Street trend: Summer in a city

Looking the business in the summer is a tough brief. It’s all about managing expectations — don’t dress for the cold but don’t expect it to be warm either. Great.

Although no jacket may be required, it’s always best to err on the side of caution lest your boss thinks you’ve mistaken the boardroom for a boardwalk.

Make like J Crew CEO and style maven Jenna Lyons by making crisp shirts the lynchpin of your look.

Pop a collar, button neck to hem or belt over anything from pencil and pleated skirts to culottes and crop. Summer is the season of compromise: a hem here, a sleeve there.

With that culottes make the perfect end-of-season staple. Smart enough to handle an important pitch yet also dressed down enough for drinks and a debrief. What’s not to love?

Warm weather and offices don’t always see eye-to-eye. Thus, modified footwear like the mule (business at the front; party at the back) are lifesavers for sticky soles.

Be a natural and look to light natural fabrics that are breathable yet presentable. A linen lover? Avoid the wrinkled look by opting for a linen-cotton blend.