How to Build a Business Casual Capsule Wardrobe

I know you guys have been LOVING the work wear looks I’ve been posting lately!  That’s what inspired me to create this next blog post. I had been gathering a bunch of business casual clothing from about October-December in anticipation for my internship with Disney!

I realized two weeks ago that I had basically only brought business casual looks with me and that I’d unintentionally created a business casual capsule wardrobe. Now, those of you who follow me on Instagram know I’m not a very “casual” dresser. I definitely tried to reign it in!

For this post, I made sure to only round up items that I knew would fit into most people’s closets as business casual! I also made it almost entirely neutrals (y’all know I needed a print or two though). Read on further to see the twenty-six items I put in this Business Casual Capsule Wardrobe! I’ll then show how they can all be mixed and matched.

How to Build a Business Casual Capsule Wardrobe

I knew that for this post I wanted a clean and cohesive look to it! Something that could be easily seen with flatlays of the items. Well, I only knew one retailer who had items listed like this online. That store is H&M! I know some people don’t like them from an ethical standpoint, but over recent years they’re actually one of the most transparent fast fashion companies on the market.

The other great news is that they also have super affordable business casual work wear! I found a bunch of my pieces from here and I know that their quality is actually really great for these items. I got a black fitted blazer and pair of black dress pants at the beginning of October and have worn them so many times since! They’re also still in mint condition.

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Jackets + Outerwear:

For jackets and outerwear, I knew I wanted to only focus on wardrobe staples. I thought adding in a classic trench and just a black jacket would serve well! These are pieces that can be worn when it’s colder out or when there’s just a slight breeze. They won’t be too heavy!

You obviously need a blazer or two in a business casual capsule wardrobe, so I chose to the ones above! I’m always an advocate for a classic black blazer, but I thought the maroon one would add in a little color to this mostly neutral palette!

Tops + Dresses:

When it comes to tops, I wanted to keep it simple. I assume you’ll probably have more than one blouse in your capsule wardrobe; however, if you just wanted to choose one, this is perfect! It’s a classic style and can easily be worn with pants or skirts (as you’ll see below).

For dresses, I went with classic, flattering silhouettes. These styles will make you look slim while accenting your waist! I LOVE anything with a grid pattern which is why I chose this first dress. It adds a pattern into your capsule wardrobe without being too over the top.

I then just included a basic little black dress that can go from day to night! Little black dresses are a staple in business casual wardrobes and that’s why I knew I wanted to add one.

Skirts + Pants:

Now, I obviously had to add pants and skirts into the mix. I wanted to make sure I incorporated styles that everyone could love/wear! Midi skirts look great when worn with a tank/blouse and a blazer. I also threw a little bit more pattern in there with the leopard print one!

I wanted to also include some classic shift styles as well which is what you get from the middle two skirts. I thought to add a subtle plaid printed one and a classic black one too. These can work with many outfits as you can see below!

For pants, I personally believe tie-waist/higher waisted pants are the way to go. They’re more flattering by drawing in the waist and the tie is super cute. To include just a classic style, I included a normal pair of trousers. They are printed and can match with the blouse perfectly!

Accessories + Shoes:

When it comes to accessories and shoes, I wanted to go classic and simple. For shoes, I chose a black pump, beige block heels, and a classic black ballet flat. These can work with whatever outfit you’re wearing OR any mood you happen to be in!

I also wanted to go with a classic and simple design for the purses as well. I LIVE out of my tote bag and it allows me to carry everything I could possibly need! I selected this cognac colored tote and a black canteen cross body in black. The cross body is great because it’s easy to just throw on and carry essentials in.

For the rest of the accessories, I wanted to pair the gold hoop earrings and gold cuff bracelet. I’m a gold metals gal, but if you like silver that’s fine too! A classic gray watch, a simple black belt, and a neck scarf round out the rest. I think neck scarves are great because they can also be worn with a pony tail in a 1970’s style!

Capsule Wardrobe Outfit Options

Red Blouse Outfit Options

I thought that for the red blouse I would show four different outfit options! You can obviously wear it with any of the other items in the capsule wardrobe, but I wanted to show it in four different looks. These really demonstrate the versatility. You can see that you’re able to wear it with either pants OR a skirt! That or throw on a jacket and go.

Tank Top Outfit Options

I love wearing tank tops/strappy camis with business casual looks because they’re versatile. It’s also a great option when it’s hot outside to choose this option. Once you get out of work for the day, you can easily just whip off your jacket! Below I demonstrated four looks that correspond with the camis in my original capsule wardrobe photo!

Dress Outfit Options

I wanted to also show the versatility you can have with dresses. Now I didn’t show any dresses with a blazer below and I now realize that. However, I just wanted to share a few ways you can style them to get your juices flowing on other ideas! Dresses are my favorite thing to wear for work because they’re EASY. You don’t have to try and match a shirt and pants. Sadly, my office is insanely cold so I have to wear pants or use a blanket!

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! I LOVED being able to gather all of the cutest business casual work wear for this capsule wardrobe post. Now, of course, I’m not saying go buy a WHOLE new wardrobe. A lot of these items are ones you probably already have! Go through and see what you already have and THEN see if you should invest in anything new.

If you enjoyed this post, I have a couple other work wear related posts as well! If you want to find out some more places to purchase Affordable Work Wear, be sure to check out my post (here)! Looking for ways to de-stress after work? I have a post for that too linked (here).

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