Left: French Freddie Elba Word Shirt in crisp cotton with distinctive cuff detail
Right: The Brooke jacket from French Freddie layered over contemporary Cecilia Shirt
New Zealand designers seem to have a particular knack for infusing relaxed elegance into what could otherwise be deemed boring corporate wear, with clever detailing and design tweaks.
When it comes to understanding the juggle of everyday demands of life with looking stylish in the workplace, the mother-daughter trio behind New Zealand label French Freddie bring decades of experience to the design table.
Specialising in shirts and jackets designed with the businesswoman in mind, the carefully curated collection masters day-to-night wear, creating pieces that can seamlessly merge from boardroom to weekend with just a few careful styling tweaks.
It’s this versatility that is so often a winner when investing in quality work wear. Allowing the flexibility to also style these pieces across other areas of your lifestyle makes sound sense for putting together a clever and versatile capsule wardrobe.
Owned by Auckland-based Susan Herbert and her daughters Ashley and Courtney, French Freddie is recognised for subtly incorporating striking details, bold colours, and flattering silhouettes.
A master of the wardrobe hack, Susan shares some tips to get more wear out of your corporate pieces.
Make sure your capsule wardrobe is up to date
It goes without saying that a capsule work wardrobe is a must. At the bare minimum, a well-fitted pair of pants (avoid a limiting cropped style, particularly if you’re vertically challenged), classic black heels, a pair of flats (if leather, keep them polished), a quality white shirt, a staple handbag, and a simple gold necklace. Have all items clean and ready for when Monday hits and you’re bleary-eyed and caffeine-deprived trying to get out the door on time.
Ironing clothes ahead of time
We know it’s one of the worst washing chores, but having your things prepared ahead of time is a game-changer. Buy yourself a quality handheld steamer, chuck on a Netflix show, and get steaming. It’s much easier than whipping out an ironing board and you’ll be done in half the time.
Statement shirt to elevate your basics
As much as we love a capsule wardrobe, statement pieces are how we express our fashion personality. Invest in some carefully chosen shirts that fit the bill. Look for exquisite detail, vibrant pops of colour, and flattering silhouettes, and these shirts are a guaranteed serotonin boost for the days you need them most.
Laying out clothes
Our younger selves got something right when we’d lay our clothes out for school the next day. Call it a nostalgia hit, but laying your clothes out provides a visual balance of your outfit, without trying on 10 different things and saves you the clean-up when you return home.
Left: Tanya Carlson Longline Day Coat, a tailored, single-breasted style,
which also has the feel of a throw-on jacket
Right: Taylor Draped Sequin Jacket in Italian wool suiting adds a multitude of styling options
Taking photos of outfits
If you want to be really prepared, then there’s something to be said for prepping outfits and photographing them ahead of time. Pin the photos on your bedroom wall and plan out your week so you can get dressed without thinking. Take it to the next level by grouping the items in your wardrobe or on a free-standing hanger a la fashion show, so you can grab and go.
One outfit, two ways
Some days our outfits can feel a bit the same. While the items themselves may slightly differ, there’s no way of knowing whether you’ve worn an outfit twice in one week. Get yourself a blazer. We love a lightweight linen blazer that hits the perfect length for your silhouette. A blazer can change an entire outfit in a second and is perfect for those last-minute meetings with clients when you need to look on point.
Energy boost
We all have those days in our week that we know are likely going to be a bit of a drag – long days and back-to-back meetings where we have to be on our A-game. Why not add some excitement with a vibrant pop of colour? Look for unique accessories that complement your capsule wardrobe, as it can be an inexpensive way to add some excitement to your workwear. Think statement earrings, bold lipstick, neon heels (avoid flats on these days), a vibrant on-trend handbag, or a colourful scarf.
Find a staple pair of black pants
Invest in a flattering and easy-to-wear pair of black pants. Choosing a fabric that can be machine-washed rather than dry-clean-only is a quick hack to make sure they are always on hand for the days you need them. A classic cut is key and something that works for your body shape. Try to avoid cropped style especially if you are vertically challenged. A nice tailored style will last the test of time and be something you can style in multiple different ways.
Images supplied. Article shared courtesy of The Beauty Book Inspiration Edition.