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Work-from-home-outfit ideas: Professional and stylish clothes for working from home

Many people who work from home are unsure about what to wear. While a suit or smart dress can seem too formal, an outfit consisting of a T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms might be too casual. Ideally, you need a professional outfit that allows you to move around comfortably without restricting your movement. To help you with your home office dress code, we have compiled some useful tips on how to put together a smart yet comfortable outfit for working from home.

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Reasons for dressing smartly when working from home

Many people enjoy the freedom and comfort that comes with working from home. Consequently, many people prefer to wear casual clothes rather than business attire. However, when putting together the perfect work-from-home outfit, it is important to strike a balance between comfort and professionalism. Read on for a list of reasons why smart casual clothing is a good choice for working from home.

  • Wearing smart clothes for work can boost your confidence. This can help you to feel confident when interacting with colleagues, your boss, or customers.

  • The impression that your colleagues and customers have of you in the long term is shaped by the outfits you wear in your home office. Wearing office-appropriate clothing while working from home helps you to maintain a professional image.

  • If you used to wear business attire when you worked in an office, wearing it again when working from home can have a positive effect on your mindset. It signals to your body when your working hours begin and end. You will find that you are more motivated and able to concentrate than if you were wearing casual clothes, which you associate with relaxation.

  • Changing into casual clothes after work can also have a positive effect on your work-life balance. As many other rituals, such as the daily commute, are no longer necessary when working from home, changing your clothes can provide more structure to your daily routine and help you unwind more quickly after work.

A strict ‘business professional’ dress code is often unnecessary when working from home and can be relaxed somewhat. Depending on your field of work, you can adopt a smart casual style for your work-from-home outfit. If your office has a ‘Casual Friday’, for example, you can use this dress code to help you dress appropriately while working from home.

Tip: Not quite sure how to style different business dress codes? Then have a look at our guide ‘The perfect business look’ for detailed styling tips.

Tip

Although only your upper body is usually visible on the webcam, it is still not advisable to pair a smart business look with tracksuit bottoms. You may need to stand up during video conferences (for example, if the doorbell rings unexpectedly). To avoid any embarrassing situations, choose smart casual trousers or skirts.

Work-from-home-outfit ideas:

An overview of the dos and don’ts of styling work-from-home outfits

You don't need to dress as formally at home as you do in the office. However, working from home gives you the opportunity to express your personal style by combining casual clothes with more professional items to create a smart-casual look. The key to a stylish work-from-home outfit is to wear comfortable clothes that are still suitable for the workplace. Below, we have listed some dos and don'ts to help you put together the perfect WFH-outfit.

Work-from-home clothes: dos

  • Loose-fitting clothes are comfortable and easy to move around in. Just make sure your clothes are cut well, so they don't look too baggy.

  • Make sure you choose high-quality, soft fabrics. This will help you get into the right mindset for working from home. It is important to feel comfortable in your clothes so that you can concentrate on your work and relax in stressful situations.

  • Natural fibres like cotton, viscose, linen, or wool are breathable and skin friendly. They are therefore not only comfortable to wear, but they are also high-quality, making them an ideal choice for your work-from-home clothes.

  • Choose clothes in light, friendly colours. Pastel colours or earth tones such as camel, khaki or reddish brown suit most people.

  • Dark colours such as navy blue or black always look professional. However, when it comes to styling, it's important to ensure there aren't any strong contrasts between your complexion and your clothing. Otherwise, depending on the lighting conditions and your skin tone, you may appear sickly.

Work-from-home clothes: don’ts

  • Avoid wearing sweatshirts, hoodies and t-shirts with prints. These are casual items of clothing that are usually too informal for work.

  • Ideally, avoid wearing clothes with small patterns, such as checks or narrow stripes, as these can appear to flicker and be distracting during video conferences.

  • Clothes with animal print, florals, batik patterns, and neon colours, can be visually overwhelming and distracting during online meetings.

  • When working from home, it is also advisable not to wear clothes that you wouldn’t wear to the office. This includes low-cut or cropped tops, tight-fitting clothes, and old or ripped clothes.

  • In most cases, there is no need to wear high heels or formal shoes when working from home.

Ideas for stylish work-from-home outfits

The perfect work-from-home outfit strikes the right balance between casual comfort and professional elegance. The key to creating a variety of home office outfits that balance comfort and professionalism lies in the selection of appropriate fabrics and cuts. To get you started, we have put together some ideas for stylish work-from-home outfits:

Work-from-home outfits for women:

Work-from-home outfits for men:

Home office dress code: Hairstyles, make-up and accessories

During video conferences, most people will only see your upper body and face. Therefore, when getting ready, it is important to focus on these areas. Wearing a simple, yet elegant top with some smart jewellery will help you make a good impression. Below, we have compiled some helpful tips on what to consider when it comes to hairstyles, make-up, and accessories.

  • Make sure your hair is tidy and does not cover your face. Elaborate hairstyles aren't necessary when working from home.

  • Slicked-back hairstyles can appear one-dimensional and unremarkable in video conferences, as you can only be seen from one angle.

  • If you have a beard, you should always keep it neatly trimmed.

  • If you usually wear make-up, a subtle, daytime look that makes you look fresh and awake is ideal for working from home. Check the lighting conditions to see what your make-up looks like on the webcam.

  • On chilly days, a scarf can be a great addition to your WFH-outfit. However, it is better to remove scarves and neckerchiefs for important meetings, as they can quickly create the impression that you are unwell.

Tip

If you can make your casual work-from-home outfit look professional in just a few simple steps, you'll always be ready for impromptu meetings. For example, plain T-shirts and long-sleeved shirts can be quickly upgraded with a chic cardigan or blazer to help you always make a good impression.

Home office dress code: Video conferences

If you have an important meeting or job interview coming up, it is a good idea to check what you look like in your outfit, both in the mirror and via webcam. Colours and patterns often look different on screen than they do in person. This also allows you to adjust the webcam frame and edit out any distracting elements in the background. Therefore, pay attention to the following details during digital meetings:

  • Avoid stripy or checkered clothes, as these can create an unpleasant flickering effect on digital screens.

  • Jewellery such as dangly earrings, long necklaces and bracelets should be avoided in online meetings, as they may interfere with the microphone or make noise when they touch the table. This can create distracting background noise.

  • Depending on the lighting conditions in the room, sparkly tops and jewellery with glitter and sequins can cause reflections.

Tip

If you often experience an unstable internet connection, consider using a still image during video conferences. You could use your employee photo from the company website, for example. However, you should check with your employer in advance whether participating without turning on your webcam is permitted. Also, be prepared in case you need to turn your camera on during the conversation.

Conclusion: The right work-from-home outfit combines professionalism and comfort

The well-known piece of advice, ‘dress for success’, also applies to your work-from-home outfits. The way you dress while working from home affects not only how you are perceived by colleagues, managers and clients, but also your approach to work. Wearing professional clothes will make you feel more confident and focused than wearing casual clothes. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to sacrifice comfort while working from home. By choosing the right fabrics and cuts, you can create stylish WFH-outfits that look professional but are also very comfortable.

Discover our wide selection of comfortable and professional business fashion:

Women's business attire

Men's business attire

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Image sources in chronological order in the text:

Cover image: iStock.com/filadendron
1st image in the text: iStock.com/kupicoo
2nd image in the text: iStock.com/martin-dm
3rd image in the text: iStock.com/FreshSplash
4th image in the text: iStock.com/Ridofranz