Creating a Workwear Capsule Wardrobe

With many of us spending more time in the office this year, it’s time to think about our current workwear wardrobe. Whether you’re needing to invest in suiting for trips to the office each day of the week, or your time is split between office and zoom meetings, a capsule workwear wardrobe is the perfect way to give you a multitude of outfit options, by investing in and alternating key workwear pieces throughout the season.

So how do we create a capsule workwear wardrobe?

First, we must think about what exactly a capsule workwear wardrobe is. A capsule wardrobe is a collection of foundation pieces that work together to create a variety of different outfits for work. The idea is to have less pieces but more versatility, allowing you to create outfits with ease, and spend less time worrying each morning.

A woman’s workwear wardrobe featuring Perri Cutten clothing will also allow you to include pieces that flow into your after-work and weekend wardrobe as well. A beautifully tailored black blazer, like our Classic Blazer, is perfect for a professional office look but can also be paired with jeans and white t-shirt for a stylish weekend lunch outfit.

What are the steps to creating a capsule wardrobe?

The first step to creating a capsule wardrobe for work is to select the foundations of your capsule. These are key pieces you know will mix and match easily with other items in your capsule wardrobe. By selecting these interchangeable clothing items that are timeless and versatile, you’ll be able to create a myriad of different looks that can be worn season after season in the office.

1. Choose a Clothing Target

We recommend having various pieces to give you more outfit options but suggest caping the amount of women’s clothing pieces to thirteen. By choosing five tops or shirts, four pants or skirts, two dresses and two blazers/jackets, you will be able to create multiple outfits, giving you variety for each day. The next step to create a capsule workwear wardrobe is to select your colours. 

2. Pick your Base Colours & Colour Palette

We usually opt for monochromes and neutral tones when selecting your base workwear items, and this is a good place to start for a capsule wardrobe. You can then add splashes of colour to reflect your personality and personal style, in the top layers and accessories of your look. Depending on the dress code of your workplace, you can also add an eye-catching print for a more fun workplace look.

Another tip is to choose a colour palette that you can then build on when expanding your capsule wardrobe. If you want to leave some room to add new pieces in the future in your capsule workwear wardrobe, it is helpful to have determined a clear colour direction that you’ll want to take. For instance, if you prefer blue over black, then you can aim to add more navy or light blue styles to your capsule in the future. This will ensure that your workwear capsule wardrobe remains cohesive throughout the years.

3. Add Texture and Structural Design Elements

The top layers in your capsule workwear wardrobe are a great place to add a touch of colour, structure, or texture. Our Agnes Jacket is perfect for meetings, either in person or online, especially as we head into autumn in Australia.

A textured pant is a great way to break up an all-black outfit, which (especially in Melbourne) we can fall into the trap of. Our Princeton Pant is an ultra-comfortable piece for your workwear capsule that also can be worn on the weekends.

Opting for layers with strong structural elements such as tailored jackets, will help you create a visually pleasing geometrical look that exudes balance and sophistication.

4. Consider Garment Versatility

When building a workwear capsule wardrobe, it is key to think about different clothing styles that will help your capsule collection look diverse and equipped for any professional occasion. At Perri Cutten, we recommend incorporating clothing pieces of different styles and lengths such as , , and  . These pieces will look diverse and add visual interest to your outfit, while guaranteeing that in the future you can create a completely new clothing pairing from them.

5. Think of Outfit Details & Accessories

For a final element to your capsule workwear wardrobe, accessorise with belts, jewellery, shoes and bags that can complement a number of looks. Opt for more subtle pieces over statement pieces, as you will feel more comfortable wearing these styles time and time again.

6. Supplement your Capsule Wardrobe with Yearly Trends

After building a strong base for your workwear capsule wardrobe, we recommend adding a few small pieces here and there that have emerged from recent fashion trends that we will continue to see in the coming years. Accessories, as discussed above, are a great way to further elevate your look and allow you to express your creative flair and affinity to new trends. Choosing clothing items that have emerged from recent fashion trends but will continue to be seen in coming years, is a great way to embrace the new while ensuring you have long-term use and sustainability in mind.

Now that you are well versed on how to create a workwear capsule wardrobe, just remember that this process takes time, and requires edits, so no need to rush it. Steadily build upon the items you have to create a capsule that fits you perfectly and you will love wearing each day.

Shop our Workwear Edit for more capsule wardrobe inspiration.