Work Capsule Wardrobe
The Capsule Wardrobe Planner - Four days away on a work assignment
Introduction
Two Seasons in One Day – No problem!
Let’s face it, multiple seasons in one day – it happens often! In fact, it’s really quite normal. I recently went away on a work assignment for four days and needed something that would be comfortable, could work with long boots OR lightweight shoes and allowed some layering to accommodate the predicted 17 degrees at the beginning of the week and a drastic drop in temperature towards the end of the week! To add to all that, torrential downpours were forecast!
So, here’s the capsule wardrobe that I put to use for my work week during the early part of autumn, featuring charity shop steals along with more investment style pieces. General guidelines were bottoms I could wear with boots as well as shoes. Multiple layers that could be removed and/or switched around. A good long coverup for downpours, roomy enough to wear over layers. Smart but casual and easy to wear items – oh and a very large and robust umbrella!
Firstly, my tan leather tote bag - an absolute favourite of mine due to its size, practicality and versatility, had all my daily belongings organised perfectly, while my travel wallet was great for keeping all my cards & receipts together and storing my phone. It’s essential to be organised while on the move and these items were key.
My long sleeve white tee, used as a base layer with an oversized white shirt, teamed with a silk scarf, worked well with my sand coloured jeans, navy suede belt and long vintage looking boots. When the rain came (and it did in buckets), my trench coat and large Land Rover umbrella offered maximum protection! The trench was fantastic as its extremely waterproof and covers the legs.
For another brighter, warmer day, my cream high waist trousers by Atelier Reve from my local sustainable clothing store, long sleeve white tee and beige cashmere layering tee was a smart option, coupled with the silk scarf and finished off with the linen shacket. Added to that were my flat shoes. My smart denim blazer teamed with the high waisted trousers and flats was another smart option for a different day. By slipping the fine linen knit v neck over my fitted shirt, and adding the silk scarf, I could remove the blazer if I needed to. For a cooler day, I teamed the fitted shirt with the blazer, silk scarf and added the sand coloured jeans and long boots.
For the pub in the evening, I changed into some blue denim jeans and a long sleeve cashmere layering stripe sweater, kept the boots, added the Holland Cooper fleece gilet and the trench (the walk into town was about a mile and half, cool and sometimes wet!).
For the long drive home, I removed my blazer and added the Holland Cooper fleece gilet, keeping the silk scarf, and I was very comfortable and not least, the night chill was kept at bay.
Let’s have a look at some of the staples detail for this short work trip away. This is what I utilised as part of my main attire for the office for a versatile, smart casual look with comfort.
General Pieces
#1 – Classic White Fitted Shirt
I bought this Zara shirt fairly recently from the charity shop. It was sold as new but obviously at a discounted price. It is one of the best shirts I have ever tried out, given I have never really been a shirt person (until now), and it has helped me to transform some of my wardrobe. This shirt is very fitted, so it looks nice tucked in, and sits well under blazers, sweaters or waistcoats.
#2 – Oversized White Shirt
This is another Zara shirt that I bought in the sale, hence it was very cheap, about £15. This is oversized so it works well on its own rather than as a layer, although it’s possible to style a sweater or cardigan over the shoulders. This shirt has a superb structure to it and as such, creates a pleasing silhouette. It worked well with my silk scarf to dress it up a little.
#3 – Long Sleeve White Tee
This is a super soft base layer purchased cheap from Sainsburys. It works in the summer under blazers or just as a simple top. In the cooler months I use it to layer under my sweaters or shirts.
#4 – Linen Shacket
A lovely piece by Steilmann, and another charity shop buy. I mostly wear this in the warmer months, but it does work well in an office, offers a pleasing layer and is well structured. It’s German made and excellent quality.
#5 – Skinny Jean
A sand coloured jean by B.S Jeans and another charity shop buy for a mere £4. These are a very unique colour and they really polish up an outfit.
#6 – Smart Denim Blazer
This blazer I consider one of my investment pieces. It’s denim, but extremely smart, beautifully fitted, and really does elevate an outfit. It has a wonderful hue to the denim and it works cross seasonal.
#7 - Linen V Neck Cable Knit
Another good transitional piece from the White Company. If it’s not cold enough to wear heavier knits, or you want to put on a layer under a close-fitting blazer, then this works beautifully. The colour is a beautiful neutral taupe and it’s made from fine linen. It sits well over a shirt.
#8 - Beige Cashmere Tee
You can never go wrong with cashmere layering pieces and this tee is no exception. It works in an office both in summer and when its cooler over a base layer. This one is from The White Company.
#9 - Wide Leg Trousers
By Atelier Reve, a heavy-duty linen blend, these wide leg, high waisted trousers in cream are really easy to wear and are very flattering. They can be worn casual with trainers or you can dress them up with a shoe. I bought them from a local shop who specialise in sustainable products. I wore them with my flats on this occasion.
Footwear
#10 – Long Boots
Vintage looking leather boots. Another charity shop buy for £20.
#11 – Flat Shoes
Fairfax and Favor Newbury pumps – still holding hints of summer here! The stripes add a bit of drama to any outfit!
Accessories
#12 – Silk Scarf
This silk scarf by Holland Cooper keeps proving to be a very versatile accessory. Not only was it warm for the drive home, but given the colour way, it also worked well with shirts, blazers and other accessories.
#13 – Work Bag
The Fairfax and Favor Tetbury Tote in tan goes pretty much with everything and is big enough for me to carry everything I need on any work assignment. The bag has some really useful internal pockets in which to store your items.
#14 – Travel Wallet
The Salisbury travel wallet by Fairfax and Favor is perfect for carrying not only your money and cards, but it also has a large section that is great for carrying your mobile phone and passport. The wallet fits nicely into the large pocket inside the Tetbury Tote. I felt very organized.
Outerwear
15# - Trench Coat
The Epwell trench by Joules was a great cover up given the torrential rain when I was walking into town of an evening. The great thing about trench coats is they cover your legs, so I stayed very dry, especially when teamed with a giant umbrella, and trust me it really did throw it down!
Miscellaneous
I took the following to wear of an evening. My evenings involved about a 1.5 mile walk to the pub where I had my evening meal. It became quite cold and wet of an evening. I changed into my denim jeans, a long sleeve cashmere layering top and fleece gilet. I wore my long boots and trench coat
.
My preferred suitcase is the Eagle Creek International Carryon AWD 34L. I bought this in 2018 and its been a fantastic bit of luggage and has served me well.
Conclusion
When planning a capsule wardrobe to serve a short break etc, it pays to have a look at items that will support layering options, are easily interchangeable, and will also suit the activities that you will be pursuing. Even if you’re not planning anything specific, it can be fun to play around and see how much you can do with less - so to speak!