AIBU to think what you wear affects performance at work

[myhandsareverycold]

Just that really.

I work from home and in the community. I find there is a direct correlation between being dressed smartly, make up on, hair done brushed and being in 'at home clothes' to my performance and productivity.

I feel I work better, think better and perform better when I am dressed well.

I always remember my son telling me that his headmaster would remind the pupils to dress extra smartly when it they had an exam. (Remember cufflinks, polish shoes, top button done, tie neat etc) and he has taken this forward in life and always makes an extra effort for important days.

I know it's physiological but does anyone else feel like this or am I just an odd bod!

Would be interested to hear everyone's views.

I've not changed out of my slobbing clothes or had a shower yet, and I've done the majority of my to do list for today for both work and home. I don't think there's a hard and fast rule.

I'm the opposite. The more comfortable I am, the better I perform.

Not for me. I generally find that I mentally separated ‘work’ and ‘home’ clothes. I could not wait to get in and take off my work clothes as I found them uncomfortable, too formal and not ‘me’. When I did work from home on the odd occasion in my old jobs, I’d wear trackies/leggings/vest tops/t-shirts - all of which would be unacceptable in the office. Made no difference whatsoever to how much I did. In fact, I think I worked better and did more as I was sat on a comfortable chair, heating at my preferred temperature and music/TV on. I can’t work in complete silence and most offices I’ve had experience of seem to expect this and frown on you listening through headphones even. I now wear a uniform so no choice either way!

I always dress for work when working from home as it gets me in 'the zone'

plus I do a lot of video conferencing at home so have to look somewhat presentable

I also work from home. I've chopped wood, retrieved the bin, cleaned the fireplace, taken down a curtain for cleaning. Later I'll be meeting someone as part of a volunteer role.

I am not wearing fugly heels, tight formal clothing or have my face painted beige with red and black circles for any of this. I will be clean and tidy and that's all that is required to be 'presentable'.

Nope no correlation at all.

I work from home in tracksuits, but I have to wash my face and brush my hair before I can start work of a morning.

I find the opposite. Wearing an enforced and uncomfortable costume is distracting and demoralising. Being comfortable and feeling like myself is motivating.

I am the total opposite the more comfortable I am the more productive I am. I couldn't concentrate when in tight restrictive tailored clothing when I used to work in an office.

I agree with you op

Opposite for me. I teach in a college and generally dress smart casual so I can get away with elasticated black trousers, trainers or Birkenstock’s in the summer and a T-shirt or jumper. Unless OFSTED or the invigilators are in or there’s a meeting then I have to dress ultra smartly which I hate.

One of my colleagues has worked there for 30 years and he wears horrible clothes , he looks homeless sometimes tbh but he’s incredibly intelligent and a fantastic tutor.

I don’t wear make up ever and my hair is tidy wherever I am
I work from home quite a bit but often between appointments so wear work type clothing but it’s comfortable anyway - usually sweater dress at this time of year
Only difference is at home I’ll be in slippers with cat for company

It depends what you mean by "work" though?!

I used to share an office building with a huge computer game design company. Think worldwide awards, millions in sales.

The owners in their 40s looked like they were straight out of the Carhartt/Superdry catalogue. Slouch beanies, surf shorts, hoodies etc.

Similarly, another friend of mine is in Palo Alto. Classic start up story, now employs 100+ people. He wears a religious uniform of distressed denim and a soft grey t-shirt.

So to those people, "work clothes" don't exist - they just bring themselves to work, and get on with it.

TLDR: not everyone works a 9-5 and needs to wear "smart" clothing to succeed.

I work best when I'm not worrying about what I look like. I'm happy in jeans and a polo shirt, with a pair of converse or something, I'm yet to find a well fitting blouse and at size 8 and unable to wear heels I'm also not that comfortable in most shoes, so I spend more time worrying if I look OK.

Thankfully I work in a very jeans or combat trousers and a hi viz jacket based industry but having to turn out like an air hostess day in day out would push me towards not taking a certain job I have to admit.

I agree with you as well, OP. May not be true for everyone, but it is for me.

I feel much more confident if I'm nicely dressed and have make up on. Especially feel smarter in a skirt or dress and boots somehow

Dress code smart/casual.

I love slobbing out at home

I agree that there is a correlation for me. I am much more productive on days when I am 'suited and booted' as opposed to the odd day when I come into work in less formal attire. I think it does relate to the individual, but certainly for me it makes a difference.

I agree with you. I'm a sahm but working on a lot of little projects. So I plan my outfits for the week, spend 10 mins on hair and makeup a day and I feel much more confident and ready for the day.
I can walk out the door, have meetings and 'feel' ready.

When I was younger I worked in places that required me to wear a suit. I'd change into non-work clothes as soon as I got home. Now I've worked in charity for the last 20 odd years and it's more casual. Jeans/trainers or smarter (erm..chinos) if meeting external people. When I work at home I always get dressed as if I was going to work - so even though that means jeans rather than joggers - the psychology of getting up and dressed puts me in a work frame of mind.

Different for different people.

Some like to demarcate work persona vs home persona with a complete change of look.

Others like to just be comfortable all the time. I've found that these people are much less likely to have work/home personas, for better or worse they're the same person all the time.

In my office experience there's more women than men in the first class, vice versa in the second. And often people start dressing up when they go into management, which seems to be a peer pressure thing.

Like PP says it will depend from person to person. For some people it's helpful to have a distinction from home mode and work mode especially if they work from home so being smart and well presented can be one way of achieving that.

Cuff links at school? Blimey that's where my brothers went wrong

I find that my most profitable and best quality work is often done in my pyjamas. Horses for courses.

I used to wear white knickers for an exam so I could pretend to be a really good girl and thus get good grades 😁