EDIT: The perfect work bag, shoes and more.
The totes, boots, flats and accessories you need to build the ultimate flexible work-life wardrobe for the year ahead.
As a society, we’re still recalibrating our workwear wardrobes post-2020/2021 lockdown horror. For many of us, the old rules of office dressing don’t apply. But what are the new rules? They are fluid. Which is either a blessing or a curse, depending on how much time you have in the morning to play with your clothes (not much, I can hear you muttering under your breath).
Finding - and styling - appropriate and interesting workwear is one of the most enduring challenges among our readers. We want to feel like ourselves when we roll up to the desk, boardroom, client meeting etc. And we also want to avoid feeling hemmed in by the invisible edges of ‘appropriateness’. But feel those edges, we do. That tension is at the centre of every 9-5 wardrobe decision we make, and it can be incredibly tedious to navigate day-in, day-out.
Which is why we’re kicking off our workwear series with this bumper (and free!) edit of the best work bags, shoes and accessories on the market in Australia right now. Low stakes, high impact pieces that we think deftly toe the line between clocked in and knocked off.
Next time, we’ll bring you an edit of the jackets, dresses, layers and separates that’ll see you through your working year. Until then, check out Soph’s latest workwear mood board for some inspiration below.
The ideal work bag
You need space, you need ease, you need polish. If we were gym people (we wish), we’d also say you need a separate bag that, ideally, is not fished out from that overstuffed cupboard of miscellaneous canvas totes. This season is all about the slightly slouchy suede shoulder bag: simple pieces in autumnal colours that can be bedazzled with your own stack of bag charms or a silk scarf tied to its handles.
SCANLAN THEODORE / The Athos Shopper – $950
ST. AGNI / 90s Messenger Tote – $689
ASSEMBLY LABEL / Paige Suede Tote Bag – $220
NAKEDVICE / The Miri Black Tote – $249.95
ST. AGNI / Bateau Tote – $699
A-EMERY / The Timms Bag – $690
COUNTRY ROAD / Hobo Shopper – $89.95
ASSEMBLY LABEL / Paige Suede Tote Bag – $220
OROTON / Mille Work Tote – $829
VESTIRSI / Mia East West Slouchy Tote – $499
A-ESQUE / Big Cloud Shoulder Bag – $900
YU MEI / Medium Utility Braidy – $395
Accessories to spice things up
In summer especially, accessories can efficiently transform your workwear from unoriginal to interesting. Just look at how bags, belts and jewellery is used to effect in one of Soph’s older summer workwear moodboards here.
E NOLAN / Tie – $180
BASSIKE / Bassike x Local Supply 09 Sunglasses – $280
NOAH THE LABEL / Orbit Pendant – $25
OROTON / Graphic Spot Silk Scarf – $149
SILK LAUNDRY / Brooch Luna – $75
OROTON / Wheat Brooch – $199
ASSEMBLY LABEL / Leather Coin Purse – $40
SCANLAN THEODORE / The Mera Studded Belt – $300
OROTON / Margot Keyring Pouch – $89
HEAVEN MAYHEM / Clementine Necklace – $216
HEAVEN MAYHEM / Marlowe Necklace – $263
HEAVEN MAYHEM / Sloane Glasses – $357 (pre-order)
The knee-high boot effect
A knee-high boot offers a more exciting, subversive styling element than a classic ankle boot (except when they look more like a ballet-meets-moon boot à la the Scanlan ones below). Forego investing in another pair of anklers for a pair of sexy, powerful stompers — ideal for tucking in trousers or layering under midi wrap skirts. You won’t know yourself.
ESSEN / The Riding Boot – $995
ASSEMBLY LABEL / Stevie Leather Riding Boot – $300
NELSON MADE / Rio Boot – $599
SCANLAN THEODORE / Ballerina Boot – $900
CAMILLA & MARC / Rowan Knee Boot — $1200 (coming soon)
DOF STUDIOS / Bettina — $649.95
Flats with feeling
The goal here is to find something that’s a little bit weird, a little bit animalistic — hoof-like — to offset the conservativeness of a closed-toe flat. Think: perforations, ruching, pushed proportions, fur or skin-like qualities. Just enough to make you look, then look again.
E NOLAN / Ballet Flats – $650
DOF STUDIOS / Claudia – $429.95
BARED / Emutail – $289
ASSEMBLY LABEL / Marion Leather Ballet Flat – $140
ESSEN / The Modern Moccasin – $495
ALIAS MAE / Rue – $219.95
NELSON MADE / Lou Perforated Flat – $299
SCANLAN THEODORE / Tailored Ballet Flat – $700
Make sure you hit subscribe to receive our next workwear edit. See you then!
Soph + Annie
xo
This is great! I’m really struggling with my work wardrobe atm. I’d love to see a round up of stylish backpacks for work. I can’t do totes anymore as I schlep too much stuff & having it all on one side hurts my back!