Q&A:

How can I dress for the office when it is very warm outside?

To prepare for summer, focus on lightweight pieces that you can add or remove as you commute to a climate-controlled environment. To start, choose your work staples—dress shirts, trousers and suits—in breathable fabrics like linen, cotton chino or oxford cloth that will keep you cool and at east throughout the day. If you typically wear a suit to work, invest in cotton twill, summer-weight linens and featherweight worsted wools (sometimes called “tropical weight”), which will allow air to circulate better than tweeds or heavier wools. If your office tends toward casual dressing in the summer months, consider wearing these new suits with a polo in white or navy for a pulled-together, all-American look. In the most casual offices, you can pair the same polo or a dress shirt with a pair of chinos in a bright spring color, rolling the cuffs just above your ankle for a look that’s a strong option when shorts are not. Keep a lightweight crewneck or cardigan at your office in the event you get cold, but now is the time pack and store your sweaters, coats and heavier suits. Don’t forget to dry-clean them first, especially since many launderers will preserve your apparel with tissue or in boxes at no charge.