During this difficult season of quarantines, isolation, and staying indoors, more people are working from home than ever before. It is a trying time but it is also a unifying time as we continue to share this global experience of navigating the Coronavirus pandemic.
With that being said, you may have come across this article in a search for inspiration as you face your closet and at-home workspace for another day of working from home. Perhaps you are struggling to stay productive or maybe you have noticed that you have a hard time switching into a work mindset while still wearing your pajamas. If this is you, keep reading!
What To Wear When You Work From Home?
It has been proven time and time again that what we wear has a great effect on our mood, our productivity, and our overall sense of self. It is hard to believe the connection but there is some serious psychology behind it. What we wear matters and what we wear as we try and stay productive and positive matters even more. This is why you might notice that you have a more effective workout when you are dressed in cute gym clothes. Or you feel brighter and more cheerful wearing yellow. Taking full advantage of this concept is so helpful and necessary in these times especially!
With this being said, here are our top 7 tips for what to wear working from home, staying in a routine, and making sure your wardrobe helps you be productive, as well as 16 outfit ideas to inspire you. Check them out.
- Stick to your regular getting-ready routine. Put on your makeup and style your hair. Pick out your clothes the night before if this is something you are accustomed to doing. Not only will this help you stick to your regular routine (which is best for productivity as well as mental health) but it will prevent you from lolling about the whole day in your pajamas… which brings us to our next tip…
- Change out of your pajamas. It is important to make the distinction between your daytime wear and the clothes you sleep in. Not only will this boost productivity, but it will send the message to your brain that it is time to work. Not sleep.
- Be comfortable but keep it stylish. As tempting as the sweats might be, throwing on a cute, stylish outfit will do way more for you in the long run. The key to work from home attire is a put-together but comfortable ensemble. (Hey, there has got to be some perks involved in all the madness!) Think cozy sweaters, cardigans, leggings, dresses, and jumpsuits. Casual but chic.
- Put on shoes. This is another simple trick that sends a clear message to your brain: we have got things to do. While padding around barefoot is an at-home option (aka: perk) we would never deprive of anyone, it still feels a bit too casual for what we are trying to achieve here. Make it a part of your routine by putting shoes on when you are about to start working and removing them when you are on a break or finished for the day. These little cues and signals will go a long way in keeping you focused.
- Style your hair, do your skincare, wear mascara. We have already touched on this but it is important enough to be expanded upon. Spend an extra five minutes braiding your hair back, sticking in some bobby pins, or twisting a curling wand around your locks and every time you get on a Zoom call or you glance in a mirror, you’ll thank yourself for going the extra mile. We all do better when we feel cute so don’t give up taking care of your skin or swiping on some mascara if you are into that.
- Limit your loungewear. While there is definitely space for some cute leisure clothes, not going overboard is key. Loungewear can feel a little too much like wearing pajamas and your brain will be feeling Saturday vibes when you need it feeling Monday vibes. So, limit yourself to only your most stylish loungewear and stay AWAY from the sweatpants!
- Refresh your wardrobe. This is an excellent time to go through your closet and clear out old, worn-out clothing and take stock of your current wardrobe. Make your online shopping productive by replacing out-of-season items and refreshing your style. If you’re looking to shop on a budget, do check out our previous post on Amazing Apparel Sales To Shop In Coronavirus Quarantine.
↓ 17. How To Get Ready For Work Calls At Home
Working from home these days, of course, includes lots of skype or zoom meetings, and we absolutely love The Corporate Label’s take on how to get ready for a home-meeting in minutes:
↓ 16. Comfy Style Work From Home Outfit
As mentioned in our tips, the ultimate work from home outfit must be comfy as well as stylish. We love this sweater and linen pant combo, which just so happens to tick all the boxes. From its soft inviting colors of sandy white and rust to its comfy fabrics, you will feel put-together and on top of things while still being cozy enough to cuddle one of your kiddos, curl up on the couch for a coffee break, or steal a hug from your guy.
↓ 15. Classic Wrap Top & Crop Jeans
If you are really struggling to be productive while staying at home, it might be time to pull out the big guns. A super stylish outfit like this may be all the motivation you need to buckle down and get a good chunk of work done. Brew yourself a coffee and get styling. For this look, a soft gold wrap top will feel effortlessly feminine and a pair of wide-leg white jeans will definitely help break you out of a pajama pant rut. Finish off the look with some cute flats and tuck the slippers away for nighttime lounging.
↓ 14. Sweetly Stylish Cotton Dress & Mules
When in doubt, a sweet cotton dress goes a long way. It may be hard changing out of your pajamas, but if you have a cute cotton and hemp blend dress to change into, we have a feeling you won’t mind so much. A look like this requires very little effort, which makes it even more appealing. Be sure to pop in a pair of dangle earrings and slide on a pair of comfy mules to make sure your brain gets the I Am a Put-Together & Working Woman memo.
↓ 13. Chic Work From Home Outfit
Feeling a little out of sorts? Pop on a pair of heels. Not only will a pair of heels instantly make you feel more on top of things, but it will help you switch into a professional headspace. We love this chic little ensemble that only requires a cotton tee, a cardigan, jeans, and some white mules. Want to score some extra headspace points? Style your hair and do your makeup, just as if you were really headed to work.
↓ 12. Fuzzy Slippers & Floral Dress
Are the Zoom calls getting you down? Pop on a pair of super fuzzy slippers (ssh! no one needs to know!) and pair it up with a loose, flowy dress. You will feel marginally more in control of things, but your feet will be wrapped up in a cocoon of comfy warmth, and hey, we could all some of that in these rough times.
↓ 11. Comfy Loungewear Style
Limiting your work-at-home loungewear ensembles is a must during this quarantine situation, but that does not mean ruling them out completely. A chic loungewear outfit could be just the thing you need on a particularly rough day, especially if you are feeling a little tired or rundown. A matching look of crewneck pullover and drawstring sweatpants gives you all the comfort of pajamas with none of the guilt. Go for light, refreshing colors to brighten your mood. Lastly, skip the slippers and opt for some stylish mules. Want some bonus points? Curl your hair and pop on some mascara. You will feel fresh, chic, and ready to take on the day. For more ideas like these, head on over to our earlier post on Girls Summer Home Wear.
↓ 10. Springtime Floral Jumpsuit & Flats
As we keep our eyes on the positive, it might do us all a bit of good to remember that spring is beginning to edge out winter at long last. Flowers will soon be blossoming and the trees will be getting greener by the day. Remind yourself of this by bringing some floral into your work at home attire. We love this gorgeous jumpsuit paired with nude flats which will have you feeling as fresh and pretty as a summer daisy.
↓ 9. Black-and-White Minimalist Look
If you are a lover of neutrals and shades, this outfit is the one for you. Pair a white, button-down boyfriend style shirt with black leggings and comfy slides for a minimalist look you will feel super chic in. Add a cute headband or bandana to finish off the ensemble. Now, you are ready to hit those emails!
↓ 8. Sporty Work from Home Outfit
Want to kill two productive birds with one stone? Start your day off with a kick-butt mindset by sporting some athleisure. For a lot of us, gym clothes and sporty attire instantly make us think of working out. If you are planning on squeezing a workout in at some point in the day, do yourself the favor of making your workout outfit double as workwear. This will also help you remember to stay active, even in your house. (Pro tip: take a 10-minute break every hour of work to stretch and take a turn around the house to get that blood circulating!) We love this muscle-tank crop top and legging pairing which is cute without being too over-the-top. Add some funky little sneaks and tie your hair up in a top-knot. Now, you are ready to kick butt!
↓ 7. Cute Jumpsuit & Flats
If you are a fan of one-and-done looks, give jumpsuits a try. It’s a no-brainer outfit that will take the load off your mind as you try and come up with new and inspiring outfit looks. We love this chic striped pattern and we especially love these cute little flats. Style your hair in braids or twists to feel especially put-together. Check out the video below for some easy heatless hairstyles that you can do in five minutes or less. Here are some more ideas on How to Wear Jumpsuits Rightly.
5-Minute Work from Home Heatless Hairstyles
↓ 6. Fun Loungewear Matching Outfit
It is easy to make a simple loungewear outfit double as workwear. But we have tips. For one, be sure to not sleep in the loungewear you are planning on working in. You want to keep a distinction between pajamas and daytime clothes. For another, opt for a bright-colored set of matching clothes. The bright colors will keep you feeling peppy. Fit is important, too. Get yourself some shorts and a top that make you feel cute and that flatter your figure. Finally, be sure to style your hair and do your makeup as these extra little steps will keep you feeling on top of things.
↓ 5. Simple Cardigan and Trousers
With all the stress of self-isolation, keeping things simple is one way you can keep yourself going during this time. Strip things down to the basics. A simple white cotton tee aired with some neutral-colored trousers or pants will take you all of five minutes to throw on. Add a deep blue cardigan and finish off the look with some cute sneakers. And voila, your work at home attire is complete.
↓ 4. Striped Shirt and Jeans
The key to work at home attire is simplicity as well as a subtle feel of professionalism. We like this pairing of a striped blouse with straight-leg jeans. These non-distressed jeans have a clean feel to them and are a flattering mid-wash color. This striped top is all about the lines and features a chic v-neck. Accessorize with a simple necklace in gold or silver and finish off the look with a white watch. You can go barefoot with this look or opt for some cute, neutral flats. Here’s our exclusive guide on the Best Ways to Wear Striped Shirts.
↓ 3. Work from Home Chilly Day Outfit
If you wake up to a chilly day this week, opt for a cozy sweater. Not only is a chunky sweater super comfortable, but if you opt for a cute color-blocked one like this, you will look and feel like you went the extra mile. Pair with black jeans or leggings and finish off the look with some gray sneakers. A half-up, half-down hairdo is the final touch to this perfect work from home ensemble.
↓ 2. Boss-Mommy Outfit for Stay-at-Home Moms
If you are a work-from-home mama… you get all the awards during this season! (And every season, to be fair.) This look is for you. A boss-mama needs to be comfortable as well as feel marginally put-together, and we think this look does the job nicely. Pair a simple black tee with some cheetah-print paper-bag capris. It’s a super comfy pairing that is also form-flattering. Add a roomy cardigan over top and finish off the ensemble with some slip-ons. Last but not least, a bandana or cute headband will smooth back annoying flyaways and will add to the overall cuteness factor.
↓ 1. Cozy Hoodie and Sandals
The trick to making a hoodie or pullover sweater work for work-at-home wear is by opting for one in a neutral shade (no distracting logos or motifs) and going for a nice fit. You can size up if you prefer a baggier look or you could go fitted. For pants, go for jeans or leggings or even joggers. Last but not least, slide on some pretty sandals. (Pro tip: treat yourself to an at-home pedicure so your feet look extra cute, no matter what shoes you wear.)
Our hearts go out to all our readers during this difficult time. We hope these outfits and tips inspire you as you continue to make your life at home-work best for you and your family. Stay safe, friends!
