In an ideal world, one would be able to put together a work-ready look with eyes closed - after all, who could say no to a little extra shut-eye before their morning commute? And when you’ve distilled your workwear wardrobe down to a carefully curated collection of key pieces, you don’t have to.

Whether you’re a rise-and-shine carpe diem-er or find it difficult to resist the allure of the snooze button, these pieces help you to free up a little more time in your morning to focus on whatever’s topping your priority list, all while ensuring your look is always polished and professional.

The secret to a workwear capsule wardrobe is a few essential pieces that pair together effortlessly in multiple combinations for a polished, office-appropriate look. Pulling this together in seconds, our pieces are designed with busy schedules and AM-PM versatility in mind. From the precise cut of our women’s blazers and tailored pants, to the crease-free fabric of our work dresses and the frill trim of our classic layering tops, every design is tweaked and altered to perfection. You can be sure that whatever you’ve pulled on for the office will fit, flatter and keep you comfortable all day, whether you’re rushing to school gates or to a dinner with friends after you clock off.

While dress codes vary as much as your own style penchants, we’ve distilled your essentials down to six key pieces that will always have a part to play in your closet, from Monday to Friday and beyond.

“I firmly believe that looking polished leads to polished thinking. Once you walk through the office door, it’s all about what you can achieve, not what you look like”

Clare Hornby, Founder + CEO
 

The Blazer

Gone are the days of blazers being wholly synonymous with Wall Street bankers and Savile Row tailors. Today the wardrobe staple has freed itself from those old-school connotations and is making regular appearances in pared-back as well as polished pairings.

In other words, borrowing from the boys has never been easier. Women’s workwear-appropriate iterations of traditional tailored blazers are shaped to softer silhouettes. The results are never stuffy or too structured, and speak to out-of-office styling as well - there’s no reason to lose yours when you’re heading straight from your last meeting of the day to dinner.

Effortlessly polished, a single-breasted style instantly pulls together a look to complement smart suiting and elevates more casual pieces, whether you choose a classic weave like checks and pinstripes, or a contemporary, color-pop shade. With AM-PM versatility throughout the week, our signature Boyfriend Blazer goes a step further. Cementing itself in your Saturday and Sunday rotation as well, it can be styled alongside a simple crewneck tee and jeans or tailored pants. 

The Pants

There’s a whole sea of women’s pants for you to sail but consider pieces with the most staying power and those that complement your figure. Investing in cuts and designs that fit and flatter your body has far more longevity and won’t leave you lugging a bag filled with last season’s impulse buys to the charity store.

Lengthen legs with our Italian Wool Relaxed Straight Man Pant that falls to zipped hems to accommodate your footwear of choice. Leave them undone alongside flat shoes or sneakers and zipped up with heels to retain a sleek silhouette that grants your look a leg-lengthening effect.

If you want to highlight your waist, look to our Italian Flannel High-Waist Wide-Leg Pant. The pair is suspended from a high-rise waistband that draws attention to the smallest part of your body. Perfecting the fit, it’s detailed with an adjustable tab at the back of the waistband for a flattering finish. Better yet, it falls to deep hems that can be lengthened or shortened easily to accommodate different heights and its wide-leg silhouette partners with low-top sneakers for a sports-luxe finish just as effortlessly as with heels for an elevated take on smart suiting.

For petites, the trick is to choose styles that fall to your ankles and adopt slimmer cuts such as our Fluro Pinstripe Slim Crop Pant.

“Women need to be able to get dressed in the morning and then not worry about what they’re wearing for the rest of the day”

Clare Hornby, Founder + CEO

The Layering Top

A versatile layering top introduces a whole host of new styling opportunities into your capsule wardrobe, a quick solution to giving favorite old knits a new lease of life while combatting any peak and trough in temperatures.

Not only there to add warmth, but feminine finesse to your look too, many of our layering tops marry a comfortable jersey body with frill trims to elevate sweaters and cardigans when there’s a chill in the air (seasonal or otherwise). Leave the ruffles to peek out from the cuffs and neckline of your chosen knit. The result is an ensemble that looks effortlessly put together and perfectly polished for a day at and outside the office.

The Blouse

Arguably more versatile than classic button-up women’s shirts, a woven blouse takes on many different guises. From broderie embroidery, frill trims and pleated plackets, the details that define them can soften, femininize and add a polished finish to your tailored workwear staples.

Reach for blouses in blushing tones and luxurious fabrics to soften classic suiting. Choose one covered in a dainty floral print in a nod to femininity, or a pared-back iteration for a sleeker look. Primed for the moment temperatures start to rise, the right blouse tucked into pants or a high-waisted skirt keeps your look polished even when the time calls to lose your blazer.

Our Silk Cotton Trailing Vine Leaf Print Blouse finds the balance between classic tailoring and soft femininity courtesy of the long-sleeved silhouette, ruffled neckline, paisley print and pleated placket. Thoughtfully designed, this last detail falls to end at just the right point to meet the high-waist of pants or neatly cut jeans. For a more classic approach, reach for our Relaxed Feature Button Striped Shirt that falls in a soft drape over your frame for a lighter interpretation of a cotton shirt.

The Jean

As office dress codes relax and fashion cements its penchant for athleisure styling and sneakers, jeans start to find themselves taking a greater role in luxury workwear closets.

The trick to refining a work-ready denim edit lies in selecting classic cuts that can handle both smart tailoring and casual pieces. Straight and wide-leg silhouettes complement both cropped and longline jackets as well as tailored blazers, while dark washes and monochrome shades ensure a polished finish.

Both polished and pared back, our Pleat Front Wide-Leg Jean borrows its cut from one of our bestselling pants detailed with flattering pleats through the thighs and is crafted from rich indigo denim woven with a hint of stretch.

The Dress

A fresh update to your work-drobe staples, a dress in a midi length and flattering cut can become a piece that works just as hard as a neat blazer. An effortless pull-on-and-go dress will maintain a polished look without any extra accessories or additions and will be complemented by said blazer or cropped jacket for a suit-inspired ensemble.

Better yet, a style crafted from a crease-free fabric shores up your AM-PM options as it keeps you looking as freshly pressed at your last meeting of the day as you did arriving at your first.

Featuring intelligent design details, our Geo Checkerboard Print Pleat Front Maxi Dress + Belt can be altered and adjusted to fit and flatter different frames as well as reflect whatever setting you find yourself. Cinch in the waist with the detachable belt or leave it loose to take your look from boardrooms during the day to a friend’s dining room once 6pm rolls around.

“High-low dressing is a really useful tool for incorporating your personal style into your work wardrobe”

Clare Hornby, Founder + CEO