Work from home style

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Work from home style

— by Angie

on September 9, 2010

I spend a good amount of the working week out and about with clients and scouting retail stores. But I also spend a portion of my time working from home writing content for YLF and participating in the forum.

My work from home days take one of two forms:

Part of the day at home and part of the day with a client
Working at home the whole day

In the first case, I shower, put on a work outfit and leave off the shoes until I venture out because I prefer to wear slippers at home. That means that I work at my computer in my work outfit until I see a client. My dress code is usually smart casual or business casual depending on the client and my morning mood.

In the second case, when I’m not venturing out, I’ll still shower first thing and put on a work outfit, but it’s usually smart casual. I am NOT comfortable working at my computer in lounge clothes. It stifles my creativity and productivity. YLF work at home is just as important as working with clients and I need to feel well put together when I sit at my computer.

How you choose to dress when you work at home is really a matter of personal preference. For example, Greg who works from home frequently, feels perfectly fine in his very casual T-shirt and jeans (or shorts). Unlike his wife!

A few years ago I wrote a post on looking fab when you work from home and I still feel the same way. I suggested a comfortable and relatively casual, yet put together look that’s not your sweats. I choose to look a little dressier than these suggestions when I work from home for the reasons that I mentioned above. But that doesn’t mean that you have to. If you’re really productive wearing sweet sweats while you work from home – then that works too. The productivity is the important thing. Just remember to change when you nip out for a break or errand during the day.

What is your work from home style?

Career Wear

44 comments · Add a comment

BlondeAmbition

Active Member

I have “home clothes.” Basically sweats, sometimes they’re matched… ok they’re always mismatched. It’s the only way I can be comfortable at home. I put on my home clothes as soon as I step into the house and I wear them all day. The only thing I do differently when I work from home is I put on a bra. I don’t know why, but putting on a bra puts me in work mode.

September 9, 2010 at 4:43 am

Lisa

Veteran

A shower really starts the day for me. I cannot function without one. But if I am working from home all day I lean towards sweats or other lounge style pants on the bottom half. More comfortable for me. But the top is often something I would wear outside the house with a bra. However, once 5-6 o’clock rolls around, whether I am working from home all day or just getting in, off goes the bra, for some reason I like to be sans bra in the evening hours. Initially when I worked from home, I would be in lounge wear head to toe all day and shower in the afternoon, oddly enough I wasn’t as productive as I am with an earlier shower and slightly dressier outfit. I guess the ritual of “getting ready” puts me in a “ready to work” frame of mind.

September 9, 2010 at 4:51 am

mary b

I always get dressed for the day even though much of it will be spent at home. For me what I wear also depends on what else I will be doing. If I have to go out and shop for inventory I am dressed a bit better than if part of my day will be spent doing things around the house.
Generally though I will be wearing jeans, or in hot weather a skirt. I am not one to ever go out in something like sweats or yoga pants (unless I am going running after dropping my boys at the bus stop) so I normally do not hang out in that type of clothing.
I think it is more motivating to get up and get dressed than hang out in PJs or sweats like you have nothing going on.

September 9, 2010 at 5:01 am

Frances

Active Member

I rarely work from home. I am one of those people who needs to get up early, shower, dress, go to an office, sit down at a proper desk and interact with my colleagues to be truly productive. This is purely a fault of my own character–I know there is ample research that shows people who work from home are often far more productive than those who commute to work in an office. But on the rare occasions when I have to do a conference call from home or bring home my work to do on my laptop, I find that I am far more productive if I am dressed in office attire and put together as though I were headed into the office. And even on work-at-home occasions, I often throw in the towel, pack up the laptop and head to a neighborhood Starbucks whenever I find myself distracted and losing focus. On those occasions, I’m really glad that I took the time to dress well!

September 9, 2010 at 5:37 am

Sheri

I work from home, only meeting with clients about twice a month. I get dressed first thing in the morning–even if it is just jeans and a sweater–and put on shoes or boots. I will wear something more polished if I expect to be out for any reason (perhaps a casual dress + tights, as opposed to jeans), but I NEVER stay in my pajamas and slippers or wear yoga pants all day.

This really marks out the workday for me. Then when evening rolls around, I can pop on my slippers and sometimes lounge clothes and feel as if I am “home”!

September 9, 2010 at 5:42 am

FiestyWife

Active Member

As a SAHM and more often now, a volunteer I find that I really need to get dressed in “going out of the house” clothes. Not my paint spattered jeans & Captain CutiePie’s old t-shirts but an outfit that is at least nicely casual. I generally don’t apply makeup but that’s because I’m awful at remembering to take it off at night. If I don’t get ready for the day & just wear loungewear I find that I tend to lounge instead of getting the million things on my to do list done. So, its real clothes for me!

September 9, 2010 at 6:06 am

Christine

When I work from home I am usually in a pair of jean or khakis, a sweater and my ugg slippers. I opt for comfort…lol

September 9, 2010 at 6:10 am

Emely

Active Member

So guilty here, when I work from home I wear sweat pants most of the day, I feel more comfortable.

September 9, 2010 at 6:12 am

Mae

Active Member

It ultimately depends on whether or not I will be leaving at some point, but if I know that I will be working on a work project from home all day, I opt for lounge wear. It has absolutely no impact on my productivity (that I’ve noticed, anyway). I can get in “the mode” regardless of what I’m wearing. Perhaps this is a hold over from graduate school. Of course, as a grad student I barely knew what smart casual was…

September 9, 2010 at 6:25 am

bj1111

Veteran

so timely, as i’m at the computer on a working from home day. when i really need to be productive, especially writing or doing heavy duty strategic thinking/planning, i plan to be working from home those days so i can roll right out of bed and land in front of the computer. i consider it a real treat to be able to do so without the need to getting dressed or showered. pad around the house in my bare feet when i need a break. on those days, i don’t even make it out of the house, literally.

no apologies for handing out fashion feedback when i’m a black-barred “don’t”!

September 9, 2010 at 6:29 am

Anne (mrsanniep)

As a SAHM, it doesn’t always matter what I’m wearing if I’m not leaving the house, but there are two crucial elements to a productive day around the house: a shower and shoes.

The shower wakes me up. The shoes can be bonafide shoes (like flats or whatever) or slippers with a hard, stable sole are acceptable. Slopping around in soft-bottomed slippers or bare feet/socks slows me down. I tend to wear slippers more, though, because I don’t like the thought of street grime on my shoes getting tracked all over my house.

September 9, 2010 at 6:34 am

Calma

I am totally with you, Anne, about the house shoes and shower. Those are my top necessities. I have also made it a rule to not wear anything I would put on to laze around in the late evening. That pretty much rules out sweats and floppy clothes too. I usually am wearing something that I wouldn’t mind a neighbor seeing when we meet at the community mail box. I want to be dressed for the day even if I am home all day long.

September 9, 2010 at 6:48 am

quail

Active Member

I absolutely cannot “wake up” or be productive until I am wearing real clothes. I don’t think I actually own any sweats, although I do own sleepwear. I don’t necessarily put shoes on and I almost never wear makeup, so those are out, but I can barely even cook when I’m still in my pajamas. That said, I know more than one person who is totally productive in their loungewear. My ex works from home exclusively and he is *more* productive in his “jammie pants” than dressed. So, to each his (or her) own.

September 9, 2010 at 7:09 am

crwilson

Veteran

I’ve found that I do feel a lot better when I’m dressed rather than wearing lounge clothes when I’m working from home, though I may not be as smartly dressed as you are Angie! (Actually, there’s no way I’m as smartly dressed…) I try to keep it comfy though – dresses, leggings, tunics – I don’t usually wear jeans if I’m just going to be working from home because I never find them as comfortable.

September 9, 2010 at 7:12 am

Ana

(website)

Veteran

If I’m at home and need to accomplish something that day, I need to get dressed. Usually it’s jeans, a knit top and cardi. If I stay in my pajamas all day, I find that I usually can’t get the energy up to do anything.

September 9, 2010 at 7:15 am

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

I don’t work from home very often at all, so for me doing so is a real treat. Consequently I’m far more likely to be working in a bathrobe, loungewear or something similarly un-fab. That said, if my mood dictates a more polished look, then I’ll happily don an outfit suitable for public viewing, probably jeans and a top (much like what I’m wearing now, though I’m at the office).

September 9, 2010 at 7:19 am

Jodi

(website)

Active Member

I agree with Angie, I have a different mind-set when I get up and get dressed for work even when I am working from home. The days I stayed in lounge clothes and worked always seemed like I hardly got anything done and I felt so sloth-y.

September 9, 2010 at 7:20 am

morethanbeige

Veteran

I have experimented with this as I work from home some days. If I make a conscious effort to get dressed it does seem like I’m more productive. Otherwise, I can roll out of bed and sort of be *unconsciously* working for hours.

September 9, 2010 at 7:25 am

Maya

Veteran

I don’t often work from home but when I do I think loungewear is a good compromise for me. It’s decent enough that I can open the door if the UPS guy comes, and that’s all I need.

Most importantly, I don’t like getting kitty hair all over my clothes (and I will, even if she is nowhere near me)! It also means less laundry to do. When I get dressed, I look forward to having people see me. I hate that feeling of all-dressed-up-with-nowhere-to-go. It makes me sad! Someone needs to appreciate my killer outfit, or at least I need to imagine and pretend that someone will, otherwise it’s not worth it!

I can understand your position though, Angie. I am more sensitive to where and how I work than what I wear, though. I usually browse the web from either the couch or my bed, which is fine for pleasure, but for work I need to be in a chair at a desk or table.

September 9, 2010 at 7:42 am

Maya

Veteran

Oh, I should say that I do still take a shower first thing in the AM and I prefer do my hair. If my hair is done and I’m squeaky clean, then I am an unstoppable force of productivity. Bad hair days ruin me, even when I’m physically present at work. I feel ill and lethargic without a shower so that is non-negotiable.

And of course I wear a bra!

September 9, 2010 at 7:45 am

LeahJanes

(website)

It takes me an hour (maybe two) to warm up in the morning so I tend to be in a pyjama clad daze during that time.
However, after that I tend to just wear whatever strikes my fancy that day. Usually it’s a dress or a soft knit skirt and an interesting blouse. As long as I can swing a kid upside down while wearing it then the parents I babysit for don’t care! The nice thing about having nobody to impress with a dress code means I can wear what makes me smile that day rather than a variation of what’s expected of me. So if a cartoon T-shirt, jeans and sneakers talks to me that day, I run with it. Or if it feels like it’s a “nude stilettos and white shirt with a full skirt and seamed stockings” day, I run with that too. Very freeing indeed.

September 9, 2010 at 7:52 am

Beth

Veteran

I only occasionally work from home and when I do, the work tends to be writing reports and other paperwork. I’m not often interacting with colleagues other than by email.

I tend to wear loungewear but I do need to work at a table rather than curling up on the sofa the way I do when I’m just playing on the computer. Mae makes a good point: this was my work pattern in grad school so it plays the same now. And like Maya, I’d rather not get cat hair all over my work clothes. Besides, every home workday includes a few visits to the barn for breaks, so I tend to wear goat-friendly clothes:)

September 9, 2010 at 8:20 am

Queen Mum

Veteran

As a MOTG, I do work at home every day…. and I have to start my day with a shower, hair styling, and bona-fide outfit. When I try for just jeans and a knit top I really do feel frumpy all day long now that YLF has gotten a hold of me. The only day that I don’t “dress” is Saturday when I’ll pull on shorts/jeans and a lazy day top.

September 9, 2010 at 9:04 am

Antje

Veteran

Great topic. I’ve worked from home for the last 8 months, and just like you I have days where I’m home all day, and then other days where I have meetings either with clients or with colleagues. I always cherish the days where I do have such meetings, because I like to get out amongst people, and also because it gives me a great reason to dress nicely.
When I meet clients, I dress business casual. When I meet with colleagues, I dress smart casual.
The days where I’m working at home all day are trickier. Sometimes I still dress smart casual – and I feel much better that way. I don’t think it translates into additional productivity (I still am productive in casual wear), but it just makes me feel better about myself and the world.
I have to admit to days in ultra casual or even lounge wear, though – sometimes that just feels the coziest, especially in fall and winter. I almost always shower first thing, though – it’s a must on the 4 days/week when I exercise early in the morning, and I try to also do it on the 5th day… Also, our family morning routine has just shifted with me taking over the schoolbus drop-off in the morning – another good reason to make sure the hair looks decent And I wont’ be caught dead in lounge pants outside the house! That’s a total nono for me, and I’m always amazed at how many moms I see in the morning in their yoga pants or sweats. Yikes – not my thing. For me it’s gonna be at least a pair of jeans for sure!

September 9, 2010 at 9:27 am

Cecilia

I’m a SAHM and I have a set of “drag around” clothes to wear at home, usually sweats and tees. I have to change out of my pj’s and brush my hair as soon as I get up, or nothing gets done….If I’m going out, I’ll change into something smarter and put on makeup, but I always change back as soon as I get home. I feel that way I get less wear and tear on clothing that everyone sees, and I don’t mind wearing my rags to clean the house.

September 9, 2010 at 9:36 am

mamark

If I’m working from home, it’s because I’m sick (and taking a sick day) but still working because of a deadline or a hot issue. So that’s me in my jammies and scrunchie and hoodie and slippers working away at my computer – the antithesis if what you think working from home should look like!

However, if my company ever decides to venture into the 21st century and let us work from home occasionally, I promise I will make the effort to look like I’m working. I totally get your point about dressing professionally to feel professional. It’s a big part of why I am not OK with business casual at the workplace.

September 9, 2010 at 9:42 am

Debbie

Veteran

I need to get dress if not I don’t work I clean and straighten. Anything but office work. If I’m dressed then I’m more productive in a word mode.

September 9, 2010 at 9:52 am

klauren

Active Member

Interesting – most said the guys are perfectly happy in super casual very relaxed clothing being productive, while the ladies mostly need to be “dressed”. Wonder why that is? I will also put myself in that same team – both my dh and I work from home a lot and we are part of that team. I don’t really get started until I’m bathed and dressed. A couple of times stayed in pjs thinking I could do more on the tight schedule, but really never felt comfortable the whole time. Even if it’s just get cleaned up and very casual, got to do those morning absolutions to feel ready and into the day.

September 9, 2010 at 9:56 am

Kim

Veteran

I work from home every day, as a child care provider to little ones and a mom to my teens.

I work out, shower, put on makeup, do my hair and get dressed in a casual outfit (jeans and a woven or knit top, but not a crew neck T and in the cooler months a cardi ) for the day before a client ever sees me in the morning. I can’t imagine opening the door to someone looking like I just popped out of bed! LOL

Even when I want to “lounge” around for the weekend I get up, shower, do hair and makeup and jump into a “cute” pair of pj’s. Then when I want to run out of the house I simply have to change my outfit.

I don’t own any sweats.

September 9, 2010 at 10:05 am

Boof

Active Member

How’s this for crazy? I can’t make phone calls unless I’m showered and dressed in “real” clothes for the day. Email is fine, but if I’m actually speaking to someone, I must be clean and dressed…like they can see me.

September 9, 2010 at 10:16 am

Bianca

Veteran

This is a great post Angie. I feel the same way, though I’m a mom-on-the- go! Generally I don smart casual/casual attire. Some days we are out doing activities and some days we are home. But even the days we are at home, I still like to pull it together sans accessories. I feel better about myself and you never know if I need to run a last minute errand. For me, sweats are for exercise only. And rarely do we have a PJ day unless we are all sick or snowed in!!!!

September 9, 2010 at 10:35 am

Marley

Veteran

I honestly make an effort to dress (at the bare minimum) smart casual everyday – whether it is a weekend when I am not working, or during the week when I am working at home. Now, if I have a meeting away from my house, I do a little extra – change the accessories and shoes up – perhaps add a hat – just to take it up a notch. But all in all – I’m not into the loungewear or pjs until bedtime! Even if no one else can see me – I have a hard time taking myself and my work seriously if I don’t dress up just a little!

September 9, 2010 at 12:39 pm

Jill

Active Member

Dressing for work at home definitely makes me more productive. But I find the biggest element for me is putting in my contacts. If I keep my glasses on, I feel sloth-y and tired. I think it’s because I usually only wear my glasses at night before bed or just after getting up in the morning, and have done for so many years that I just associate the glasses with downtime.

September 9, 2010 at 1:24 pm

marianna

Veteran

I’m almost embarrassed to admit this, but if I’m at home, I am in loungewear. Always. It’s how I was raised: when you come home, you change into your “home” clothes. Even if I just come home for a couple of hours, I change into my loungewear for that short period of time. And when I go back out, I put my real outfit back on.

September 9, 2010 at 1:59 pm

taylor

Veteran

Even as a stay at home mom I always showered and dressed first thing, I guess I figured if I didn’t get ready first thing I wouldn’t have time during the day.
I figured out very early on my children were very aware how mommy looked when out and about. And being home with the children was the busiest toughest job I have ever had…so dressing for that job in a practical yet stylish way was a must:)

September 9, 2010 at 2:13 pm

Sri

I am happy to stay in my PJs! My pjs are also my loungewear, and are chosen with similar care as my work clothes. I don’t step out with them, as there is a societal dress code, but I don’t think I am sloppy in them. Someday, I do think that these PJs will become what jeans are today, and people will have a new dress code called smart-loungewear. Well, that is what I wear: smart loungewear, and I am happy to wear it through the day.

September 9, 2010 at 4:32 pm

Meredith

Active Member

I’m with Frances, I like to get out of the house in order to feel productive. I also feel like I have to get dressed at least a little bit otherwise I just feel shlumpy.

September 9, 2010 at 4:59 pm

tiffany

I’ve worked from home for many years now, and I almost always dress smart casual (plus basic makeup), except occasionally on Friday after my morning yoga class I might stay in my yoga gear for a couple of hours if I have urgent deadlines. I don’t feel right if I’m not properly dressed! Sometimes I might not feel like making the effort, then I ask myself what I want to look like if someone comes to the door … that works!

September 9, 2010 at 7:12 pm

shana

Veteran

I’m like Marianna, I have “home” clothes – which depending on what I’m going can range from lounge type of attire (PJ’s, sweats, yoga pants, shorts, tees, tanks etc) when I’m not leaving the house to perhaps jeans & a tee if I’m in the yard playing with the kids. I will dress to go out further than the yard but will always change into my home clothes once I get home.

September 9, 2010 at 7:24 pm

Refugee

Veteran

I am looking forward to developing a work at home style. In fact, today is the day I transitioned from a traditional office to a home office. I have no idea what my work at home style will turn out to be. I know my schedule is going to be shaken up a bit (in a good way). I think my work at home style will develop as I get established in my new routine.

September 9, 2010 at 9:51 pm

Scarlet

Veteran

I really liked this post. It is something I haven’t given too much thought to. Usually if I work from home it is to avoid distractions, and I wear simple clothing. If I am under a lot of time pressure I role out of bed to my computer and work in PJs until I need my first break, which is a shower. Like Maya said, if I dress fab, then I want someone to see it besides me. However, just a few days ago (before this post) I was home sick but working on something really important under deadline pressure, and I wore dress pants and a nice top to make me feel professional and alert. It worked! I think I will start to apply this kind of discipline to myself in the future.

September 9, 2010 at 10:07 pm

Lena

Hmm, this is kind of hard to define. If I’m not going anywhere and working from home, I wear blue jeans or a denim skirt with a knit top (and another knit layer) with no accessories but my watch and reading glasses. I also can and do work in sweats (but not pajamas), and I don’t feel my productivity or alertness level changes a great deal. When I go outside the house, I change into a smart casual outfit. Interestingly, I always swap out white or black jeans for another type of bottom when I come home – I just can’t bear wearing them inside the house. It really depends on the day and what I’m doing.

And if I’m wearing something smarter, I change clothes when I come home like Marianna. And I take off all accessories except my watch. In fact, I sometimes can’t concentrate on work at the computer if I didn’t change into home clothes. And like Maya, I’m also mindful of cat hair and other accidental snag, scratches or stains.

September 9, 2010 at 11:40 pm

lyrebirdgully

For a completely different approach to working-from-home clothes, take a peek over at Advanced Style
Debra for May 25, 2010. You’ll see at-the-keyboard pics of artist and blog consultant Debra Rapaport, who brings her unique style of dress to working at her computer as well…

September 12, 2010 at 6:16 am

Tanya

Veteran

I almost never work from home: if I am home during work hours, I am either sick or very rarely have a lot of reading and writing to do that is best than in then piece and quiet of my home. For such occasions I prefer to be in some comfy and cure lounge wear.

October 1, 2010 at 8:59 pm

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