SWAP and wardrobe gaps

The SWAP (Sewing With A Plan) concept has been around for a few years now. I believe Julie of Timmel Fabrics started the commotion back in the day of Sewing World Commons by posting about an article in the Australian Stitches magazine about a wardrobing concept centered on 11 pieces in coordinating solids and a print that gave the wearer a whopping 48 outfits. The discussion there evolved into a contest and you can read all about it here.

On those occasions that I joined, or contemplated joining, the SWAP contest, I always came up with a dream wardrobe of lovely pieces for someone else's life. I dreamt of lovely silk blouses, wool crepe suits and dresses, worn with high heels... Enter life: I am a PCU nurse - that means scrubs at work. For home, I need casual but pretty clothes. Not my typical beloved suits and office-worthy outfits - where am I going to wear them? At the same time, said casual wardrobe should also satisfy the occasional need for more business-like attire.

Soooo..... I've been thinking.... how about black cotton bottoms:
1) long pants,
2) cropped pants,
3) city shorts, and
4) a knee-length skirt?
Heavier weight cotton should wear as well as any denim and look nicer. Then for the tops, I could make
5) a white tailored shirt (here I go with the office stuff again),
6) a short black cotton jacket (yes, to make a suit look so sue me),
7) a light gray duppioni tunic (getting a bit more casual here),
8) a light blue duppioni tunic,
9) a light blue/gray/black/white striped cotton knit T-shirt, and
10) a lavender/gray/black/white striped cotton knit T-shirt.
The SWAP jacket could be a short trenchcoat in black water-repellent fabric.

Still thinking but I do believe these 11 pieces bridge the gap between casual and business quite well. I'll make a storyboard when we get home (we're visiting my parents now).