Workwear gets all the attention, but the pieces that really carry a work week are the ones you grab on the way out the door.

A bag that fits the laptop, a belt that finishes a trouser, a scarf for the walk from the train. These are the ones I would build around, in six parts.

The work tote has one job: hold a laptop, a water bottle and a sweater without looking like a gym bag. Look for a structured base, straps that fit over a coat, and a zip if your commute involves a crowded train.

For days full of meetings, I want something that sits on a table and looks deliberate. A bowling bag or a slim briefcase does that better than any tote. Carry it by hand, or clip on the strap when you need your hands back.

Nobody sees your wallet except you, forty times a day. That is reason enough to like it. A slim cardholder, a zip pouch and a key ring you can find at the bottom of a bag are all I really need.

A thin belt is the difference between a trouser that looks borrowed and one that looks like yours. I like a slim black one with interesting hardware, plus something woven or striped for jeans on Fridays.

For the walk to the office. A grey wool scarf goes with everything, a printed one fixes a boring coat, and burgundy gloves make a black coat look like a decision.

The clip that gets your hair off your neck at 3pm deserves more thought than it gets. Tortoiseshell for every day, a velvet bow for dinner after, and a proper claw that holds all of it.

If you are starting from nothing, get the tote and the belt first. The rest can come in slowly, one piece at a time.