What do women wear to work?

This week, Mufaro Mutowembwa and Chiara Greensill take us inside their M-F wardrobes.

This week, Soph is plotting my next wardrobe edit (stay tuned!!) so, I’m bringing you the next (long overdue) installment in our workwear series, where we peek inside the work wardrobes of women we know and admire.

And I am so excited to introduce our two special guests: strategist Mufaro Mutowembwa and publicist Chiara Greensill. Both are seriously impressive, creative women who bring real thought and care to how they show up in the world, and it shows in what they choose to wear.

We have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to workwear here, but I still regularly revisit our first two installments of this series (see here and here) when I want more real-world inspiration for what to wear to work — which is probably the most thorny and eternally tricky question to plague us as a species. Probably.

Enjoy!

Annie xx

Mufaro Mutowembwa

Mufaro is the co-founder of Rolodex Media, a Sydney-based writer, independent strategist and one of the brightest young women I know. Every time I speak to Mufaro, I marvel that anyone in their mid-20s could have their shit together quite so much. Mufaro is the type of person who is writing investment theses, wearing Harris Tapper and speaking on panels on matters of taste and brand. At her age, I was an aspiring writer waiting to catch a break, traipsing around Fitzroy in a pair of patent Funkis, and wondering how I was going to pay my rent that month.

I know Mufaro through work, having followed her Substack for a while and happily clinking our glasses at work events. Having recently left the corporate world to go all-in on her work as an independent strategist and writer, Mufaro’s work week is fairly unpredictable and, like mine, a mix of WFH-ing and event-ing, which always makes for a very real high-low mix.

Passing it over to Mufaro to explain more!

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My working life has recently become fairly nonlinear, and I think my wardrobe has followed. I co-founded a media business, so any given week can include writing from home, coffee meetings, interviews, brand meetings and an event or two. I spent several years working in corporate environments before this, so I still love tailoring and probably always will, but these days I get to play with it much more. Some days I’m in slacks and loafers, some days I’m in old Zara jeans, and occasionally at 5pm I’m swapping all of that for a dress and heading to a Chanel party. I really love that there isn’t one version of what getting dressed for work looks like anymore.

Monday

This is probably the closest thing I have to a work uniform. I wear these P. Johnson trousers constantly because they make me feel put together without feeling too corporate, and I love an oversized blue shirt. The scarf is usually how I make something simple feel a little more interesting. I’ve also had these Gucci loafers for about five years and still wear them all the time, which is always my favourite kind of purchase.

• Shirt // P. Johnson Femme - Classic Shirt

• Trousers // P. Johnson Femme - Marella Pant

• Scarf // Alemais

• Shoes // Gucci - Princetown Mule

Tuesday

My work can be hilariously nonlinear. I spent most of this day doing fairly normal work things and then changed for a Chanel event that evening.

I wanted something simple and feminine, so I wore this white Rachel Gilbert Ludovica dress with a pink Chanel vanity bag which I bought earlier this year in Dubai.

The shoes were a very glamorous last-minute purchase from Spendless on the day because I realised I didn’t have the right pair at home.

• Dress // Rachel Gilbert - Ludovica Shift Mini Ivory — $1595.00

• Bag // Chanel - Vanity Case (similar here)

• Shoes // Spendless Shoes (similar here)

Wednesday

Jeans, a nice top and ballet flats is probably my most reliable combination when I don’t want to think too hard about getting dressed.

These Zara jeans are very old and have survived countless wardrobe clean-outs. I love them with this Maggie Marilyn blouse because it makes the whole thing feel a little softer and more interesting without becoming fussy. The Chanel flats are another pair I reach for constantly.

This is the kind of thing I’d wear for meetings, coffee, working from somewhere other than home, or just a day when I know I’ll be running around.

• Top // Maggie Marilyn (This top has since been discontinued, but I’ve linked something similar) — $595.00

• Jeans // Zara (similar here)

• Shoes // Chanel - Ballet Flats — $1640.00

• Bag // Mango - Gustave Bag — $69.00 (on sale, down from $139.95)

Thursday

Two events in one week - spoiled!

This Harris Tapper dress is one of those pieces that does most of the work for you. I love the wrap detail and the slightly architectural shape, so I kept everything else fairly simple with black heels and a tiny bag. This was for another evening event, so I wanted something that felt polished but still a little interesting. This Harris Tapper dress is one of those pieces that does most of the work for you.

• Dress // Harris Tapper - Chamberlain Dress — $499.00

• Shoes // Tony Bianco - Alyx Black Suede Heels — $199.95

• Bag // Chanel (similar here)

Friday

Working from home today, so this is about as relaxed as my workwear gets. I’m definitely someone who works better when I’ve properly gotten dressed, but on days with no meetings I’m not pretending I’m above a sweatshirt and shorts.

I love having a wardrobe that can swing from tailoring and events to something this simple depending on what the day actually requires.

• Sweatshirt // P Johnson - Grey Organic Cotton Polo Sweat — $295.00

• Shorts // Elka Collective - Kimberly White Cotton Shorts — $79.00 (on sale, down from $159.00)

Chiara Greensill

Chiara is the PR, Partnerships & Events Manager at Breville, for North America & APAC. With a background in fashion (she worked previously in marketing & PR for Alemais and David Jones), only Chiara could make a household name like Breville quite so chic. Case in point: the recent Maison Balzac x Breville pop-up cafe that opened in Paddington last month. Chiara’s doing.

Another case in point: Breville’s House of Toast event in Melbourne last year.

That’s Chiara for you: taking something simple like toast and making it feel like high art. A perfect analogy for her style, as you’ll see below.

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Monday

Generally, the day I think about my outfit the most, as I like to feel prepared heading into a new week.

The power of a black turtleneck Is truly sublime.

• Turtleneck // Scanlan & Theodore — $180.00

• Skirt // Camilla and Marc (similar here)

• Necklace // Tiffany & Co Elsa Peretti Bean Pendant

• Bag – Oroton ( similar here)

Tuesday

I tend to be quite meeting heavy on a Tuesday and often on the go. In lieu of this, I always find myself reaching for items I feel good to move in. This look is a personal favourite of mine!

• Sunglasses // St Agni — $400.00

• Jacket // Friends with Frank — $399.00

• Cargo Pants // Uniqlo — $59.90

• Trainers // Onitsuka Tiger — $190.00

Wednesday

A WFH day and this combination has been on high rotation. These pants are a recent purchase, and I have been living in them.

• V Neck Jumper // Uniqlo ( My style is sold out, but this one is very similar) — $99.90

• Pants // P Johnston — $495.00

• Shoes // Nelson Made Lou Flats — $299.00

Thursday

A quick outfit change for an evening work event, wearing one of my favourite tops of all time (I am a sheer addict!)

• Top// Beare Park — $460.00

• Pants // St Agni ( Mine are old, but they have a similar version here ) — $629.00

• Sunglasses – vintage Valentino

• Bag // Casilda Pouch — $290.00

• Shoes – Nelson Made Kitten Heels ( Mine are sold out, but similar version here) — $299.00
  

Friday

Another WFH day featuring one of the most worn items in my wardrobe. I am a sucker for a perfect white tee.

• T-Shirt // (Margot) Leset — $130.00

• Jeans – Vintage

• Shoes – Camille Ballet Flats Repetto — $600.00

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