One of the mamas I interviewed for the Back to Work capsule said it in almost these words: “I need to look professional again, but I’m still pumping. Nothing works.” The mamas I interviewed for the Back to Work capsule said that sentence in almost the same words, and the answer most of them arrived at on their own was the blazer. A blazer opens because that is what a blazer is. Closed, it is the meeting. Open, it is the eleven o’clock pump or the lunchtime feed at the nursery, and whatever is under it is what does the work.

Here are ten professional outfits built that way, every one pictured below. Under the blazer: a wrap top, a striped shirt, a scoop tee, a knit dress with a neckline that pulls down, a clip tank with a long-sleeved tee over it. The blazer changes colour and the bottom changes, and the system never does. I write this from my kitchen table rather than an office, so the stories here are theirs; the formula is the same one I use for the school gate.

1. The cream shirt dress with brown boots and a scarf

A cream V-neck shirt dress with a soft waist over a black wireless bra, a striped scarf, gold earrings, brown croc ankle boots and a brown tote. No blazer in this one; the dress is the whole outfit and the V pulls aside over a tank. For the day you present and want one piece to think about.

2. The brown striped shirt with beige trousers and loafers

A brown striped button-down over a nude bra, beige pleated trousers with a soft waist, black loafers, a camel scarf, gold earrings, a black watch and a black tote. Three buttons from the top is the pump. The shirt-and-trousers day when the blazer stays on the chair.

3. The black blazer over a rust wrap top with black trousers

The black blazer over a rust wrap top that ties at the front, a black bra, black straight trousers and black patent heels. The wrap unties, the blazer opens over it. The most-worn work outfit among the interviewed mamas, because the wrap top is the fastest opening there is and the blazer makes it a meeting.

4. The camel cape over a navy tee with grey trousers

A camel knitted cape over a navy long-sleeved tee and a black clip tank, grey tailored trousers, a grey lace bralette, a camel scarf, brown penny loafers and a black tote. The cape lifts and the tee lifts over the tank; nothing comes off. The cold-office outfit, and the one that photographs like a decision.

5. The black blazer over a white tee with cream trousers

The black blazer over a white scoop-neck tee and a tank, cream wide-leg trousers, black patent heels, a striped scarf. The scoop pulls down under the open blazer. Cream below a baby at the nursery pick-up is brave, so this is the day the baby is with someone else.

From the capsules

The Back to Work Capsule

Two hundred workday outfits, every top opening for the eleven o'clock pump. $27 once, yours to keep.

See the capsule →

6. The black blazer over a striped shirt with black trousers

The black blazer over a cream striped button-down and a tank, black trousers, black patent heels. The first-day-back uniform, in the words of more than one mama. Blazer closed for the room, open and three buttons down for the pump.

7. The navy coat over a navy tee with cream trousers

A long navy double-breasted coat over a navy long-sleeved tee and a black tank, cream wide trousers, black heeled ankle boots. The coat opens to the hem for the car-park feed before the commute. Navy and cream is the quiet alternative to black and white.

8. The black blazer over a black knit dress with boots

The black blazer over a black scoop-neck knit midi dress, black croc ankle boots and a black tote. The scoop pulls down over a tank. All black is the most forgiving work outfit for a mama who leaks, and the blazer keeps it from reading as mourning.

9. The denim jacket over a white shirt with cream trousers

From my inbox to yours

You Matter Too.

Postpartum style, nursing-friendly outfit ideas, and mama-to-mama honesty — straight to your inbox every Sunday morning. No noise. No pressure. Just something soft to open with your coffee.

Send me the letter

Signed with love,
— Nenncha

Unsubscribe anytime. No spam, ever. Just letters.

A denim jacket over a white button-down, cream wide trousers, brown loafers and a brown tote. The casual-floor version: the jacket opens, the shirt opens under it. The interviewed mamas on relaxed teams wore this more than any blazer.

10. The white blazer over a white shirt with black trousers

A white blazer over a white button-down and a tank, black trousers, white sneakers, a grey striped scarf. The summer version of outfit six. White near a tired face is kind; black below the waist hides the day; the sneakers are the point.

Ten outfits, one system: something that opens at the front, a tank under it, a jacket over it. The blazer was already in most of the interviewed mamas’ closets from before, and that was the relief: the professional wardrobe did not need rebuilding. It needed a wrap top, a clip tank, and permission to leave the jacket open.

The full version is the Back to Work Capsule: two hundred workday outfits, every top opening for the eleven o’clock pump, laid out and then worn, with three pictures of you in them on the house. Breastfeeding-friendly work outfits for winter takes the same idea into the cold. And if you want someone who knows your closet to pick the blazer-or-cardigan each morning before the commute, that is Anah inside the Atelier.

Leave the jacket open. You are allowed. The focus is on you, mama.