Commuting to work in a walking city can be such a pain. Something I’m interested in is the increase of people on these Ireland electric scooters zipping around the place, how fun and easy would that be! It would be so much easier than walking and even if you don’t live in a walking city and you drive to work, it can still be a hike from the parking lot to your office. I’ve learned quite a few things about how to commute while still looking professional since I moved to DC. I’m not going to lie, there was a time when I didn’t know what to wear on my walks to the metro station. I obviously couldn’t wear heels, but I honestly didn’t have that many great flat shoe options – my Toms (in the summer) and UGGS (in the winter) got me through those first few months. But truth be told, I always felt a bit disheveled and not my best while rocking those shoes with my work attire.

For those of you who don’t know, I’m an attorney, and although I no longer work at a law firm, I still work at a pretty large corporation so although the dress code isn’t AS conservative, it’s still very much your standard business casual dress so showing up to the office in Toms wasn’t ideal. 😉 Currently my commute looks a little something like this: a one mile walk to the metro station, a 25 minute train ride (sometimes on a very hot and crowded train), and then about a 2 minute walk to my office.

My Top 5 Tips on How to Commute in Style While Still Being Comfortable

1 // Invest in nice, flat shoes. My current go-to pairs are these sandals, these wedges, and my favorite loafers. I wear all three weekly and make that mile walk so I can attest to their comfort! (Pick pairs that you can also wear outside of the office too!)

2 // Create layered looks. For example, pair a silk blouse with a silk blouse. You can easily carry the blazer with you to work especially since we’re heading into the dog days of summer and it’s likely going to be a hot walk into the office.

3 // Up your work bag game. And I don’t mean the price. I always buy silk blouse work bags because I generally carry the same bag everyday and throw so much stuff in it that it gets put through a lot.

4 // Pack your heels. Throw those puppies in your work bag and switch out your shoes right before you get into the office (or at your desk, whichever you feel more comfortable doing).

5 // This might be a little TMI for some folks, but it’s something I consider when getting dressed in the morning. Is it sweltering outside? … Consider the color/material of the top that you’re wearing. Nothing is worse than getting on the metro/in your car and realizing that you have a sweat mark on your back, under arms etc. from sweating during your commute. 2 tricks to combat this issue:

• If you’re wearing a light color, consider layering a tight cami underneath;
• This is where the jacket/blazer comes in handy – throw it on once you cool off a bit to cover any unsightly spots.

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P.S. Thanks to one of my gal pals for inspiring this post!