43 Stylish Summer Work Dresses That Are HR Approved

Let me paint you a little picture. It's summer. It's hot AF. But you're an employed person who has to go an office most days to earn a living, thus making summer work attire a very important category in your wardrobe. As someone who spent a number of years as an employed person, I can attest to the challenges of finding comfortable office attire that's both breathable and professional. If you must know, I have also been a self-employed person who can attest to the joys of working at my dining room table sans pants. But that's neither here nor there.

Since there's nothing worse than corporate suits, stiff button downs, and stifling pants in thick, soupy weather, dresses are the answer to summer work dressing woes. While there are plenty of adorable silhouettes hitting the new arrivals sections right now, the majority of them are better suited to vacations, weekends, and weddings rather than cubicles and conference rooms. Or, they're made from fabrics that, while seemingly lightweight, actually serve as breeze barrier preventing any and all air-flow from cooling your body down after a sweat-inducing commute (can you tell I take NYC's charming Subway to work?). Anyway . . .

Ahead, I've assembled an edit of 43 summer work dresses made from breathable fabrics or cut for a not-too-clingy fit, including my favorite under-$50 styles from the POPSUGAR at Kohl's collection. Do some of these styles look like an office-approved nightgown? Maybe. But with a great shoe and jewelry, do you care? Definitely not.