9-5: How Bessette Cofounders Curate a Timeless Wardrobe of Current and Past-Season Favorites

Ahead, the cofounders share their go-to looks for a packed work week, sourcing the best designer sale finds—and filled with pieces available to shop in their latest drop for Bessette.

Summer Suiting

To master transitional spring dressing in mercurial London, outerwear is essential. Vanessa describes her Proenza jacket here as the perfect spring layer—a light cotton jacket with a silver buckle, which she paired with a black wrap skirt from Toteme instead of trousers for a more feminine feel. “When you don’t really want to think too much about an outfit, a nice jacket or blazer is a great way to feel put together.” She styled it with heeled thong sandals, also from Toteme, for a dressed-up lunch look. Alli, meanwhile, finds relaxed sophistication in her uniform of flowing trousers and a kitten heel. “When I don’t really know what to wear, throwing on a pair of tailored trousers, whether they’re white or black, is just so easy.” She paired it up here with a green Róhe vest, which she likens to an elevated version of a tank top. All of these are tried-and-true wardrobe essentials that speak to their love of versatile pieces “that can be styled a million different ways.”

Proenza Schouler White Label

Toteme

The Belted Croco flip-flop heel

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Róhe

pleated recycled-twill wide-leg pants

Massimo Dutti

cropped nappa leather jacket

Easy, Breezy

Come summertime, Alli and Vanessa naturally gravitate to relaxed A-line dresses for practical polish. A little sweater wrapped around the waist is key for Alli, who might encounter a breeze on her morning bike ride to work. For Vanessa, a flowy midi in a neutral shade streamlines her getting-ready routine. “You don’t even really have to think about any colors matching,” she says of her steady rotation of creams, blacks, and beiges (and the occasional navy) that she “feels best in.” Both are fond of styling their dresses with a kitten heel or a pair of flat sandals, adding elements of interest with a statement cuff or a pendant necklace.

Shop more midi dresses:

Cos

gathered open-back midi dress

La Ligne

stretch-knit and gathered linen-blend midi dress

No Such Thing as Too Many Trench Coats

If you catch Alli biking around town, chances are she’s in heels and a trench coat. At 5’3, she says she tends to wear a little heel almost every day. “I’m famous for biking in my four-inch Tabis,” she quips. A long trench coat clearly doesn’t intimidate her. With four and counting, including a treasured one passed down from her grandmother who lived in London in her 20s, she loves how easy it is to layer. “It can go in anyone’s wardrobe,” she says, listing out the styles she has: two beige, a silky white option, and a green design. “I love this Anine Bing one in particular because it’s quite minimalistic, a Mac style.” Styled here with a small shoulder bag, also from Anine Bing, she’d likely opt for a roomy tote to fit her laptop on her way to work.

Shop more trench coats:

Burberry

mid-length Camden Heritage car coat

Madewell

single-breasted trench coat

Business in the Front, Party in the Back

The star of this look is Róhe’s cream blazer top, which can be worn in two ways. Vanessa says it’s a piece that “really does play into my personal style, which is wardrobe classics with a twist.” Crafted out of a lightweight linen, it’s a great choice for right now, she adds, since it’s not too warm. She styled it with black capri pants from Cos—a trend revival she took some time to warm up to. “I wasn’t against it, but I didn’t think it was really for me,” she says. “It’s actually such a cool look, though, and super comfortable, like wearing leggings, which is nice because I’m all about comfort.” When not dressing it up with her kitten heels of choice, she sees herself wearing it with a flat leather flip-flop and an oversized shirt for a more laid-back take.

Toteme

The Velvet flip-flop heels

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