Do you ever stand in front of your closet in the morning before work feeling like you have nothing to wear despite a wardrobe full of clothes? I realized this was happening to me WAY too often, so this season I decided to come up with a fall workwear capsule wardrobe to make my mornings less stressful.
Keep reading to find out the 11 items in my fall workwear capsule wardrobe and to see pics of the 18 outfits I styled with them!
First things first, what is a workwear capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a curated collection of staple clothing pieces that can be mixed and matched to create outfits. A workwear capsule wardrobe is just that, but specifically for workwear or office attire.
The style of your workwear capsule wardrobe will depend on the dress code for your work environment. My office is business casual, so that’s what I’ll be showing in today’s post.
What should be included in a workwear capsule wardrobe?
I included the following 11 items in my workwear capsule wardrobe:
- 2 silk blouses
- 1 light knit cashmere sweater
- 2 midi skirts
- 1 pair of trousers
- 1 sweater vest
- 1 blazer
- 2 pairs of shoes
- 1 belt
Here are the key points I considered when selecting items for my fall workwear capsule wardrobe:
- Color palette. You want to be able to mix and match your pieces! I went for a neutral color palette with black, white, beige, and added a couple of purple pieces for a little bit of color. Most of the items in my capsule are cool-toned, with the exception of my camel blazer. I admit I would have preferred a cooler-toned blazer, perhaps a gray or beige checked blazer. BUT this is what I have currently in my closet and I am all about using what you have!
- Quality of materials. These are going to be items you wear many times, so you’ll want to invest in good quality materials that will last you for seasons to come! Therefore, I reached for pieces made of silk, wool, and cotton for my capsule.
- Current fashion trends. I have been working on incorporating pieces that play into current fashion trends yet are classic enough to remain in my collection over time. For example, in this capsule I’ve incorporated a sweater vest, knit midi skirt, and wide-leg trousers. These pieces keep my workwear wardrobe stylish without being too trendy.
Now let’s get into the outfits!
Outfits 1-3
This first group of outfits highlights my 3 base top layers. I selected a collared black silk blouse, a white silk blouse with flowy sleeves, and a thin cashmere purple turtleneck sweater. I chose these tops because they are lightweight enough for warmer fall days, but are also easy to layer when the temperatures get cooler. All 3 pair well with the bottoms I’ve chosen for my capsule wardrobe and are shown here with this purple satin midi skirt. This skirt is also lightweight, therefore as we get into colder weather I like to add a pair of tights underneath.
Outfits 4-6
These next 3 outfits highlight this beige ribbed knit midi skirt. I love a knit skirt because I can look professional while also feeling as comfortable as if I were wearing sweats! It took me a while to find the exact knit skirt I wanted to purchase this season. Some can be very tight and fitted, which I wouldn’t feel comfortable in for work. The a-line cut and the beige color of this skirt is exactly what I was looking for.
Outfits 7-9
There are certain days at work where I want to dress my outfit up a bit more than usual, and this fitted blazer from Reiss does the trick. I absolutely love camel and black together in the fall and winter, so for these outfits I’ve focused on that color scheme. I think the monochromatic black under the blazer in the first two outfits looks so chic, meanwhile the white silk blouse in the third outfit adds a more feminine touch.
Outfits 10-12
These next 3 outfits feature the pair of pants I included in my fall workwear capsule wardrobe, which are a pair of black wool pants. I picked these up at a Vince outlet store last month because the wider leg style of these pants is just what I was looking for. Not only did I get them for a great price, but in addition, the quality will allow me to continue incorporating these pants into my workwear wardrobe for years to come.
Outfits 13-15
The last clothing item in my fall workwear capsule wardrobe is this black sweater vest! I looked for a neutral colored sweater vest in order to participate in the trend while keeping my wardrobe versatile. This piece will be great for layering, or even wearing on its own (as I’ve shown in the third photo) on those warmer fall days. Check out my fall clothing wishlist post for other sweater vest options!
Outfits 16-18
Lastly are my accessories! For shoes, I’ve included a pair of black ankle boots and a pair of nude pumps. Both pairs are not only neutrals that match the rest of my capsule wardrobe, but they also have block heels making them comfortable for work. The last item is a thin white belt with light gold hardware. I just love the way adding a belt to an outfit can instantly make the outfit look more elevated and chic. If possible, I recommend looking for a belt that will fit around your waist (to be worn with skirts or dresses) and your hips (to be worn with pants).
That wraps up my fall workwear capsule wardrobe! Will you consider a workwear capsule wardrobe next season?
-Courtney
