Building a Wardrobe Full of Work Wear Basics

Sweater Blazer (runs very big. I’m wearing an XS) // Blue Check Button Down (runs TTS. I’m wearing a 6. It’s really soft thin material) // Pull-on pants (these are THE BEST pants for work and travel because they are really comfortable and don’t wrinkle. I have an entire review here) // similar leopard print shoes // affordable tote bag (this bag has held up pretty well considering the price. This is a nicer alternative for only a couple more dollars)

If is fall here in the Pacific Northwest. I feel like I’ve been saying that for a while but we are well and truly in it now. I drove down to my parents’ house this weekend about an hour from us and the entire route was lined in trees with all sorts of colorful leaves. It was about as pretty as I-5 gets.

Other than an afternoon with my family, we had a fairly low key weekend. I’ve been trying to take Teddy on a bunch of walks while it’s still really sunny. It has been a nice way to get some fresh air and catch up on some podcasts at the same time without feeling like a bad mom. In other big Teddy news, he’s officially crawling! We thought that he was just going to skip it altogether. He can already pull himself up on the couch, coffee table, his crib, and cruize around that way while he was only crawling backward or in circles for months now. Now he’s chasing his new favorite toys (a kitchen whisk and an empty kombucha bottle) all around the living room. It’s super cute. He entertained us for an hour last night with his antics. I’m sure he would say the same thing about us too.

Today I just wanted to highlight some workwear basics that I’ve been wearing the heck out of lately. This entire outfit looks like something that came right out of my Business Casual Capsule Wardrobe post from eons ago. I’m working on creating a brand new printable download for that post btw! It should be coming at some point this winter.

All these pieces are comfortable and easy to wear either to work, for travel, or on the weekends. I would know; I’ve done all three 😉

Sophie Sweater Blazer

By now I bet you all have one of these because I won’t shut up about them. It’s the best sweater blazer because it keeps you just the right amount of warm, layers like a dream, and comes in a bunch of colors. Snag one while they are on sale and I promise you won’t regret it! They do run very large though. I’m wearing an extra small. I have a whole review on this sweater blazer here.

Jamie Pull-on Pants

Another tried and true staple in my closet is the Jamie pull-on pants from J.Crew Factory. I have a whole post where I sing the praises of these pants but here it is in a nutshell. They have elastic in the back but a flat panel in the front so they are really comfortable if you’re sitting all day. Plus they don’t really wrinkle. They aren’t advertised as wrinkle-resistant but I would wear them to work and not look like a wreck at the end of the day. The ultimate test was when we traveled to Europe last year with only 1 carry-on and these pants made it through the entire trip. They come in the basic navy, black, olive, but also seasonal fun colors like leopard print.

Classic-fit boy shirt in plaid

I didn’t mean to wear head-to-toe J.Crew but it just kinda happened. This is another closet staple that I’ve worn to work and on the weekends. Just your classic plaid button-down in a classic boy fit (ie a little looser than the standard blouse). I’m wearing size 6 and it allows me to have the option to either tuck it in or knot the front. I really like the material this shirt is made from as it’s really light and breathable without feeling cheap.

$10 Amazon Sunglasses

I haven’t called these out in a while but these are some of the best sunglasses I’ve ever owned. They are $10 Amazon sunglasses but they have treated me well over the years. I like designer shades as much as the next girl but I’m always scared I’ll break them or sit on them (it’s happened too many times) to justify the price. These look a lot like Karen Walker sunglasses that were really popular about five years ago but at a teeny tiny fraction of the price. Plus they don’t squeeze my head which is a major plus.