Dress For Success When Working From Home
Working from home certainly has its perks. Whether it’s sleeping in until nine to catch your morning conference call or being able to skip the early morning rush hour commute, plenty of people enjoy the freedom of working from a home office.
Unfortunately, in order to stay productive, it’s not all binge watching Netflix and eating pizza in your PJs. You need to know how to dress while working from home in order to get some work done - and keep your boss satisfied (yes, even if your boss is yourself).
Here are some tips for summer work outfits that will keep you cozy, comfortable, and most importantly (somewhat) professional.
Keep it Cozy and Casual
Summer Business Casual Styles For Working From Home
When you’re working from home, it can be tempting to just roll out of bed and walk across the hall to your home office. Truth be told, it can be tough to find the motivation to get dressed, and your pajamas might quickly become your everyday uniform.
However, while you want to be comfortable and casual, it’s important that you aren’t too comfortable. After all, you need a way to differentiate work time from relaxing time. To be honest, most employers probably don’t care what you are wearing while you are working from home. They just want you to get the work done!
If you just can’t break the PJ pants habit, consider investing in linen pants instead. Flowy linen pants with wide legs feel just like pajamas, but are a little bit more polished. Plus, they have an elastic waistband so it will be easy for you to breathe.
You can even invest in some stylish sweatpants! The goal here is to find pants that you wouldn’t be ashamed to be seen in public in.
Don’t beat yourself up if you really don’t feel up to changing out of your sweatpants every day. It’s understandable not to be 100% up for dressing to the nines for work in the cyber world. Cut yourself some slack. However, remember that getting dressed for work helps us prepare for the day ahead and to stay in line with a routine.
Dressing down can give you a bit of extra time, too, to complete other tasks. When you consider that the average woman spends at least an hour to get completely ready for the day, including getting dressed, putting on makeup, and doing her hair, that’s a lot of time that could best be spent on work instead.
Don’t be afraid to keep things comfortable - but take things up a notch if you find yourself having a tough time differentiating between your “work” sweats and your “bed” sweats!
Video Conferencing
Organic Clothing Styles Working From Home
Video conferencing requires a bit more of a polished look than if you’re just going to be sitting by yourself at your computer all day. You may want to have a few nice-looking blouses on hand for that occasion.
One of the benefits of video conferencing is that the person or people on the other end of the call probably are only going to see your top half. They aren’t going to see the bottom - so you can feel free to wear pajamas or more comfortable, less coordinated pants down below. Just don’t get up unless you absolutely have to or you’ll let everyone else in on your little secret!
The key to video conferencing is to think about what will be visible. Your face will always be visible, so if you can’t stand to be seen without makeup or styled hair, you’ll want to prioritize those things on video conferencing days.
However, keep in mind that there are easy ways to conceal the fact that you aren’t wearing any makeup - or haven’t style your hair. For example, you can put a big pair of statement glasses on or toss your hair in a stylish bun.
Even something as simple as a nice blouse or a crisp necklace goes a long way in framing your face. Try to angle the camera so that it produces the most flattering angle possible (and so that it doesn’t get your messy background, like the huge pile of clothes on the bedroom floor) in view.
There’s one exception to the “do what’s right for you” rule when you’re video conferencing. That is an exception for people who are working from home in a supervisory position. If you are in charge of employees, it’s generally recommended that you look a bit more polished while working from home. That doesn’t mean you need to don the stilettos and suit jacket for a conference call.
Sustainable Fashion Summer Business Casual Working From Home
Instead, just make sure you are wearing a presentable top and bottoms that won’t completely humiliate you if, for example, the UPS man shows up with a delivery in the middle of your call (and you need to stand up!).
One other situation that may prompt you to be a little more polished? Consider how you want to look if someone shows up to your house unexpectedly. While that’s not a reality right now, if you’re working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, it could be a concern if you continue to work from home later on.
Think of it this way - if the delivery service or refrigerator repairman shows up halfway through your workday, do you really want to be wearing pizza-stained sweatpants, no bra, and a ripped Lynyrd Skynyrd tee shirt from your college days? Probably not. By being at least somewhat polished (we’re talking decent athleisure or clean sweatpants here) you won’t be quite as humiliated should you get some unexpected company!
Solo Days
Embroidered Shirt Working From Home Style
On days you don’t have to interact with anyone, feel free to let your mood dictate your attire. You don’t have to worry about dress codes when you’re working from home, so now is a great time to experiment with your appearance (just maybe save the mullet for another time...or decade…).
You have more time to try out creative combinations in your closet. Play around! We all like to feel comfortable, so see what you can create with options that combine functionality and fashion.
Don’t forget about the power of color to boost your mood on these solo days, when it’s easy to feel lonely and isolated, too. Even if you don’t want to dress up as much as you normally would, remember that your mood is affected by the colors that surround you. If you need to slow down, try cool tones, but if you want to get moving, pick bright tones like red or yellow.
As with all other aspects of working from home, style is going to be all about balance. Try to change into work clothes - even if your “work clothes” are just different leggings than the ones you wore to bed - at the same time you normally would if you were going into the office.
It’s all about personality and preferences. Some people won’t notice a huge difference in productivity if they are “dressed” for the office versus if they are in workout clothes.
Change out of them when you “get home from the office” (or log off for the day). When you change clothes, this will signal that you are engaging in or disengaging from work. It can help you feel as though you aren’t always working, even if you are constantly connected.
Try A Long Top With Leggings
Working From Home Styles
Is there anything more comfortable than a cozy pair of leggings? We think not!
The problem with leggings, though, is that they can make you look (and feel!) a bit frumpy or messy. However, if you wear leggings with something besides your normal workout tee, you can easily take your leggings from “couch potato” to “professional.”
Consider investing in a few trendy pullovers that are soft and comfortable to wear. Don’t feel like you have to rely on standard black leggings, either. White or colored leggings provide a unique alternative to the classic standby but help give a necessary refresh to your wardrobe.
You should try to add bold colors and mix them with trendy neutrals, too. Even though leggings aren’t the most exciting attire, you can easily dress up a neutral pair of your favorite duds with a colorful tunic.
Get Comfy in Cotton Dress
Sure, pants and leggings are great in the winter, but if you’re looking for cool summer work outfits, that’s another story - especially if your “home office” (aka your kitchen) doesn’t have air conditioning.
Invest in a few comfortable cotton dresses. These look professional, but they aren’t restrictive. They’re relaxed yet polished and can be paired with flats if you decide to venture out for a more professional event later, or sneakers if you just want to take a walk around the block.
A major benefit of a simple cotton dress is that often, it doesn’t need to be ironed. Clothing that doesn’t require ironing or dry cleaning is essential if you are working from home.
Wear Fun Jeans and a Cute T-Shirt
Work From Home Style - Dark Wash Distressed Jeans
Invest in a few pairs of fun, comfortable jeans - and remember that jeans don’t have to be your standard denim color, either! Consider adding a few pairs of colored or white jeans to your wardrobe and pair them with flowy tunics or cute tee shirts. You’ll feel cool and comfortable, without looking sloppy or feeling confined by tight pants.
The goal of finding comfortable work at home attire is to keep things as loose and airy as possible. After all, you don’t want anything that’s too hot or tight. You probably don't need a pantyhose when you’re working from a home office!
Instead, choose topics that are relaxed and made out of lightweight materials, like cotton. Graphic tees are particularly fun, since they speak volumes about your personality.
Don’t forget the kicks, either. Instead of throwing on your old workout shoes to take the dog for a walk, try a newer, sleeker pair of sneakers to keep your outfit looking fresh and clean. You might also want to choose some statement slides.
These can be worn as house slippers or just as normal shoes. Consider investing in a few pairs that are not only easy to slip on, but festive - they’ll take your regular outfit up a few notches!
Don’t worry - you probably don’t need the stilettos if you’re working remotely!
Don’t Forget to Accessorize
Accessorize Your Work From Home Style With Fashion Jewelry
Just because you’re working from home, that doesn’t mean you have to forego the bling! Add a bit of excitement to your outfit by wearing a few pieces of statement jewelry.
One good option to consider is a dainty necklace. It’s so small that you will hardly notice you’re wearing it - you could even sleep in it and have it ready to go the next day, no coordination required.
Layering necklaces is a great way to add personality and elegance to your outfit, even if it’s a simple outfit that doesn’t say much on its own. If you’re on a video call, a bit of bling can make you look polished and professional (even if you’re wearing workout pants on the bottom).
Think beyond the standard accessories, too. Remember - now is a great time to play around! Consider tying a ribbon into your bland topknot or brighten up your makeup look with a hot red lip. Something as small as that can really change everything!
Stay Comfortable and Cozy When Working From Home
When in doubt, the most important thing to keep in mind when you are working from home is that you need to stay comfortable.
If you find yourself dreading getting dressed each morning, there could be something wrong with your work from home office attire. Maybe you need to upgrade to a summer business casual wardrobe that includes more comfy staples, like leggings and flowy tops. Perhaps you’re on the other end of the spectrum, and you’ve been taking things a little too casually lately.
Whatever your personal situation is, these tips on how to dress while working from home will help keep you productive and successful, no matter what your job might be.
Rebekah Pierce is a professional social blogger and has worked on several online publications including Citrus Sleep. Rebekah is an experienced content writer and copyeditor. You will find many of her works throughout CitrusSleep.com that cover a wide array of subjects including sleep education, natural, sleep products, electronics, fashion and many more. She is passionate about her work and family.
Follow Lisa at Rebekah Pierce
