Fashion

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe Worthy of Your Professional Personality

This season’s best fashion trend? Sustainability. There’s no better way to embrace it than with a capsule wardrobe – staple pieces that can be mixed and matched. Like a toolbox of reliable looks, really.

What to wear when navigating the highs and lows of working life matters, and a well-curated capsule wardrobe can boost your confidence before that high-stakes meeting or networking event. Plus, a capsule wardrobe is kinder to the planet and good for your wallet. Win-win.

 “A capsule wardrobe is brilliant for any busy woman – it saves you valuable time and takes away the pain of choosing outfits,” said Cristina Gilkes, Senior Director of Product and Sourcing at Boden.

“You are also assured that you look and feel great. The key is to start with great quality pieces that will last and are staples in your wardrobe. You’ll wear them season after season,” she said.

As a partner of our Step Forward Summit in celebration of International Women's Day, Boden are offering 23% off full price styles to the AllBright community with code IWDB*

Here are 10 favourite staple pieces from Boden to make you look and feel your best this spring.

The Classic trench

The ultimate spring outerwear: . It comes in timeless tan or bold bubblegum pink and can be dressed up or down – think belted for the office commute and sleeves rolled up at the weekend (you get the idea). Plus, it’s layerable so that you can wear it most of the year round.

The Statement blazer

Classroom, conference, or boardroom?  Make a statement in the - it might just give you the edge you need to conquer a hard day’s work. Go all out and style it with the , or dress it down with light-washed jeans. FYI, heads will turn.

Boden Feature 1 sq-V2

The Power suit

They say power comes from within, but we think it comes from the . They have a mid-rise and wide leg and come in three colours: classic black, kelly green and a checked grey with a vertical navy stripe. They’re stylish and comfortable, so we imagine you’ll wear be wearing them a lot. 

The Everyday shirt

We suggest the for a truly versatile style you’ll likely live in. It’s a classic layering piece for anything from WFH to weekend brunch. Play with the proportions by rolling the sleeves, untucking one shirttail, or buttoning up and collaring down for a morning meeting. There’s a colour for every mood (or seven, to be precise).

The Timeless trousers

We love the for their high-rise fit, colour choices and lightweight, breathable material – TENCEL™ lyocell. This fabric is produced from sustainably sourced wood by environmentally responsible processes. It’s known for being known for soft and gentle on the skin, too. 

“The hardest working pieces for any capsule wardrobe are those that are versatile. We upgraded our classic trench with a subtle blouson sleeve, which makes it feel as appropriate for the weekend as the working week. No Boden capsule wardrobe is complete without a great pair of jeans, a crisp shirt and a classic Breton tee. Quintessential style with Boden quality.” – Cristina Gilkes, Boden

The Cosy knit

You can’t get much better than this when it comes to knitwear. It’s cropped and has a v-neck, which makes it the perfect mix of smart and casual – looks great over a shirt with an open collar.  There are different colours, but this style is so versatile we’d struggle to pick just one. 

The Dressy-ish top

Fancy a change from a shirt? The is your answer. Hello, blouson sleeves and open back – perfect for going from al-desko to al fresco. The cinched sleeves and paisley print make it ideal for spring, too. It looks great with tailored work trousers and your favourite weekend jeans.

Boden Feature 1 sq-V1@2x

The Smart jeans

Strike the midway point between sophisticated and casual with the – stretchy yet structured in a wide-leg fit. The indigo dark wash version goes particularly well with jewel-toned tops, or classic blue and ecru are well-suited to sunny days. 

The Maxi dress

You can’t really go wrong with a maxi, and the office-appropriate length can’t take the feel-good factor away from the . A dress like this can be carried into other seasons, too –  just team it with tights, boots and a cardi in colder climates. 

The Hard-working shoes

The loafer has long since shed its bookish persona – they’re cool, yet (dare we say it) practical and easy to wear. Plus, they’ll never go out of style. have a big, chunky gold buckle and are leather-lined for hours of comfort. 

Ready to build your capsule wardrobe? Head to to get started.

*T&Cs: This 23% off Full Price Styles is valid until 11:59pm on Tuesday 18th April 2023. Free standard delivery and returns over £30. Exclusions apply, including gift vouchers, sale, clearance and other selected items (visit boden.com/exclusions for a full list). This offer (i) is only valid for use at boden.com; (ii) has no cash alternative, is not for resale or publication and cannot be applied to orders retrospectively; (iii) is only valid for the intended recipient, can only be redeemed once and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. Full conditions of sale are available on our website . For more information about how we use your personal data or to opt-out of future mailings please refer to our privacy notice. J. P. Boden & Co. Ltd, 114-120 Victoria Road, London, NW10 6NY. Company No: 2692601