Huge thanks to Kohl’s and Collective Voice for sponsoring this post

It’s that time of year! My kids have already gone back to school 😱, but that doesn’t mean I’m done prepping for the school year. In case you’re like me and could use some help kickstarting the year, I’m partnering with Kohl’s and Collective Voice to share a 6-piece work wardrobe checklist and some back to school work outfits to help you freshen up and update your workwear! These pieces are all super easy to mix and match with tons of other items, and they’re affordable!

If you are looking to update your wardrobe with clothes that won’t break the bank, you FOR SURE need to check out Kohl’s. Kohl’s is my #1 recommendation for incredibly affordable clothes that feel good and look good! And, Kohl’s carries everything, from activewear to casual wear to workwear to special occasion items. (Not to mention a great kids’ selection – talk about back to school shopping all in one place!) You can also find straight, plus, and petite options, and the prices are amazing! Plus, you can utilize Kohl’s in-store and curbside pickup to conveniently shop online and get your order quickly.

Let’s talk through six pieces to include in your work wardrobe to give it a little update and feel ready for the school year!

SIZING: I’m 5’6″ and usually S/M or 6 in clothes and 8.5 to 9 in shoes.

1. Neutral Blouse
First up on the work wardrobe checklist is a wardrobe basic – a neutral blouse! Neutrals go with everything, and it’s helpful to have at least one or two neutral blouses to be the go-to pairings for any statement pieces you have, like printed skirts and colorful pants. If you want one that has more visual interest, go for a top that has special details, such as this one with buttons and a relaxed collar. Those features make it more interesting and elevate it from a totally basic top.

This top is a GREAT classic to have in your wardrobe. In addition to the buttons and relaxed collar, it has a loose and flowy drape, which I like way more than stiff white button up shirts. The flowy drape adds movement and keeps your outfits polished and professional without looking stuffy. The material is satiny, with a little sheen, which dresses it up even more. But don’t worry, you can definitely pair it with jeans for a nice casual outfit (which I will soon show in an upcoming blog post)! You can wear it with pretty much any color pants for work, dress it down with jeans, and tuck it into skirts. It is SO versatile and comes in 9 colors! See them all HERE. See plus sizes HERE. I wear size S.

2. Colored Pants
Liven up your workwear with colored pants! Workwear can get repetitive quickly, so mix it up by including bottoms in different colors. You can go for colored bottoms in a standard silhouette (like THESE in green or teal) or you can change up your workwear even more with colored pants that have a different silhouette and extra details, like this pair with pintuck down the front of the leg and the tie-front waist.

The tie-front pintuck pants are soft, smooth, thick, and stretchy, BTW! They’re comfortable, they look modern and stylish, and they will really help you feel like you have variety in your workwear because of the details and the variation of the silhouette that I mentioned. You can wear these pants with a blouse like I’m doing above, or you can pair them with a t-shirt and a denim jacket for a dressed-down version. These pants come in 3 colors, and I love all of them! Find them HERE. I wear size 6.

One note is that these pants have side slit pockets that tend to stick out around curvier hips. However, if you have straighter or narrower hips, these should fit well!

Shop the Outfit:
Top: c/o Kohl’s (exact–wearing size S)
Pants: c/o Kohl’s (exact–wearing size 6)
Shoes: (similar)
Earrings: (similar)
Necklace: (similar)

 

3. Printed Top
Be sure to include a printed top (or several!) to add visual interest to your work looks. This v-neck tank is a great option that is so versatile. It’s one of those pieces that doesn’t make a huge statement and is easy to overlook, but it’s so versatile that you’ll get a lot of wear out of it. Plus, its silhouette is classic, so you can wear it for years to come. Pair it with pants, tuck it into skirts, wear it by itself, or layer it under blazers and cardigans. You can also dress it down super easily by pairing it with dark wash jeans to head out to dinner.

This top comes in 10 solid colors and 8 prints. The solid colors are worth considering to use as your “Neutral Blouse” because this silhouette is timeless and will never go out of style. And, it’s so affordable right now, at just $19.99! See all the prints in straight sizes HERE. See plus sizes HERE and petite sizes HERE. I wear size S.

4. Dark Wash Jeans
Dark wash jeans are great for more casual work settings! Darker washes are easier to dress up and dress down, so you can wear them for polished work looks and on the weekend.

This pair of jeans is stretchy, soft, and comfortable, and it has elastic in the waistband for a forgiving fit to make it even more comfortable! 🙌🏽 Check them out in 5 washes, HERE. Find petite sizes HERE. I’m wearing size 6 in the color “Dark and Hazy.”

Shop the Outfit:
Top: c/o Kohl’s (exact–wearing size S)
Jeans: c/o Kohl’s (exact–wearing size 6 in “Dark & Hazy”)
Shoes: (similar)
Earrings: (similar)
Necklace: (similar)

 

5. Neutral Pants
Every work wardrobe needs some neutral pants! You probably already have a good pair of black pants, so add a couple more options, like grey or tan pants. You can find a few options HERE!

6. Colored Top
A colored top adds a little kick to your wardrobe! Being solid colored instead of printed means that you can pair it with printed bottoms or layer it under printed blazers and cardigans. This top in particular has a satiny feel which elevates it and adds polish. But, it’s only $19.99! It has a really versatile silhouette that goes well with pants, can be tucked into pants with varying silhouettes, can be tucked into skirts, and works well under a variety of layers. You can pair this top with dark wash bootcut jeans for a casual but polished date look! Find it in 9 colors, HERE. I wear size S.

Shop the Outfit:
Top: c/o Kohl’s (exact–wearing size S)
Pants: c/o Kohl’s (similar–I wear size S)
Shoes: (similar)
Earrings: (similar)
Necklace: (similar)

And, there’s your 6-piece work wardrobe checklist! With these 6 types of pieces, you can update your style for work and mix and match to create numerous back to school work outfits!

Shop More Pieces for Back to School Work Outfits

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Wardrobe essentials are the foundation of a wardrobe that is easy to use and mixes and matches seamlessly! Having some KEY pieces will help you pull together outfits more easily AND create MORE outfits with LESS pieces!

Learn more about wardrobe staples and how to utilize them in your wardrobe! Grab your copy of my free Wardrobe Staples Mini Guide to set your closet up on the right foundation. You’ll get a checklist of 16 wardrobe staples that will turn your wardrobe into a mixing-and-matching machine and 6 outfit formulas to help you make outfits with them!

Click HERE to enter your info and download your free copy!