How to build a wardrobe suitable for work

This post is for women who just started working and are finding it hard to build a work appropriate wardrobe.

 Before you start building a work ready wardrobe, you need to know what kind of environment your work has. Is it formal? Is it business casual? Based on that information, here is how you build your wardrobe:

Step 1:
Start by pulling out all your clothes from your closet. You can use this occasion to completly clean your closet by deciding on what to still use and what to purge. Then from the pile of clothes you decide to keep, chose five basic color bottoms. Basic solid colors are black, white, brown, grey, beige and navy. They can be paired with any other color. For exampl, you can chose dark pants, grey slacks, skinny jeans, a navy pencil skirt and tan pants. 

 

Step 2: Choose basic tops. These are tops you absolutely need on a daily basis:

- a white buttoned down shirt
- a black bodysuit
- a grey tee
- a chambray shirt

Step 3: Add outerwear. Here are the ones that you should get:

- a black blazer
- a grey oversize cardigan
- a trenchcoat 
- a denim jacket

- a red vest  

Step 4: Add print and colors.

This is where things gey tricky for, if you are like me, you could not choose only one print and one color. But it is best to gravitate towards print and colors that suits you.

- a striped buttoned down
- a hot pink blouse
- an orange wrap dress
- a floral kimono
- a leopard skirt 

Step 5: Add accessories
Add your shoes and bags.

For the shoes, I recommand:
- black pointed toe pumps
- gold ballerina flats
- beige or nude slingbacks

- loafers

- Red ankle straps sandals 

For the bag, I usually would go for bags that match the shoes:

- Black leather tote bag
- Red bucket bag

- Brown satchel 


Step 5: Go shopping

If for some reason, you see that you are missing one key element to your wardrobe, go shop for it; But invest in well made timeless elements that will make dressing up in the morning super easy like tees; and not trendy clothes that will fade away next season.

There you have it. With all these elements, you can build yourself a solid and reliable wardrobe. And by mixing and matching, you can increase the number of outfits you already wear. With time, you will have a solid and reliable work appropriate wardrobe. Here is just an example of what you can do:

Trench coat, striped shirt, navy pencil skirt, black pumps and black tote bag 

Skinny jeans, floral kimono, grey tee, red bucket bag and loafers 

Fuchsia blouse, tan pants, beige slingbacks and brown satchel 

You can create hundreds of outfits by just mix and matching the items you already have. These are just a few examples. I would strongly suggest you shop your closet first before venturing in real shops and spending money. If you do this exercise often, dressing up for work will be easier with time.