enter the lightweight blazer. With its flattering, structured look, a basic blazer can add polish to the light sundresses you live in during the weekends.

Of course, we’re talking work, so there are rules to be followed. Strapless and halter-style dresses are out. You’ll also want to stay away from anything too short or sheer, for obvious reasons. And you should never under any circumstances work the sundress-and-blazer look with flip flops or casual sandals. Pairing the look with a simple, subdued and sleek heel or flat in a neutral hue will elevate the look.

I’ve put together a few easy looks to get you started—all of which feature blazers that are less than $40! With these rules in mind, you’ll be on your way to a cooler summer work week, and you’ll get much more weekday wear out of your favorite weekend dresses than you ever thought possible.

A light, airy slipdress makes for an effortless pairing with a blazer—as long as the dress in no way resembles lingerie. This knee-length silk and linen cami dress has a floral print that is summery without channeling the full-out loud Hawaiian print. And this seersucker boyfriend blazer from Spiegel (now on sale for less than $40!) is just the fit you need for a blazer: It’s structured and single breasted. With its snug sleeves and high armholes, it’s tailored to perfection. To finish the look, these Cole Haan slingbacks are ideal. They not only dress up the look and give you legs for days, but they also boast concealed Nike AIR technology. Hello, comfortable heel—where have you been all of my life?

1. Classic Cami Dress, Tucker (piperlime.com).
2. Signature Stretch Seersucker Collection Boyfriend Blazer in Black Multi, Spiegel (spiegel.com).
3. Air Renfrow Sling, Maria Sharapova by Cole Haan (piperlime.com).

This retro-inspired silk dress from Banana Republic is the type of dress that you’ll want to wear every day this summer. Couple it with a pair of strappy flat sandals, and you’re ready for a garden party. Toss a structured, single-breasted linen blazer on top, and you’ve got a cool way to mellow out the grass-green print of this dress when you’re on the clock. And these shoes—oh, the shoes! These round-toe pumps breath like sandals but are dressy enough for work.

1. Silk Garden Party Dress in Amarijiwo Green, Banana Republic (bananarepublic.com).
2. Signature Washed Linen Collection Girlfriend Blazer in Neutral, Spiegel (spiegel.com).
3. Sachi Pump, Miz Mooz (piperlime.com).

With a dress that has a bit of billowy, retro-inspired poof, you need a blazer that will give your top some shape and balance out the swingy fluff of the dress. The mix of proportions in this look has an effortless appeal. Plus, the seersucker boyfriend blazer provides a nice menswear counterbalance to a dress that could otherwise be too girly for the office. And aren’t these oxfords just the perfect work flats? They’re not as expected as your go-to embellished flats, and they are a playful play on the men’s suiting standard.

1. Floral Empire Tank Dress, Gap (gap.com).
2. Signature Stretch Seersucker Collection Boyfriend Blazer in Neutral Multi, Spiegel (spiegel.com).
3. Cassi Oxford, Pour La Victoire (piperlime.com).

(Images: Elizabeth Ulrich)