I Finally Found the Plus-Size Summer Workwear I Was Looking For

Finding fashionable workwear is a year-round challenge, but something about summer makes it even harder. Navigating the transition between sweltering commutes and icy air conditioning is never easy, especially if you want to look good doing it. Add in shopping for plus sizes (which are mostly online lately), and it starts to feel like a whole ordeal.

Fortunately, there are some chic, summer-friendly, and often underrated in-office, plus-size options out there. Ahead, get to know some of my top workwear brands as a plus-size fashion expert and blogger.

Eloquii for Stylish Suiting

I’ve wear-tested the majority of plus-size workwear brands on the market. One of my overarching takeaways is that plus-specific brands are a great place to start if you are looking for a great fit in blazers and trousers.

Eloquii is a perfect example. I’ve been a fan of the New York-based brand's statement suits for over a decade now, collecting them in every shape, color, and print. Creative director Yesenia Torres keeps her eye on upcoming trends, and you can always find both classic suits and of-the-moment takes from the brand.

This summer-perfect, short-sleeve edition is my latest obsession. The light color keeps things cool, the voluminous pleat-front pants fit like a dream, and I absolutely love the hourglass’s structured curve.

My only recommendation is to definitely size up once if you are fuller busted like me. My usual size here is a bit too snug through the chest for the average office, but going up one size will accommodate a large chest, no problem. I still feel powerful and sharp in this size, but I know from firsthand experience how much controversy even the tiniest bit of cleavage can cause in some offices. So, I recommend adding a lightweight, silk tank top underneath if you want more coverage.

Spanx for Surprisingly Soft Workwear

I know, I know: Famed shapewear brand Spanx is probably not the first name that comes to mind when you think of airy summer office attire, but it should absolutely be on your radar! With sizes up to 3x and an assortment of signature fabrics specifically engineered to be breathable, it’s actually a great option for warm weather workwear. I love the brand-new EasyBreezy cotton-linen blend (especially in wide leg trousers).

Even though it is more mid-weight, Spanx's popular Supersmooth ponte knit pant (with built-in shaping) is still comfortably wearable on a hot day. But of all the styles I tried, this impeccable draped sheath dress stood out as the summer workwear pick.

It might look indistinguishable from a standard structured sheath dress (a plus when it comes to office-wear, to be clear), but it feels like pajamas. The Airessentials fabric is another Spanx signature, made specifically to be breathable and gloriously soft. It's wrinkle resistant, too—something very appreciated when your days involve long stretches of sitting at your desk!

Now that I know how summer-friendly this fabric is, I’m going to be keeping an eye out for other pieces in Airessentials. The only asterisk I’d add for this dress is that it runs a little large, so I’d consider sizing down if you are torn between two sizes. I got my usual 2x and it works well on me, but it’s certainly more loose-fitting than other Spanx items I tried in the same size.

Lane Bryant and Lysse for Sharp Separates

Not every office calls for a full-on suit or even a dress, but sometimes, denim is a touch too casual. In those instances, work-ready separates from Lane Bryant and Lysse are just the thing. Lane Bryant has the benefit of being the longest running plus-size brand. Over a hundred years of fit experience shows up in the way plus size figures are considered in the designs. I’m a big fan of the Perfect Drape trousers, and I tell everyone who will listen that Lane Bryant makes the best plus-size capris on the market.

But the label’s thoughtful silhouettes aren’t just found in pants. Take this sleeveless button-down, for example: The slight swing silhouette gives ease around the midsection and there is still some shape built into the top to keep it from looking too boxy. This style also looks fantastic tucked into a pencil skirt or a pair of wide leg trousers. It can also be easily layered under a blazer if you need arm coverage (or have one of those arctic-level office air conditioners!)

For this look, I paired the sleeveless Oxford with Lysse pants, another of my workwear go-tos. A New York City label that initially focused on leggings, Lysse’s catalog has evolved to include so much more, and I am particularly fond of the pull-on pants. True to the brand’s roots, their bottoms feel like supportive leggings, but look like real pants. The patented compression waistband makes everything lay flat with no squeezing, and the cotton gabardine’s four-way stretch is happily wrinkle resistant. The track pants-inspired side stripes add a sporty vibe that offsets classic pointy pumps.

This look is perfect for more business casual dress codes, and the neutral color means you can add your desk jacket if the AC spikes too high. Form and function! And if you like this shape but prefer covered shoulders, Lysse has a similar poplin button-down with cuffed short sleeves!