Wardrobe for WFH

[Gufo]

I could have done with starting this thread almost two years ago, but better late than never! I'm looking for WFH outfits that look smart enough on Teams calls (often all day every day, yawn), but that are comfy to wear and easy to wash.

I've been doing newsreader chic, but it feels wrong, so I'd rather smart casual outfits that look work-ready for talking at a screen all day but don't look out of place for school run.

The problem I find during winter is that I get very cold just sat at my desk all day. So I almost always wear jeans. Top half is usually a sweater, sometimes over a blouse or shirt so you can see the collar/neck line. If it’s a simple crewneck I’ll often wear a nice necklace.

I’ve mainly bought nice sweaters since wfh. I like an interesting neckline and neutral or bold colours, I try to avoid black as it washes me out on screen and I find lots of other dark colours just look black anyway.

When it’s warmer I tend to wear a shirt or blouse with jeans or shorts when it’s really hot. Top half is pretty much what I would have worn to the office when it’s warm enough.

I’ve work a smart jacket twice, both times for client pitches.

Also I find you can only really see peoples shoulders so most of the outfit is irrelevant.

Oh, I also find you need to be careful with some prints. Some are ok, others look far too busy on a screen. I have one that looks like sequins which it makes definitely isn’t!

I rotate pain, loose shift dresses with thermal tights and thermal vest underneath. Cardigan and wrist warmers for colder days.

*plain

Blimey. Below the waist I'm in a 3 season sleeping bag. Thick hoody on top. For presenting at important meetings the team joke is we chuck a pashmina or scarf on top of whatever.

My uniform is coloured blazer and white or black vest underneath, interesting necklace. Bottom hlad if just jeans for the school run and trainers or flat boots. Then I jazz up with a chunky necklace, earrings tend to disappear on teams calls. The thing I find most infuriating is my hair, if in am updo makes me look like I have no hair so keep having to style it down.

Oh malaria, hair is a whole other problem! Googling interesting necklaces and necklines as I know what you mean about earrings getting lost and covidclaire''s point about busy prints.

Dresses could be a good shout too luba.

namechange that's a look I go for, but I feel scruffy compared with colleagues and think looking pulled together may help my brain follow .

Avoid thin stripes! They ripple on the screen and people end up feeling queasy.

I agree that I’m slowly expanding my collection of warm but nice jumpers. I wear a fleece when it’s cold…but I’m not client facing so just get gentle sympathy from the team.

Shirts, chunky cardigans/jumpers and chunky necklaces. Bottoms are you usually not very glamorous but it’s all about keeping warm. I also find I need to be careful with make up because certain products just don’t look right on screen.
That’s on days when I have calls scheduled. I try to keep one day clear in my diary and that tends to be an oodie day

Tbf a thick fleece is not out of step with colleagues, if it was I'd have to re-think, surprised so many people put so much effort in. The office was freezing anyway, so at this time of year blankets and hot water bottles not unheard of in the workplace.

I think men have it a lot easier when it comes to WFH outfits. I agree that nice jumpers are the way to go although at confess that mine are often worn with yoga pants.

Jeans, slippers and a blanket on my bottom half. In the winter it tends to be smart ish jumpers, or a blouse and cardigan. Anything goes with my company really. A lot of people wear hoodies but I do think they look very unprofessional and it's a last resort with me. When I'm talking to customers I tend to wear a blouse and remove the cardigan until the call is over

Quilted gilets with collars not hoods, so a bit smarter.
Longline jumpers over leather leggings - so easy.
Shackets - over a 'uniform' of black roll neck and black magic trousers or jeans and long sleeved scoop neck t-shirts.
Longline cardigans over thicker strap camisoles.

I wear dresses most days with wool tights (and UGGs as slippers), with a thermal vest under if it’s chilly.

A keratin blow dry every few months means I don’t have to do much to my hair for it to look groomed. I’ve started wearing non-prescription blue light filter glasses which has not only helped with reducing headaches but also look very good on Teams (I know this is extremely vain and not something I’d admit in real life!)

I have given myself a little shake over Christmas as realised I’m looking quite grungy lately! Walk the dog and sit in scruffy joggers and fleece all day. New year resolution is to be tidier. Have bought new M&S extra large black opaque tights ( they don’t fall down so super comfy) and fished out my jersey dresses, nice warm jumpers and comfy skirts. So I will now be smart casual which I think might gee me up to feel better about myself.

Fleece and trackie bottoms.

For meetings, bright jumper or bright hoodie or a plain top with a scarf

I sit in my pe kit - with a zip up hoodie on - all day every day hoping to grab 30 minutes for a run. I'm only on internal calls but definitely the scruffiest.

@BangingOn I was just going to suggest glasses

@BangingOn would love to know where you got the glasses from?

I'm all about a poncho, with a broach if necessary. Hides the teeshirts and fleece jumpers underneath. Hair is a challenge I admit (completely pulled back seems too much so usually just clipping a bit of it back to be less severe). Yes to wrist warmers - thinking about getting a granny heated pad for the back of my chair but worried that the cat will move in and I'll never get my chair back from him

@TwinkleToesStrikesAgain

I'm all about a poncho, with a broach if necessary. Hides the teeshirts and fleece jumpers underneath. Hair is a challenge I admit (completely pulled back seems too much so usually just clipping a bit of it back to be less severe). Yes to wrist warmers - thinking about getting a granny heated pad for the back of my chair but worried that the cat will move in and I'll never get my chair back from him

Where did you buy your poncho from? And does it interfere with typing?

I just have a few simple jumpers - like these:

colorfulstandard.co.uk/collections/colorful-standard/women-merino-crewneck+female

They look perfectly smart on video calls, but are warm and comfortable. They’re very simple - sometimes patterns and stuff can look too much on video. Then whatever on the bottom - maybe jeans or I’ve got some nice quality warm joggers. I always do my hair and make up but it’s pretty low key, just smart and groomed.

@2DogsOnMySofa they really are the best, my eyes look bigger and much more awake!

@TriciaMcMillan they are just a cheap pair from Amazon, I paid around £7 I think and there are lots at that price point with good reviews. I’m sure someone will be along to tell me that the cheap ones do nothing but I definitely notice the difference when I don’t wear them.

@BangingOn to be honest, it was the looking good on Teams aspect I was particularly interested in, any other benefits would just be extra!

@Ozanj

I have a vintage one from a supermarket, one from TKMaxx, one from a facebook seller and a couple from eBay. They aren't knee length so no issues with typing, or getting trapped under my office chair (which is what happens with long cardigans)