Helpful Guide To Look Your Best and Professional On Virtual Calls

Right now, so many of us are spending  a lot of time on video calls. Whether you find yourself on Zoom for interviews, meetings for your work call or FaceTime while catching up with friends and family, during our current global situation, video calls are one of the only ways that we can stay connected.

However as we all deal with this new world of virtual meetings, it can make sticking to dress codes quite difficult. Many companies are only hosting virtual meetings and events for the rest of the year, meaning many people now have to work from home in order to work. But what does this mean for your wardrobe?

It is still important to have the right outfit for your next virtual call—even if you aren’t physically seeing other people face-to-face. The good news is, getting dressed and ready for virtual calls is typically much easier than getting ready for real work meetings—in fact, most of the time, people will only see your top half, so you really only have to do half the work. 

If you have a bunch of video calls ahead on your schedule and want to make sure you are wearing the right gear for it, take a look at our top tips for what to wear for your next virtual call.

What Type of Virtual Call 

The first and most important thing to remember when choosing an outfit for your video call—is that different calls are going to require different types of attire. So, before you start looking through your closet, ask yourself “what type of virtual call is this?”

If it is a work meeting then you need to dress professionally. While most jobs won’t expect you to dress in business professional while at home, a comfortable and polished shirt or blouse can really go a long way. If you are attending a more casual meeting like a book club, or charitable organization meeting, you can be a bit more casual.

The most important thing to think about is who is attending and what you can expect the other virtual meeting attendees to have on. A great rule of thumb is, if you are on the fence about what to wear, always air on the side of the more formal option. It is better to be over-dressed for a virtual call than to be the only one wearing pajamas.

What to Wear For Your Next Meeting

Now that you have an idea of the type of meeting you are going to be attending—it is time to pick out the right outfit. Most people who only do virtual calls have been adopting the business on top, comfortable on the bottom trend and wearing sweatpants, shorts or pajama pants while wearing a respectable blouse.

That is a great idea to stay comfortable, but it is one that you need to utilize with great caution. There have been many embarrassing situations on the internet where individuals will move or pan down their camera and reveal just how comfortable they are from the waist down. So, make sure you remember what your bottom half looks like while you are on your call.

As for the top half of your outfit. The right shirt or blouse can make a major statement. Here is a simple guide that can help you pick the right top for your call.

Neckline

The neckline of the top you wear is perhaps the most important consideration while picking an outfit for a virtual call. Your neck and chest are one of the most prominent things that will be on display during your call, so you want to think about the neckline of your top. You should also remember that most people tend to bend forward when they talk on video calls, so you will want to keep that in mind as well as you pick out the right top with the right neckline.  You don’t want to show and cleavage or part of your bra, so make sure that your neckline isn’t too wide cut or low.

However, make sure you don’t lean too far the other way. Turtlenecks, big bow-neck blouses and mock necks can actually hide your neck too much and make you look like a floating head on screen. Basically, the goal is to show some neck, without showing too much neck at the same time.

Blouse With a Sleeve

As you go to pick out the right blouse for your conference calls—make sure that you pay close attention to the sleeve. While it may be warm out, you still want to avoid sleeveless tops. If you show too much arm and shoulder it can actually put all of the focus on your body instead of your face. It sounds like such a small thing, but when all you see is your upper body, showing too much arm can make it seem like you’re showing way too much skin. Air on the side of caution and choose a top with a sleeve.

Not Too Flashy Fabric

The fabric that you wear is also very important. You want to make sure that you choose a fabric that isn’t flashy as it can be very distracting on camera, even if it doesn’t look too flashy or bright in person. What many people don’t realize about web and video cameras is that they can really pick up shine if you aren’t careful. A blouse that is made out of satin or any other type of material with a sheen too it can be really distracting on screen.

Instead of choosing a satin-like material, opt for a crepe, jersey with a matte finish or a knit top instead—they show up much better on screen than their shiny counterparts.

Avoid Too Fitted or Structured Pieces

The fit of your clothes is also quite important. While fitted or structured pieces have their place in certain situations, they may not always work when you are on a video call. Remember when you are on this video call, you will be sitting the entire time, and if your top is too tight, fitted or structured it can bulge in all of the wrong places. If you are wearing a button down top that is too tight or fitted—it can gape at the shoulders and pull at the buttons, which can look sloppy and distracting.

A great option is to wear something that has some stretch to it and is comfortable. Then practice sitting down too see what the top will really look like when you are “in action.”

Happy Colors

What colors are you wearing when you attend your video conference? Think a moment about the hues you are wearing. While many people naturally reach towards black or dark colors, this doesn’t always work well on video. Instead, a good rule of thumb is to choose “happy colors.”

What exactly does this mean? In short it means bright colors and ones that will actually pop on camera. The right color will brighten up your face and make you look more prominent on screen. It can also help you stand out if you are on a meeting with a lot of other participants as it can help you stand out from a crowd of people wearing the same black blouse.

Other Helpful Tips

A great, video-friendly outfit is one of the first and most important steps in making the right impression while on a video call. However, there are other helpful tips to consider in order to make sure that you make a good appearance on your video call.

Backgrounds Matter

Think about where you are sitting when you are attending a video conference, as your background really matters and can make an impact on how you are presenting yourself in your call. Try to pay attention to what is behind you. Make sure you do a quick clean up so there isn’t any clutter or laundry sitting behind you. You should also choose a wall in your home that doesn’t have a lot of photos or things hanging on the wall as they can also be distracting and look like they’re growing out of the back of your hand.

Of course, if you really can’t find a clean and blank corner of your house, some of the video conferencing platforms like Zoom have backgrounds you can use that will give you a nice, neutral and blank space for you to sit in front of. It is better than doing a video conference in front of a pile of dirty dishes.

Lighting

The lighting of your call is another thing to pay attention to. The right lighting can make all of the difference in how you look and in how easily others can see you while on the call. The right lighting can make a lot of difference, living rooms tend to have warmer, softer light that won’t overwhelm you or drown you out. Bathrooms, on the other hand don’t always have the best lighting, and the acoustics in your bathroom likely won’t be great.

If you are looking for the best lighting for your call, make sure that you don’t stand right under an overheat light, it will look like a spotlight on you and can make some harsh and difficult shadows on your face. If you think that natural light from the outdoors is the way to get your light, just be careful with how close you stand to the window. If you shoot right in front of a window with the sun shining in, it can actually make a big glare and end up blinding or overwhelming you.

Makeup Not Necessary

For most women, it is natural to want to layer on the makeup when they are about to jump on a video call. However, you need to take a moment and take a step back when you are putting on your makeup and think about your overall look. Sometimes, makeup can be really distracting on a video call, so before you jump on, it is best to do a trial run on your computer or phone  first to see what you will look like to on camera with your current makeup.

Many times, makeup is not necessary, as long as you are clean and well-groomed. If you are worried about acne or your complexion, then there are actually a number of filters on programs like Zoom or through your phone camera which can help give you a more evened-out face and help your skin look smooth, fresh and put together.

Follow This Helpful Guide To Make An Impression On Your Next Virtual Conference Call

If you are one of the many people out there who is spending a lot more time on online video calls lately, then you want to make sure that you are paying attention to what you are wearing and how you are presenting yourself on these virtual calls, FaceTime, Zoom Meeting. While you may be inclined to stay comfortable while you are at home and attending video conferences, there are still ways that you can make sure that you stay looking professional and presentable, no matter what you are planning on talking about during this call.

Karen A Mulvey is a personal social blogger and mom with 14 years of experience in the every day world of motherhood and sustainable product research. Karen is on a mission to help everyday families select sustainable, non-toxic organic products, stop stressing about uncertainties on sustainable home goods and apparel, and start living the life they’ve always wanted.

Follow Karen at @karenAmulveycs | Karen A Mulvey

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