A week in work outfits with Suku Home’s creative director, Christine Lafian

“I love bringing out older pieces to show how versatile they can be with the right styling.”

It’s never easy trying to come up with new outfit combinations for the working week. Instead of having a set uniform, an ever-changing schedule means every morning requires a set of questions. Am I running around, or just sitting at my desk? Do I need to dress specifically for a project? And what am I meant to do when my favourite pants are in the wash?

Given that dressing for a nine-to-five can be a daily struggle, we’re asking our favourite local creatives for outfit inspiration. This week we’re digging through the enviable wardrobe of Suku Home founder and creative director Christine Lafian.

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Naturally, Christine’s wardrobe has a healthy dose of Suku, both new and archival. “You’ll see me reaching for older pieces from years ago because that’s the real test of a good piece – you’re still wearing it,” she says. But she’s also one for investing in high-quality pieces, like her Labucq loafers or the pe-loved Acne sweater she scored on Depop.

As par for the course of being a brand founder (and a mum), Christine’s week can take many forms. It’s typically bookended by daycare drop-offs and pickups, while the bulk of her day can involve business meetings, staff training and a series of errands.

When it comes to getting dressed for the day, Christine doesn’t have the luxury of time to stand in front of her wardrobe, deliberating what to wear. “My process is genuinely just imagining the outfit in my head before I fall asleep and hoping it works when I try it on in a rush the next morning,” she says. “The thinking starts before I even buy anything. Everything I own has to make sense together.

Monday

I wear a lot of colour but this year I’ve rediscovered black. For a long time, I didn’t feel confident in head-to-toe black– it felt flat on me. What changed was learning to layer and play with texture, and suddenly it felt interesting again. I’m layering a Glassons sweater with my old Suku wrap skirt and black trousers, with white socks and black Acne loafers to break up the darkness. The Prada tote was a gift from my partner after a really good year with the business. It’s my work bag, but also a daily reminder of that year.

Tuesday

An oversized knit, mini skirt and knee-high boots are my go-to winter combination. Baggy on top, something short on the bottom – either a skirt or shorts – and finish with tall boots to balance it out. This is a new season Suku pullover that I share with my partner, which means it’s perfectly oversized on me. We share a lot of knitwear and jackets because I love wearing oversized pieces. It’s a win-win.

Wednesday

A really good pair of sweatpants can do a lot of work for you. You can dress them up or down, but they need to be the right cut. This top and pants are both current-season Suku, paired with my old Acne coat and my Labucq loafers that I hadn’t touched in years. I’m so glad I never sold these; they’ve been the only shoes I’ve reached for all winter. Which brings me to my note to self: always hold onto a great pair of shoes and a great bag. Trends come and go but the good ones wait for their moment.

Thursday

We had staff training today, so I wanted to wear this archive Suku Polka Knit Skirt from two years ago. I love bringing out older pieces to show how versatile they can be with the right styling. Here it’s paired with an Acne sweater I scored on Depop and the Labucq loafers again. I keep coming back to snakeskin because it adds texture to a look without competing with the colours.

Friday

Fridays are for my son – coffee shops, playgrounds, and wherever the morning takes us. Sometimes a store visit sneaks in too, which means the outfit needs to work for all of it. Today I’m wearing the Acne sweater again with lighter-wash jeans, layered with this Suku ruffle skirt from last summer. This is exactly what I mean about adding a pop of colour to an otherwise neutral base – the mint does all the talking. I was tossing up between the Labucq loafers or a sneaker, but I’m dragging my son to a quick work catch-up, so I went with the loafer to dress it up a little.

Keep up with Christine here.