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Updated: Aug 20, 2020 37 Comments · by

Personal Style While Working from Home

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Here's a discussion I think might be fun: What is your personal style while working from home? Are you adapting your regular workday style to working from home or trying to elevate your “weekend you” style? Have you tried things you normally could not, such as neon hair? Are you centering yourself with certain pieces of jewelry or scents? 

Some background here: I've been watching Schitt's Creek during workouts lately, and pondering the characters' clothes — particularly, Moira, who dresses to the nines most days, with many layers of eye makeup, crazy high heels, layered looks (largely in black or white), and, of course, her wigs. And it got me thinking: She's not really going anywhere or doing anything of import — at least to her. She's truly dressing for herself, amusing herself with her clothes and style.

This reminded me of a tale from the book The Power of Style about a legendary style setter who rose at 6:00 each morning to make sure her white shirts were ironed crisply, even while living in the desert by herself. (I cannot find the exact tale from the book, but I'll report back with a quote when I do.)

It also reminded me of how a lot of personal style bloggers got their start back in the day — working from home and trying to find some reason to get dressed up, they started taking snapshots of their daily outfits. (I'm particularly thinking of blogger Keiko Lynn, but I've heard similar stories from others.) 

I've always been fascinated by the idea of personal style, particularly the distinction between public/private style. (Think of Olivia Pope's crisp blazers and structured suits, contrasted with her at-home wardrobe of sumptuous silk pajamas and cozy cashmere turtlenecks.)

We've talked a lot before about the idea of “the weekend you,” inspired by an Elsa Klensch book in which she declared, “[M]y fantasy in the summer is to look as though I just stepped out of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel wearing Gatsby-style long skirts and gently flowing chiffon scarves.”

To that end, we've looked at different weekend styles, such as how to get the boho look, the best brands to shop for preppy clothes, and even what I call “tough girl chic.” Elsewhere on the web, Adina at Blue Collar Red Lipstick has done some great thinking on style avatars; also see Lisa's discussion of style archetypes over at Amid Privilege.

So let's discuss ladies — if you could dress however you wanted, how would you dress? How has that translated into your personal style while working from home? Do you find yourself more drawn to certain weekend clothes repeatedly? Do you center yourself with certain jewelry pieces or scents while working from home? 

About Kat

Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

  1. Anon

    Not to be a downer, but personal style is the absolute last thing on my mind during this time of great stress. I’m one of the Bay Area posters dealing with the fire situation, the smoke (can’t exercise outside anymore), a record heat wave, and evacuations. I’m also high-risk for complications from coronavirus. Focusing on work this week and last has been so, so hard. The one small silver lining in the sh*tstorm that is my life is that I don’t have to get dressed to go to the office, that I don’t have to care about fashion at all, and that I can dress for comfort and practicality (as much as you can get comfortable in a heat wave). You know how President Obama said that wearing a navy suit every day lessened his decision fatigue? Wearing shorts and a tank top every day is lessening mine. I only wish it helped more.

    • Anonymous

      Yep. I know this is a fashion blog but it’s weird to not see some reference in that paragraph to “trying to remember which day I last showered”.

      • ANON

        This is supposed to be a timeless post so that in two years someone can Google personal style while working from home and find it and it be timely.

        Also, a lot of bloggers don’t address stuff like this because there are so many tragedies in the world and it would take over their blog plus they would get blamed if they forget one.

        • Anon

          I don’t blame Kat for not addressing it and don’t expect that, but lol at the thought that she aims for fashion posts to be “timeless.” This is a blog in a pandemic, not a collector’s edition of Vogue.

    • Anokha

      Commiseration here. I’m also in the Bay Area and between the smoke and the heat wave and shelter in place, I’m really struggling. My answer today to “personal style” was to throw a cardigan over my pajamas. Sorry, not sorry.

      • Anon

        I know, right? I wish my life were so chill that my biggest concern was looking fashionable when no one is around.

        • Anonymous

          Yeah, I stared at myself in the mirror this morning, realized I had put on an old hiking T shirt with my skirt, and dragged myself back to the closet to change my top for a Zoom call. I have a note by my screen that says “Don’t Stand,” for PJ pant days. Do you suppose that is what Kat means by accessories?

        • Ellen

          Yes, but you never know who might come around, and looking like a schlump and smelling funky is not going to get you a decent guy. Stay clean, stay fresh, do light makeup (no mascara is fine) and you will have a chance to improve your lot in life if you land a man who’s a winner. If you are resigned to living your life like a Cat Lady, that is another story, but that is NOT me. I want a husband, family and a home in Chapaqua, and at my age, I will not get it unless I play all of my cards just right.

    • Anon

      Same! I am in the East Bay and I am much more concerned with getting some relief from this hell than with getting put together.

  2. Away Game

    Sometimes, I’m out of my PJs by 4pm. (T shirt and lounge pants really, while in the office I’m in suits or tailored dresses.) I loathe working from home, so I’m trying to change my attitude and do things deliberately that I can’t do in the office. For example, wear perfume or light candles, or cook the leftover broccoli/fish/curry in the microwave. I think it will be better in the fall, when I can light a fire in the fireplace and work in cozy fleece.

    Speaking of: any recs for a long-ish soft cardigan that holds up to the washing machine? Looking for something for home that will effectively replace my blazers over jewel-toned shirts.

    • Anokha

      I bought the Pranayama Wrap from Athleta and it’s become my Zoom staple these days. A coworker thought I was wearing a blazer on a recent call so #winning!

        • Anokha

          Do you know if the Nirvana fits like the Pranayama? There is one on final sale in my Pranayama size (which as noted above, runs large..)

      • anon.

        Bought two of these last year. One was my desk sweater. On the last day at work in March I had the random thought that I should grab it to wear for the next two weeks (ha). So even though I’m in 100 degree weather, I wear them every day inside.

  3. Anonyz

    As far as Olivia Pope inspo, I bought multiple pieces from the Kerry Washington Scandal collection at The Limited (I’m dating myself, but it’s topical). In theory I adored the look, but everything was itchy as hell and turned into a pill-y mess within a couple of wears. It was yet another reminder that my aspirations are just not realistic: when it comes to in-the-house clothes, I need easy-care, wash-and-wear items that stand up to tough use, hard water, pet claws, etc.

    • Anonymous

      I wouldn’t call The Limited aspirational. Olivia Pope’s real cashmere sweaters would actually wear pretty well.

      • Anon

        +1 Olivia Pope was wearing designer clothes, not a celebrity label from The Limited.

  4. Anon

    Personal style where no one but my family can see me = comfort. Thank goodness my new organization is “cameras off” when it comes to zoom meetings. I have put on makeup approximately 4 times since March.

  5. BeenThatGuy

    We had the discussion the other day about linen. I’ll have you all know that I am wearing white linen pants today (WFH) and feeling pretty put together. About an hour ago, I ran out to grab a curbside pickup order. My 12 year old son ran after me and said “Change your pants! You can’t go out in pajamas!” These pants will be headed to the donate pile later.

  6. Anonymous

    I have mostly adopted one-piece outfits since WFH. In the house, it is mostly jumpsuits. When I go out, it is dresses much of the time. This is partly to avoid trying to locate matching clothes and partly because currently none of my tops are flattering and I am failing miserably at online shopping despite real efforts and a willingness to spend.

  7. Are

    I’m on video calls constantly, so I’ve settled into a yoga pants and work top routine. So any recs for nice blouses are appreciated! Not super formal calls, just replacing the normal
    in person chats with a video call

  8. Sloan Sabbith

    I’m in a Uniqlo v-neck t-shirt that I don’t really wear usually because it looks like a men’s pajama t-shirt (the V is too high for me and it’s boxy), joggers, and Allbirds. The t-shirts I like are dirty or at my parents’ house across the state. I elevated it by wearing a necklace but only because I have a ton of Zoom meetings today. My hair was wet for the first two.

    My personal style is “changing out of pajamas into clothes that feel like pajamas but aren’t.” No, I am not “centering myself” with jewelry or a signature scent (?).

    Yesterday I wore cream linen pants, a red/orange tank top and the blue linen/cashmere sweater that was featured here a couple of months ago (which I HIGHLY recommend). I realized late in the day that I looked very patriotic, especially when added to my I Miss Barack baseball hat.

  9. Peach

    I love that you mentioned Elsa Klensch! My mom would always watch her show Style on CNN, and my sister and I would watch it with her. Great memories!

    I vacillate between caring about clothes and not. Today I wore a jean jacket that is in a blazer style, and I felt like I nailed the casual but professional balance. I think I’d like to have a nice denim shirt for meetings now, too.

    Garnet hill has turtleneck sweatshirts that I like, too. I think it would be comfy but still look appropriate for a Zoom call.

    I think everyone should be thinking more about what colors look good on them for Zoom calls. If you get your colors right, you can really glow.

  10. Little Red

    I have been sticking with my usual casual but preppy style from the weekends for the entire week. My office has an ‘cameras on’ culture but polo shirts and Eileen Fisher linen tees are good enough.

  12. Anon

    I was just thinking about this earlier this week. My husband and I get dressed for work everyday. I get dressed because I just feel better about myself and it just sets the tone for my workday. I’ve been wearing exercise clothes this past week and can’t concentrate. I think wearing clothes that make you feel comfortable and productive is extremely important right now and it looks different for everybody. I bought a few mm lefluer tops during their sale to dress up a bit during my zoom calls but also step up my casual looks for the weekend. In the winter, my plan is to take a cue from AOC and just buy a few turtleneck sweater dresses to stay comfortable but stylish. I don’t want to “waste” my make-up, so my plan is to do research and try dupes for my typical make-up. I also want Carmela from the Soprano’s layered necklace look. My friend suggests a bold lip and earrings make it look like you have really tried even if you are wearing pajamas which I normally try to do.

    I know there are a lot of things to be worried about and everyone is going through so much. I just think this is what I can do for myself, to make myself feel a sense of normalcy. I live in NYC and when we were going through the thick of the pandemic, wearing work clothes is what kept me grounded oddly enough.

  13. Gina

    I’m incredibly surprised by the overall spirit of the comments here, given how much of this site is geared to style and fashion at the office. I seem to be in the minority overall, but I’m still doing my hair, putting on lip gloss and wearing nice tops most days at work. It’s been a joy to rock sleeveless or short sleeved tops while WFH as my office is always too cold for me to wear such items there. Whether in person or over Zoom, I really appreciate when others make an effort with their appearance. It reflects a certain level of positivity and self-worth and shows that they value looking and feeling good. As we move to cooler temps I’m excited to wear my usual cashmere sweaters and tops but will pair them with leggings rather than the usual trousers or skirts. For those of you who are still putting a little extra into your day to day looks – please know that you are seen and are a bright spot. And, for those who don’t feel up for it, no judgement from me. When things have been tougher for me in the past, I found putting on makeup and nicer clothes as good armor and a pick me up, but that’s not for everyone. (FWIW – my directs and my leaders are working in sweats and old t-shirts and I’m totally ok with that!!)

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