Why Build a Professional Capsule Wardrobe?
A work wardrobe capsule is a collection of versatile clothing pieces that you can easily mix and match to create an array of office-appropriate outfits. With a well-curated work wardrobe, you spend less time getting dressed and still look polished each day.
Plus, you experience a myriad of capsule wardrobe benefits from saving money to reducing decision fatigue.
Scroll on to find:
- A minimalist work capsule wardrobe
- Steps to build your own office capsule
- Work outfit ideas for different seasons
- Stores to shop for quality work clothing
Or if you’re short on time and want to skip the trial and error, get the premade capsule below.
Get a PremadeWork Capsule Wardrobe
Embrace a faster morning routine and the confidence that good outfit days bring with The Polished Professional Work Capsule Wardrobe.
Battling with your closet is time-consuming, I know. So I created this simplified wardrobe guide with
– A full 23-piece capsule with links to shop (affordable & luxe options)
– 80 unique outfit ideas using only the pieces in the capsule
– Solutions to common work wardrobe problems
– 5 steps to build a work wardrobe using pieces you already own
– 10 polished work outfit formulas for effortless outfits
I did the heavy lifting of selecting versatile pieces, creating a ton of polished outfits, and whipping up outfit formulas featuring pieces you likely have in your closet.
The result? This perfectly premade capsule wardrobe.
A 17-PieceWork Capsule Wardrobe
Prefer to DIY your capsule? If you want to make looking good at work the norm rather than the exception, this capsule has you covered.
5 Tops
Let’s kick off this work wardrobe capsule with essential work tops. Since these blouses come in comfortable materials and classic silhouettes, mixing and matching them is easy.
Whether your workplace has a business casual vibe or a strict professional dress code, these versatile basics will have you office-ready.
Oxford Shirt
Polished T-Shirt
Sleek Bodysuit
Delicate Blouse
Mock Neck Top
4 Bottoms
Want to make getting dressed for work easy? I recommend year-round basics that you can rely on like versatile pants and a few flattering skirts. Browse the options below for a well-rounded work wardrobe capsule.
Wide Leg Trousers
Midi Skirt
Straight Leg Trousers
Structured Pencil Skirt
2 Dresses
Next up in our business capsule wardrobe- the flattering office dress. There are many reasons to add office dresses to your rotation from the versatility to the instant polish they provide.
Structured Dress or Jumpsuit
Wrap Dress
2 Jackets
Layers add interest to an office wardrobe and they provide some warmth when the AC is blasting for no apparent reason.
Polished Blazer
You can go far with a classic blazer in a neutral color. Wear it over dresses, slip one over a dainty blouse, or even pair one with matching trousers for a monochrome moment.
Cashmere Wrap
If blazers are not your favorite, try a structured wrap coat for a sophisticated and unique office outfit.
4 Shoes
Not to be dramatic but shoes can make or break an office outfit. In light of this, we want chic styles only.Heeled Booties
To narrow the list, look for neutral-colored shoes that are comfortable enough to wear for 8+ hours.Comfy Loafers
Slingback Heels
Can’t decide? Look for shoes that complement your current workwear pieces. For instance, if you tend to love wearing tan trousers at work, choose neutral-colored heels to elongate your legs and complete the look.Classic Pumps
How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe for Work
Chic outfits and a quicker morning routine? Say no more. Let’s build an office capsule wardrobe you’ll want to circle back with.
1. Consult Your Office Dress Code
Before creating an office wardrobe, locate the dress code policy buried in that work inbox of yours. A functional capsule wardrobe consists of pieces you can wear day in and day out. Adapt your capsule to align with your needs keeping modest fashion in mind.
For a business professional capsule, make room in the closet for oxford shirts, blazers, conservative blouses, and low heels. Is your office more business casual? Knit sweaters, breezy blouses, and wide-leg trousers make for cute and comfortable officewear.
Psst. Are you working from home? Check out the work-from-home wardrobe guide here.
2. Evaluate Your Current Workwear
Next up, it’s time for a closet audit! The goal of this is twofold. Because who doesn’t squeeze multitasking into the workweek? First, cleanse your closet of any work items you no longer wear. If it does not fit or isn’t in line with the office dress code, toss it aside.
Now, look at your remaining work wardrobe. Ask yourself:
- What pieces do I gravitate towards?
- Which items do I feel comfortable and confident in?
- What color do I own a lot of and look great in?
These go-to pieces will be essentials in your work capsule wardrobe. Plus, they help in the next step-selecting your work capsule colors.
3. Choose Your Capsule Color Pallete
Next up: pick your colors, cutie. Much like a team meeting, a professional wardrobe capsule runs much better with some structure. Select four to six colors as the focus of your work wardrobe. For a no-fuss close, a neutral color palette is your best friend. But don’t be afraid to reach for more colorful options if it suits your style. When creating your color palette:
- Examine the prominent colors in your wardrobe and use them to guide your color palette decisions
- Incorporate light and dark neutrals for a work capsule wardrobe you can wear through the seasons
- Liven up neutrals by sprinkling in a few accent colors or prints (floral statement blouse, anyone?)
If you need some color palette inspiration, check out my business casual capsule wardrobe. It has a neutral color palette with pink accents.
4. Shop for Quality Workwear Essentials
To bring your professional wardrobe capsule to life, fill in any current wardrobe gaps with versatile classics. If you’re just entering the workforce, you may be missing business casual staples like tailored trousers and buttoned blouses. If you’re switching careers, your corporate closet may need more business casual essentials.
Great stores for classic and comfortable work attire include Aday, M.M. Lafleur, and Nordstrom. Need more ideas? The list of brands for building a business capsule wardrobe is here.
5. Select Work Shoes
No business capsule wardrobe is complete without chic shoes. Whether you’re in a casual Friday everyday type of office or a buttoned-up professional one, polished footwear can transform your office outfits. Since you’ll be in them from 9-5, pick comfortable office shoes like:
- Quilted Ballet Flats
- Easy Mules
- Roomy Loafers
- Sturdy Heels
- Low-Heled Booties
A Work Capsule Wardrobe (That’s Comfortable from 9-5)
Here’s a polished yet comfortable capsule wardrobe that is perfect for mixing and matching. With pops of color and oh-so-many combinations, this closet is ideal for a busy, stylish professional.
5 TOPS
Oxford Shirt
Printed Blouse
Long Sleeve Bodysuit
Neck Tie Blouse
Mock Neck Blouse
4 BOTTOMS
Wide Leg Trousers
Silk Midi Skirt
Straight Leg Trousers
Structured Pencil Skirt
2 DRESSES & JACKETS
Belted Plaid Dress
Sustainable Sheath Dress
Buttoned Blazer
Cashmere Wrap Coat
4 SHOES
Heeled Booties
Comfy Loafers
Slingback Heels
Classic Pumps
Work Capsule Wardrobe Outfits
This minimalist work wardrobe capsule is full of versatile workwear for loads of office outfits. Let’s get into some outfit ideas for in-office looks. Browse summer, winter, and casual work outfit ideas below.
SUMMER WORK OUTFITS
WINTER WORK OUTFITS
CASUAL WORK OUTFITS
Need more outfit inspiration? My business casual capsule wardrobe offers more outfit ideas.
Tips for Building Your Ideal Office Capsule Wardrobe
Build your work capsule closet with confidence! These tips are here to help you avoid common mistakes and dress for success at the office. You’re on the way to building a beautiful capsule closet.
1. Create a Work Outfit formula
Want to make getting dressed for work easy? Create a few go-to outfit formulas in your professional capsule wardrobe. An outfit formula acts as a template for getting dressed. Examples of work outfit formulas include:
- Knit Top + Trousers
- Oxford Shirt + Midi Skirt
- Blouse + Pencil Skirt
This, my friend, is where capsule customization comes into play. If you love wearing midi skirts, add more to your wardrobe (you may enjoy this feminine capsule wardrobe too). If trousers are your ride-or-die office attire, stock up on multiple pairs. Set your templates then plug and play with different clothing items.
2. Shop with Intention
Goodbye, overflowing closet. When creating a capsule, only buy pieces you’ll actually wear. Yes, it sounds simple. But think of how many not-quite-right clothing items you’ve purchased over the years. These clarifying questions will help you minimize impulse buys and shop intentionally:
- Will this pair well with the clothes in my current office capsule wardrobe?
- Does this suit my color palette and office dress code?
- Is this a high-quality item that I can wear over and over again?
3. Consider the Weather
Ah, the weather. It’s not just a favorite conversation topic for that one boring coworker. The climate is something to consider when creating your work capsule wardrobe. One option is to have a core professional capsule wardrobe that you can wear year-round and a seasonal rotation that you add in depending on the weather.
If you’re in a warm climate, short sleeves office shirts and light cardigans may make up the bulk of your tops, with minimal outerwear needed. For colder seasons, layers like turtlenecks and outerwear like lined blazers will be your office essentials. For more on layering in a capsule, browse the minimalist capsule guide here.
4. Take Time to Curate Your Closet
If you’re anything like me, you get a little rush checking an item off your to-do list. But building a capsule is more like a journey than a one-and-done task. So take time to learn what you love wearing and invest in high-quality clothing.
Your professional capsule closet won’t be built in a day. You may end up removing pieces you never ended up wearing or add a few items as your personal style evolves. Bottom line: remove the pressure to have the perfect office capsule wardrobe. Let it happen over time. And use this step-by-step guide to refreshing your closet to help.
5. Plan According to Your Work Day
For an office wardrobe you’ll feel comfortable in, consider your workday as you choose your clothing. If you walk or take public transit to the office, comfortable shoes are a must. Foldable flats that fit easily in a work bag are a great option.
Good news, conference room cuties: comfortable office attire can still look chic. These include wide-leg trousers, soft yet structured jumpsuits, and cotton cardigans, to name a few.
Shop Here to Build a Work Capsule Wardrobe
Wondering where to shop for work clothing that’s chic and comfortable? You’ve scrolled to the right stylish section. Here are brands to explore for women’s workwear. Just click on the store name to visit the site and shop work wardrobe capsule essentials.
Shop Pre-Made Capsule Wardrobes
If neutral color palettes and elegant silhouettes speak to you, shop Aday for office basics. From buttery tailored pants to the bestselling button-up, each item is made of innovative fabric that’s as chic as it is comfortable.
Find more capsule collections with high-quality pieces in the premade capsule wardrobe guide.
Shop Capsule Wardrobe Essentials
Banana Republic
Classic and polished office staples abound at Banana Republic. You’ll find structured blazers, chic midi skirts, and cashmere sweaters to fill your work wardrobe. For office musts in neutral tones, this shop is a go-to.
Spanx
You know Spanx for its iconic shapewear. But did you know the brand offers figure-flattering garments for the office as well? For comfortable office essentials, browse the smoothing pencil skirt and soft stretch button-down.
Amour Vert
Sustainable, comfortable, and fashion-forward, Amour Vert earns a spot on our office attire list. Bold prints and fun details make not your average work wear Bold prints
M.M. Lafleur
Look no further than M. M. Lafleur for the ultimate chic work wardrobe. Here, you’ll find elegant and classic workwear in wrinkle-resistant fabrics. Plus, there’s no shortage of colors and prints for those who prefer more than a neutral workwear color scheme.
Theory
For quality pieces you’ll wear for years to come, shop the minimalist workwear at Theory. The price point places the brand’s items in the investment pieces category. But the durability and versatility of each piece make them perfect for a stellar work capsule.
The amount you should spend on a work wardrobe depends on your personal budget and the type of items you plan to buy. If you are starting a capsule wardrobe from scratch, it may cost from $500-$1000. However, if you’re working with what you already have and simply filling in gaps, you’ll likely spend less on your work capsule.
If you are looking for high-quality, timeless pieces that can be worn for multiple seasons, you’ll invest more money upfront. Remember that a capsule wardrobe won’t come together overnight. Take time to buy the right items and spread out purchases to make it work for your budget.
Work capsule wardrobes generally contain between 15 to 40 pieces but there is no perfect number to aim for. The size of a work capsule wardrobe depends on the type of work you do, how often you need to wash your clothing, and your style preferences. In general, it should be big enough to fit the basic items needed for your daily work routine. For example, the minimum amount of tops I have in my work capsule is 5, one for every day of the week. Bottoms are easier to repeat and don’t need to be washed as often so having 3 or 4 works well.
Your capsule may include a handful of dress shirts, a couple of trousers, multiple work dresses, and a few accessories. The exact size of the wardrobe is ultimately up to you. But remember that simplicity is key in a capsule. A bloated wardrobe will only complicate your morning routine.
