Do you work in a professional office? Attend meetings, corporate events, or work in a business environment? If so, this post is for you! I’ve put together an entire business casual capsule wardrobe that you can customize for your own personal situation, but that will give you ten full outfits perfect for any business environment! Keep reading below for the details!
*This post contains affiliate links. All content and opinions expressed are my own.*
How to Build Your Capsule Wardrobe
So depending on your personal style, you’ll want to pack your capsule wardrobe with a combination of pants, blouses, skirts, and dresses. My #1 tip is to stay within a color palette. This makes mixing and matching your pieces SO much easier! My favorite colors for my business casual attire are neutrals like black, creams, blues, and blush tones. I tend to stay away from overly bright and neon colors as they’re harder to coordinate, but I love jewel tones.
Also when building your business casual capsule wardrobe, think about what you typically wear to work, and pull out the pieces that you were three or more times in a two week period. These pieces are obviously your go-to’s and should be included in your capsule wardrobe. For me, these pieces would be my black cropped pleated dress pants from Leith, and my Calvin Kline blouses (I have one in black and one in beige). In the summertime, this would also include my grey tie-waist dress from Gap, and my brown woven mules from Sam Edelman. These five pieces are ones I wear all the time, so I know they need to be included in my capsule wardrobe. Also, when shopping for new pieces, this gives me a good idea of what I like and what I will wear often to work.
Business Casual Wardrobe Staples
Here is an example of a business casual capsule wardrobe that is general enough to provide a base for any career woman. This also includes pieces that I own and wear on a regular basis to work! I’ve listed everything out in case you just want the nitty gritty details (you can also pin it for later!), and you can click the images below for details on a specific item 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
Black Blazer
- I have one black blazer
This is a staple in any business wardrobe! I prefer a slightly longer and looser fit. My favorite brands for finding great blazers are Bar III and BCBGMaxazria.
White Button Down
- I have one white button down shirt
Another staple piece. I tend to gravitate towards ones that have a bit of a twist, like this one here. Button downs are actually really hard for me to buy cause I’m super picky about the fabric. I would say this is something I would spend a little more money on to get a quality piece.
Versatile Blouses
- I have two blouses (one black and one beige) for work all the time, and an additional teal jewel toned one that I switch in every now and then
In addition to a traditional white button down, I’d also recommend having an additional three blouses that can be paired with slacks, leggings, and skirts. Like I mentioned above, my favorite blouses are my Calvin Kleins in black and beige because they’re versatile, comfortable, and very affordable.
Comfortable Sweater & Cardigans
- I have one chic sweater than I can wear on it’s own or layered over my white button down, and two basic cardigans for layering (one black and one white)
I like to have a sweater as an alternative to a blouse for days when I want to be a little cozier. It’s also good to have a couple of knit cardigans that you can layer over dresses in the spring and summer.
Slacks
- I have two pairs of straight leg slacks, one is a dark blue and the other is brown, and one high waisted, cropped black pair
This category is fun because you can choose from tons of styles depending on your own personal style. I prefer a straight or tapered leg and I love the ankle or cropped length. Depending on if you prefer pants vs. skirts/dresses, you may need more pairs than me. Three works well for me because I try to wear them twice before washing.
Ponte Knit Pants or Leggings
- I have one pair of leggings for work
I have a pair of Spanx black leggings that have a bit of sheen to them that I love wearing because I can layer my blouses, dresses, and sweaters over them. If this doesn’t match your work location or your style, skip it, but I find them to be a really comfortable and chic alternative to the traditional pant style.
Skirts
- I have once black pencil skirt and one navy blue a-line midi skirt
I think one or two skirts is a good number for a business casual capsule wardrobe. Make sure you pick styles that will be comfortable to work in all day, and that can be worn with all your blouses!
No-Fuss Dresses
- I have three dresses that I wear to work consistently, one is a soft grey fitted shirt dress, and the other two are sleeveless a-line dresses in white and blue colors that I can layer in the fall and winter or wear on their own in the summer.
Pick versatile styles and colors. It’s a bonus if the dress can be worn all seasons. I also hate having to fidget and adjust a dress or skirt all day, so keep that in mind as well!
A Nice Pair of Jeans
- I have one nice pair of jeans that are appropriate for work
Hopefully your office has casual Friday’s, and if so, you’ll need a nice pair of jeans. No rips, no holes, no butt cracks please.
Comfortable Heels & Flats
- I like having a black and a nude pair. My black heels are a 3 1/2 inch heel, nude ones are 3 inches, and I also have a black block heel loafer that is about 1 1/2 inches. I also have one pair of black Coach flats for every day around the office.
I think you can totally get away with one pair of heels and one pair of flats, but for me personally, I like to have a variety. My favorite brand of heels is Rockport because the soles are no slip and they are super comfortable. For a more dressier heels, I like Nine West (I get mine at Macy’s).
Ankle Boots
- I have one pair of black ankle boots for work
Ankle boots are a great alternative shoe for work. They pair great with dresses and skirts and ponte knit pants or leggings. I also think they’re a staple for fall and winter, so it’s great to have a chic pair for work. Mine are a black faux leather with a gold heel (you’ve probably seen me wearing them here and here).
Accessories
- Tote bag – I have a Coach tote that is the perfect size for a work bag that I use constantly!
- Simple earrings – I love simple pearls or stud earrings for work
- Scarf – great for fall and winter and you can tie it around your tote bag in the spring and summer!
- Blue light glasses – my GF Rachel turned me on to these and I’m obsessed with this pair from Quay Australia! I also have them in the regular sunglasses version 😎
Be sure to pin these business casual capsule wardrobe ideas for later! And I’d love it if you’d give this post a comment or a share if you enjoyed it!
xo,
B
GIVEAWAY!
We’ve only got a few days left for the Nordstrom giveaway, so be sure to enter! This is your chance to win a Nordstrom giftcard, just in time for their Anniversary Sale! If you win, you’ll definitely be able to get your capsule wardrobe squared away!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This is soooooooo useful! I have heard so much about capsule wardrobes, but this actually helped me understand what they were all about! Thank you!
Yay, glad it was helpful!
The thing about capsule wardrobes is their versatility: everything can mix and match, and can be adapted to suit the season or weather. Also no need to panic each morning about what to wear!
Yes so true! You always know your clothes will look great together!
This is super handy, I don’t know much about capsule wardrobes but it seems a good idea especially for work!
It’s been really helpful for me!