Despite it being women’s winter, otherwise known as meat-locker temperatures in the office, it’s still blazing hot outside. I don’t care where you live in the northern hemisphere, by the time July hits, everyone deals with some degree of heat. In fact, according to climate tracking agencies, the earth is the hottest its ever been. Aside from this data being incredibly concerning, it also makes for terribly uncomfortable weather to endure.

Even if it is freezing at work, it doesn’t mean anyone is immune to the hot weather outside. Depending on where somewhere lives, there could be uncomfortable commutes (ever stand on a subway platform in the middle of July?) and needs to be outside the office. When it’s really hot outside, even the shortest of walks can be sweat-inducing. I can recall a time when I was in Phoenix Arizona appearing on a morning show. Even in the early hours of the morning, despite the walk from my hotel to the television station being so close that I could see the studio from my hotel room, by the time I got to the studio after walking less than five minutes, I wanted to do the Nestea plunge. If I am aging myself with that reference, here you go:

In addition to temperature misery, women have become far less interested in clothing that needs to be dry cleaned. Aside from the reasonable choice to avoid the toxins and chemicals used in dry cleaning, not to mention how hard it is on the environment, the additional steps and interest in dropping off and picking up dry cleaning have completely fallen out of favor. Dry cleaning still has its place in the world, but if given the choice, Machine Washable clothing will always be preferred.

There was a time where most work clothing had to be dry cleaned. It was unfathomable to wash tailored pants, blazers, or nice blouses. These days, in response to the desire to be able to Machine wash clothing — a desire that’s second only to the desire for clothing with pockets — more and more brands are offering clothing that can be thrown in the machine. You can now find tailored pieces in washable wool fabrics, machine washable silks, not to mention all the technical fabrics that can easily withstand a multiple rounds in the machine. Adding to that, while many have lived and died by what the care label once dictated, we’ve started to learn that there is a lot of dry clean only clothes that won’t fall apart if we throw them in the wash set to the appropriate cycle. I’d be hesitant to throw a formal dress in the washing machine, but I do wash my wool and cashmere sweaters on the delicate cycle in wash bags.

MACHINE WASHABLE WORKWEAR: EASY CARE CLOTHING FOR THE HEIGHT OF SUMMER

In the world we are living in today, we don’t have to sacrifice looking neat, tidy and tailored so we can wash clothing in our machines. In today’s post, I am featuring outfits for work that were styled entirely with machine washable clothes.

OUTFIT #1

In this first look, I am styling two pieces from MM. Lafleur’s Origami Tech collection, which is wrinkle-resistant, machine-washable, and easy to pack. I styled the Maaza dress with their Moreland blazer. The dress is on the shorter side, so I paired the look with my favorite flats from M.Gemi, and a simple pendant from Set & Stone.

Outfit #2

It’s hard to believe that a look this tailored would be machine washable, but it is. This Clever Crepe blazer from The Fold can be put in the machine. With the blazer, I styled the look with wrinkle-resistant, adjustable inseam pants from Ministry of Supply that can’t just go in the washer but dryer too. Underneath the blazer, I added this camel top from Reiss, and finished the look with fun animal print flats and basic link earrings.

OUTFIT #3

With how casual workplace dress has gotten, it’s much easier to find machine washable clothing. For a more laid back workplace, I styled this Everlane silky cotton shirt with wide-leg pants in crepe that can be thrown in the washer. I finished the outfit with a pair of Veja sneakers and a simple link necklace. I own the Everlane shirt and after coming out of the wash, I barely need to run steam over it.

OUTFIT #4

It’s hard to believe that such a ladylike look could be thrown in the washer, but this navy sheath dress from Hobbs is in fact washer-friendly. I paired the dress with this cropped cotton cardigan jacket from J.Crew, and finished the look with navy pumps from Sarah Flint and a freshwater pearl and gold necklace.

OUTFIT #5

Lastly, this skirt and top look. If you notice, just about everything (or dare I say everything) on the Ann Taylor website is machine washable, including this punchy pink pencil style. I styled it with this drapey blouse that looks like it wants to be taken to the dryer cleaner but is very much a machine washable piece. The look is finished with beige pumps from Margaux and a simple layered necklace.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO SACRIFICE STYLE FOR EASY CARE

It has gotten much easier to find machine washable clothing than ever before likely because most brands realize that when push comes to shove, a woman will more easily move on from something they like if they can’t throw it in the wash. You don’t have to sacrifice your style for easy care any longer. You can look good and keep your trips to the dry cleaner to the bare minimum.

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