Your First Work Wardrobe: The Graduate Starter Kit
For a five-day office week, we would build towards five shirts, three ties and one belt. Start with white, blue and a fine stripe, add navy and burgundy neckwear, then buy the remaining pieces around your workplace.
For the rest of the kit, see our guide to the suit accessories worth buying first.
Your first working week.
A small wardrobe. A strong start.
A new job brings enough unfamiliar decisions. A small wardrobe that works together makes getting dressed one of the easier ones. Two shirts and one tie can get the first week moving while you spread the cost.
Shop the photographed Windsor shirt
Choose sizes and add pieces to your bag right here, or build the whole kit in the budget calculator below.
What do you need in your first work wardrobe?
Build a repeatable week around trousers and shoes you already wear well. Our shirt-and-accessory kit gives you a clean shirt for each office day and enough neckwear to change the mood. You can repeat a good outfit; the aim is to make the pieces earn their place.
| Piece | Full rotation | Buy first |
|---|---|---|
| Shirts | Five: white, cornflower blue, fine blue stripe, sage and deep navy | White and blue. In a conservative office, add more white or blue before sage and navy. |
| Ties | Three: plain navy, textured burgundy and navy/burgundy stripes | One navy tie for meetings and days that call for neckwear. |
| Belt | One that works with your shoes and trousers | Keep the one you own if it fits and looks tidy. |
| Trousers & shoes | Use two dependable pairs of trousers and comfortable work shoes as your starting point | Prioritise these before a third tie if you are missing them. |
| Jacket or suit | Add what the role requires | A suit comes first in a business-professional office; a blazer can wait in a more relaxed one. |
Keep a little of the budget for trouser hems and other alterations. A shirt that sits properly at the collar and shoulder will do more for the outfit than another accessory.
Buy for the office you are joining
Ask your manager or recruitment contact what people wear on an ordinary working day. An interview outfit and a Tuesday-at-your-desk outfit can be different. Use the answer to decide which part of this kit to buy first.
“Dress for your day” means dressing for the work ahead. BDO Australia lists it among its early-careers benefits. For a client presentation, start with a pale shirt, a restrained tie and your jacket; for an ordinary internal office day, an open collar may suit the team. Ask which version your first week calls for.
Graduates reviewing their employers on Prosple describe a similar picture: business casual at most banks and corporates, business formal at law firms and some advisory firms, more relaxed tech teams, and casual Fridays almost everywhere. One graduate wore business formal on the first day ‘just to be safe’, which is a sound rule when you’re not sure.
| Workplace | Start here | Adjust the shopping list |
|---|---|---|
| Business professional | Navy or charcoal suit, white or blue shirt, restrained tie and dress shoes | Prioritise the suit and pale shirts. Make shirts four and five extra white or blue. |
| Business casual | Collared shirt with tailored trousers or chinos and neat shoes | Buy two or three shirts first. Keep one tie ready for a presentation or client meeting. |
| Hybrid: two office days | Two or three shirts, the trousers you use most and one tie if needed | Build around office days and laundry timing. Five shirts can come later. |
Business casual usually leaves the tie optional. For a role with a uniform, protective clothing or specific footwear, buy those essentials before building an office capsule.
The five shirts: three foundations, two changes of pace
These five shirts are Classic Fit, with cotton fabric and button cuffs. Keeping the cut consistent makes the rotation easier to buy. Choose your fit from your measurements: our Slim Fit vs Classic Fit guide explains the difference.
Prefer Slim Fit? Swap in our Carruthers White, Giambi Light Blue and Bradford Blue Stripe for the white, blue and stripe slots. All three are non-iron.
Carruthers White Lucious Non-Iron Shirt
Slim Fit · Non-iron
Giambi Light Blue Twill Non-Iron Shirt
Slim Fit · Non-iron
Bradford Blue Stripe Lucious Non-Iron Shirt
Slim Fit · Non-iron
01 · White
The shirt for your busiest diary day
Windsor Royal White + Navy Blue Cotton or Burgundy Weave.
Windsor Royal White is the foundation. Its subtle dobby texture gives a plain white shirt some depth, while the non-iron finish makes it a practical work choice. Wear it with any of the three ties, or open at the collar with navy trousers.
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Windsor Royal White Non-Iron Dobby Shirt
Classic Fit · Cotton dobby · Non-iron · Button cuffs
Matte navy · 100% cotton · 8.5 cm wide
Burgundy · Subtle woven texture · 8.5 cm wide
02 · Cornflower blue
A second shirt that works just as hard
Bellamy Cornflower + Navy Blue Cotton or Burgundy & Navy Blue Stripes.
Bellamy’s cornflower blue sits between a pale blue and navy. Wear it with grey trousers and the navy tie, or use burgundy for a warmer contrast. Its heather twill adds texture without a print, and its easy-iron finish suits a regular wash-and-press routine.
See the fit
Check the collar, then sit down
Fasten the top button if you plan to wear a tie. Turn your head, reach forward and sit: the collar should stay comfortable and the front should lie smoothly.
Watch how the shirt falls through the chest and sleeves. Judge your own fit with the trousers and jacket you will actually wear.
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Bellamy Cornflower Heather Easy-Iron Twill Shirt
Classic Fit · Cotton twill · Easy-iron · Button cuffs
Matte navy · 100% cotton · 8.5 cm wide
Burgundy & Navy Blue Stripes Tie
Navy and burgundy diagonal stripes · 8.5 cm wide
03 · A fine blue stripe
Pattern that still belongs in the weekly rotation
Paxton Sapphire Stripe + Navy Blue Cotton or Burgundy Weave.
Paxton Sapphire Stripe changes the look without changing the colour palette. Pair its vertical blue stripes with the plain navy or textured burgundy tie. Keep the jacket and trousers plain so the shirt has room to work.
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Paxton Sapphire Stripe Non-Iron Poplin Shirt
Classic Fit · Cotton poplin · Non-iron · Button cuffs
Matte navy · 100% cotton · 8.5 cm wide
Burgundy · Subtle woven texture · 8.5 cm wide
04 & 05 · Sage and deep navy
The shirts to add once you know the room
Sherwood Sage or Pelham Admiral + Classic Onyx Black Weave Belt.
Sherwood Sage and Pelham Admiral give a relaxed office week more variety. Wear sage with charcoal trousers, and deep navy with grey or stone. Both work well open at the collar; save the ties for the white, cornflower and striped shirts first.
If your colleagues wear pale shirts and suits every day, make these two slots extra white and blue shirts instead. Five shirts do not need to mean five colours.
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Sherwood Sage Easy-Iron Twill Shirt
Classic Fit · Sage cotton twill · Easy-iron
Pelham Admiral Heather Easy-Iron Twill Shirt
Classic Fit · Deep navy cotton twill · Easy-iron
Black weave · Elastic construction · 3.5 cm wide · S, M and L
The three ties: navy, burgundy and a stripe
Three ties are a useful destination for a tie-wearing week. Buy one first and add the others when you will use them. Navy cotton gives you a matte foundation; burgundy adds warmth; a diagonal stripe brings pattern to a plain shirt.
| Tie | Start with | Why it belongs |
|---|---|---|
| Navy Blue Cotton Necktie | White, cornflower blue or Paxton stripes | The plain navy colour settles a patterned shirt. |
| Burgundy Weave Necktie | White or cornflower blue; Paxton when you want quiet texture | A change from blue without a loud print. |
| Burgundy & Navy Blue Stripes Tie | Plain white or cornflower blue | Use the tie as the main pattern and keep the shirt quiet. |
Learn one knot properly. Start with a four-in-hand, pull it neatly to the collar and aim for the tie tip around your waistband. If the knot looks too small for the collar opening, try a half-Windsor. The three featured ties are 8.5 cm wide; compare that with your jacket lapels before buying. Our How to Tie a Tie guide shows the steps.
One belt, plus the trousers and shoes you need
Choose a belt around your work shoes. Black with black is an easy starting point; use brown when your regular shoes are brown. Check the belt against the trousers you actually wear, including the belt loops.
Our Classic Onyx Black Weave Belt has an elastic woven construction and a polished buckle. Wear it with chinos or relaxed tailoring. For a conservative suit office, a plain dress belt you already own is the better first choice.
Start with navy and grey trousers, or navy chinos and a second pair appropriate for your office. Wear shoes you can manage the commute in, and keep them clean. A jacket, winter layer, socks and alterations sit outside the shirt-and-accessory budget below. Buy anything missing from those foundations before adding optional neckwear.
Five shirts, planned from Monday to Friday
Lay out the week after laundry day. This plan mixes meeting-day neckwear with open-collar days; add a tie where your office expects one. Repeat the same navy or grey trousers rather than buying a new pair for every shirt.
| Day | Shirt | Tie or finish | Trousers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Windsor white | Navy cotton tie | Navy or charcoal; add your suit jacket for a formal day. |
| Tuesday | Bellamy cornflower | Navy and burgundy stripe tie | Mid-grey. |
| Wednesday | Paxton blue stripe | Burgundy weave tie | Navy. |
| Thursday | Sherwood sage | Open collar; add a plain jacket for a smarter finish. | Charcoal. |
| Friday | Pelham deep navy | Open collar with a tidy tuck. | Grey or stone. |
For a suit-and-tie office: keep Monday to Wednesday, then repeat the white-shirt role with burgundy on Thursday and the blue-shirt role with navy on Friday. Buy extra pale shirts for those two slots, so each day starts with a clean one.
See the fit
An open collar can still look finished
Pelham’s deep navy works best here with lighter trousers. Keep the collar settled and the shirt tucked neatly; a relaxed day still deserves a considered fit.
You do not need a matching tie, pocket square and belt in every shirt colour. Keep the supporting pieces simple.
A first work wardrobe budget you can adjust
Buy for the gaps in your wardrobe. Start with two shirts and one tie, keep your current belt if it works, then add the rest over your first few pay cycles. Tick only the pieces you still need below.
The calculator shows AUD for Australian shoppers and USD for US shoppers. Choose the two-shirt starter, untick the belt if you already own one and keep the remaining allowance for trousers, shoes or alterations. Add shirts three to five before ties two and three if laundry is your main constraint.
The estimate uses current individual item prices for your shopping region. It covers these five shirts, three ties and belt only. Delivery, any tax calculated at checkout, trousers, shoes, jackets and alterations are outside the total; promotions are applied at checkout.
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Estimated item subtotal: See current product prices
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View bagOnce the basics fit, spend the next part of the budget on the item you reach for most. That may be another blue shirt rather than another tie. There is no reason to replace something that already does the job.
Get the fit and laundry routine right
Try one shirt before ordering the rest of the rotation. Close the collar, check the shoulder seam, sit down and reach towards a desk. You should be able to move without the buttons pulling. Our seven-point dress shirt fit checklist covers the details.
See the fit
Check the back as well as the front
The Paxton film shows the shirt from the front, side and back. Use the same views in a mirror when trying your size: look for a comfortable shoulder and a clean drape through the waist.
The shirt should stay tucked when you reach forward. Choose the size that moves with you, then compare the product measurements before buying the other shirts.
Five shirts give you one fresh shirt per office day with a weekly wash. Wash them in time to dry fully, hang them promptly and check collars and cuffs before putting them away. Follow each shirt’s care label for washing, drying and ironing, and keep the ties out of the shirt wash.
Windsor and Paxton are non-iron; Bellamy, Sherwood and Pelham are easy-iron. Allow a quick press where needed. Read Non-Iron vs Easy-Iron Shirts for the finish comparison, and our wrinkle-free shirt guide for the washing and drying routine.
With three shirts, plan a midweek wash. With two, wash more often or bring another clean shirt into the rotation. If laundry will be difficult around your commute, an extra core shirt is a more useful purchase than tie number three.
From the interview outfit to your first week
A white shirt, navy tie and dark tailoring can stay in use after the interview. Change the shirt, then the tie, as you build the week around it. If the interview is still ahead, our job interview tie guide compares navy, burgundy and striped neckwear.
For your first morning, lay the outfit out the night before, check the collar and shoes, and try sitting in it. Your wardrobe is ready when you can stop thinking about it and get on with meeting the team.
Buying a graduation or first-job gift?
For a parent or partner buying a practical graduation gift, start with the piece the graduate will use first. Our Navy Blue Cotton Necktie works with white and blue shirts; the Burgundy Weave Necktie is a useful second choice if navy is already covered.
Buying shirts? Check the collar measurement and preferred fit before choosing a size. One white or blue shirt that fits is a better start than five bought on a guess. Offer to build the rest of the kit together once the new work routine is clear.
For the ceremony itself, our men’s graduation outfit guide covers what to wear under the gown.
First work wardrobe: frequently asked questions
How many work shirts does a graduate need?
Five shirts make a straightforward rotation for five office days and a weekly wash. Start with two or three if you work fewer office days or can do laundry during the week, then add the shirts you use most.
Do I need three ties for my first job?
One navy tie is enough to start. Build towards navy, burgundy and a restrained stripe if you wear neckwear regularly. In a business-casual office, spend on shirts, trousers and shoes before buying the second and third ties.
What should I wear on my first day at an office job?
Ask what your team normally wears. For business professional, start with a navy or charcoal suit, a white or blue shirt and a restrained tie. For business casual, a collared shirt, tailored trousers or chinos and neat shoes are a useful foundation. If you can’t find out, dress one notch above what you expect, and keep a tie in your pocket.
What colours should I buy first?
White and blue shirts, then a fine blue stripe, are our starting point. Navy and burgundy ties work across those colours. Add sage or a dark navy shirt when you know they suit your workplace; choose extra white and blue for a conservative office.
How much should I budget for a first work wardrobe?
Price the pieces you are missing before setting the total. The live shopping list in this guide adds current local prices for the featured shirts, ties and belt. Keep a separate allowance for trousers, shoes, a jacket or suit, delivery and alterations.
Can I wear the same work outfit twice in a week?
Yes. Repeat a well-fitting pair of trousers, jacket or tie and change into a clean shirt. You do not need a different colour for every office day; extra white and blue shirts are useful in a conservative wardrobe.
Is Classic Fit better than Slim Fit for work?
Choose by your measurements and movement, not your job title. The five shirts featured here are Classic Fit. A shirt should close comfortably at the collar and lie smoothly through the chest when you sit; compare the measurements for your preferred cut. For Slim Fit, the Carruthers, Giambi and Bradford shirts fill the same three core slots.
Which belt should I buy for the office?
Start with a tidy belt that works with your shoes and fits the trousers. The featured black woven belt suits chinos and relaxed tailoring. For a conservative suit office, use a plain dress belt; keep one you already own if it does the job.
Do non-iron shirts replace ironing completely?
They reduce the work involved, but you may still want a touch-up. Windsor and Paxton are non-iron; Bellamy, Sherwood and Pelham are easy-iron. Follow the individual care label and allow time to prepare the shirts before the week starts.
Should I buy the whole graduate starter kit at once?
Buy one shirt first to confirm the fit. Then start with two shirts, one tie and a belt only if you need it. Build the rest around your office attendance, laundry routine and first few pay cycles.
What does business casual mean for a graduate’s first job?
A collared shirt with tailored trousers or chinos and neat shoes is a useful starting point. A tie is usually optional, and your employer sets the details. If the policy says dress for your day, choose the outfit around the meetings and work ahead.
What is a useful graduation gift for a man starting work?
A restrained navy or burgundy tie is a practical first-job gift. If you are buying a shirt, confirm his collar measurement and preferred fit first. Start with one useful piece, then build the rest of the wardrobe around his new workplace.
Your first working week, considered
A small wardrobe. Plenty of good mornings.
Start with the shirt that fits, add the tie you will wear most, and build the rest as you go.
Explore work shirts Explore neckties Explore belts
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