Now that we are fully back into the swing of things at the YCB offices, it’s time to turn our attention to important matters at hand – our 2018 work wardrobe. Navigating the streets of London before stepping into the office is one of those cliches where ‘the street is your runway’, but it couldn’t be more true. We are loving discovering new brands to build up a strong work wardrobe and our current favourite is Baukjen.
Founded by Amsterdam born Baukjen de Swaan Arons, the brand came to light with a single minded vision – to give you an everyday wardrobe that’s effortless to style and so comfortable to wear. Baukjen has grown into a family affair all run from its London studio and their collections have really come into their own over the seaons.
The Baukjen girl is pared back and polished, she adds a subtle edge with cool, classic pieces that are easy to style. We’re starting off our capsule wardrobe with the Boyfriend Jean; gone is the skinny jean of late and in its place is the cool girl’s denim a la Emily Ratajkowski and Bella Hadid. You might think a boyfriend jean is a surprising choice to recommend for workwear, but in reality workwear is shying away from tailoring and is heading in a more smart casual direction.
Styling the jean with a crisp white blouse or even a logo shirt will have you looking like the boss on your first day on the job. We also love the jeans worn with the Juliette blazer, a simple tee underneath and a pointed toe heel.
For those ‘work-from-home’ days, the jeans look just as stylish with the Leah Slogan Jumper, worn with sneakers for running errands and slippers for snuggling up with your laptop – who said you had to sit at a desk?
For classic jersey pieces, Baukjen is our new go-to destination with pieces such as the Elizabeth top – a heart print breton top for your inner French girl. The grey marl star print Alara can easily be paired with a pencil skirt for a cooler look, and our favourite is the Penny, a classic and contemporary piece that you should pair with denim for the ultimate casual-but-cool approach to easy dressing.
For those days when you want to elevate your look – perhaps you have a meeting or a lunch date during the workday – Baukjen have got you covered for any eventuality. We love the Marcie skirt for a classic 18-hour essential, but for your ideal desk-to-dinner numbers the Sadie leather skirt or the Remi leopard skirt.
For many of the YCB team, the Remi is a firm favourite teamed with chunky knitwear or a men’s shirt and leather jacket; achieving that off duty model vibe one piece at a time right! If skirts aren’t really your bag then the Rosen jumpsuit is ideal. Smart, stylish and super easy to wear, this is the polished and pulled-together one-piece that your wardrobe’s been missing. Finish off any of the looks with the classic silver buckle belt, this would be our ‘If you buy one thing’ item as a belt just polishes off any ensemble in a such a cool, chic way. If you haven’t been paying attention that’s the look we’re going for with our workwear.
So excuse us whilst we scour the site just one more time, and add more items to our already very full basket. Baukjen is here for all your workwear needs, to make you look as chic as possible whilst being a boss lady. As Baukjen puts it, ‘You’re a modern woman living a busy life. Whatever your day looks like, whatever your mood – we’ve got you’.
