Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, there have been a lot of changes to our day to day lives. A major one for most people has been adjusting to working from home. Studies have shown that as the number of employees working in one room increases, so does the amount of sick leave that each employee needs, and that means an easy way to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 is to stay out of the office and create new workspaces at home. As the seasons start to turn chillier and the pandemic stretches on, here are some ideas to update your look for your next Zoom call.
Tops
In most video calls, only the top half of your body is actually showing. That means that if you have a dress code for your office, your top half is what really matters. To stay comfortable but still look cute, try out these tips:
- Cozy Sweaters. Wearing a cozy sweater is a great way to look like you put effort into your appearance without sacrificing comfort. The best part about sweaters is that there are so many different materials, fits, and styles that you can really wear whatever is the most comfortable for you. Having a cardigan near your desk in a neutral color that you can throw on whenever you get chilly is also a great choice for keeping away from wearing a hoodie to meetings.
- Button-Up Pajama Tops. When someone sees a button-up pajama shirt through a webcam, the material of your shirt won’t be as noticeable as it would be in person. It will be more put together than a cozy sleep shirt, but it will still be comfortable enough that you can feel relaxed as you work from home.
- A Fun Dress or Jumpsuit. If you have a dress that is respectable on top but a bit too short or casual on the bottom or from the back, working from home is a great excuse to wear it while you work. For example, if you had a dress with an open back that wouldn’t be work appropriate, but the front is high-necked or otherwise appropriate for work, you can easily wear it for video calls. If you still feel uncomfortable working in it, try throwing on a cardigan as well.
Bottoms
On video calls, the odds are no one will be able to see what bottoms you are wearing. However, if you know that you feel more productive when you are dressed in clothes that aren’t just workout leggings, here are a few tips you can keep in mind:
- Oversized Jeans. If you really want to feel productive but still be comfortable, wearing jeans that you purchase a size or two too big is a great way to do that. Plus, anyone you tell on a zoom call that you’re wearing jeans to work from home will instantly be impressed. The fact that your jeans are actually comfortable doesn’t need to be mentioned.
- Anything Elastic. Sweatpants are not the only pants with elastic waists. There is a huge variety of pants out there that have elastic waists and look much more put together than sweatpants. Pants that have a fun pattern or details like pleats can help you feel more put together.
- A Matching Set. Sets are extremely in style right now, and they can really make you feel put together while you’re working. Even if it’s just a matching pattern on a pair of shorts and a sweatshirt, you can feel like you’re putting on something that is intentional and not just a sweatshirt you got on vacation and shorts that you’ve had since high school.
Accessories
The real key to feeling like you’re wearing a put-together outfit is to add accessories to whatever you’re wearing. Even if you’re wearing what you slept in, adding the right accessories can make it feel like you got ready for the day. Here are some easy ways to accessorize:
- Scrunchies and Headbands. Hair accessories from the 90s and early 2000s are making a resurgence, and wearing a scrunchie that matches your outfit will immediately make you look more put together. Even if your scrunchie or headband is keeping your hair in a messy bun, matching it to your outfit will make it seem like you put thought into your outfit, which immediately brings your look to the next level.
- Statement Earrings. Even if you are wearing a plain t-shirt or sweatshirt, a pair of statement earrings can really elevate your look.
- Play Around With Pins. Pins aren’t the most usual accessory, but working from home is a great time to play around with different accessories. Whether you go for a broach or choose to add a lapel pin, which is a small pin used to show your membership in a certain group or organization, you can bring an unexpected and new element to any outfit.
Makeup and Personal Care
Whether or not you normally wear makeup or have a personal care routine, working from home gives you a chance to try out some new things. Try out these tips to keep things fresh during quarantine:
- Establish a Skincare Routine. If you’ve been trying to get a skincare routine together, quarantine is a great time to experiment with it. Try to slowly incorporate new things into your routine, whether it’s a serum with hyaluronic acid or a new type of toner. Since you aren’t going out in public as much as you usually would, you’ll be able to handle breakouts with more grace than if you had to go into the office.
- Try Out Invisalign. If you’ve been putting off straightening your teeth, right now is a great time to get clear aligners. They are not extremely noticeable in person, so over a video call the odds of anyone noticing them go down to almost zero. 25% of the 4 million in America people who wear braces are over 18, and if you want to become part of that group, this is a perfect time.
- Try Out Bold Makeup. If you’ve been dying to try out a new makeup trend, like colored eyeliner, trying it out while working from home is a great option. If you end up hating the look, there’s no pressure to rush and put on more makeup before you have to leave for work since your commute is just a walk through your home. Many people are using the time away from their offices as a chance to take a break from makeup as well, so if you end up taking your makeup off it won’t be as noticeable as it might be in person.
Did you try out any of these tips? Do you have any of your own tips for fashion in the time of COVID-19? Let us know below!
