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What to wear when you work from home: Some Inspiration

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Hi All,

You guys might have noticed that abc and I started a new Work From Home Style Challenge. It's our way of staying accountable for what we wear at home, and we hope it will hone our personal style, as well as help us bridge the gap between the 'dressy' outfits we love and the 'comfortable' outfits we have to wear for our real life.

Incase any of you also wish you could put together better outfits for your real, casual lifestyle, I found that these two blogs, along with Angie's wisdom here on YLF, really helped me. You might have already read these, but just Incase you haven't, I'm posting the links.

http://bridgetteraes.com/2013/.....work-home/

http://smallnotebook.org/2011/.....ly-dressy/

20 replies

Latest reply was from Maneera

viva

Veteran

Thanks for posting these links!!!

The "what if your doorbell rings" test is the best! I have run out to the UPS man (to save him from my dogs) at 2 in the afternoon, IN MY PAJAMAS. That is not good. Reason enough to get dressed when working from home.

Anonymous

I think I saw the Brigitte Raes article, but not the other. Will have a read, thanks! I actually did a little personal challenge on YLF in Autumn of 2014 and posted an outfit a day. I made changes as a result of it and found it so useful. One of them was to get a couple of cheap pairs of shoes solely for indoor use instead of my fluffy slippers and I felt so much more pulled together with them on.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

This is excellent and I just became consumed with the second link by Rachel, which offers really great advice. Thank you so much and to those who've responded here with their tips.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ooh! Thanks for those links. I am going to investigate.

ramya

Veteran

I really need it with 4 month old and working from home I feel like rag rat at times

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Thanks a lot all of you.

Viva, I've been in the exact same position myself! It's quite embarrassing, isn't it? To make matters worse, I live in an apartment and was horrified when all my neighbours saw me disciplining my dogs in my pajamas!

Diane, I love that tip of wearing shoes at home. It's the 1st tip from Bridgette, and it really makes a difference. I've started wearing shoes at home now.

Vicki, Suz, Ramya, I'm glad if these help you out. They helped me a lot and I really wanted more people to know of Rachel's style.

rachylou

Veteran

I need to check these out...

BridgetteRaes

(website)

Hi Maneera,

Thanks for sharing the link to my post. I hope others find it helpful! This September will mark 13 years of being self-employed and working from home. Yes, the shoes things makes a difference. They are actually doing major construction on my apartment building, most of it going on right above me. Aside from the annoying noise, I had a flood in my bathroom due to it in addition to a bunch of other issues. With workers needing to run in I was glad that I followed my own tips of being prepared for unexpected visitors.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Hey Bridgette!!!

It's so great you chimed in!

Yes, your tips help tremendously. I shall always wear shoes at home now! But only on weekdays, I think ;p

I hate construction in the building. It's so annoying --- noisy and filthy. Sorry to hear you have to endure through it.

Anonymous

We've gone around the circle with this subject quite a few times in the past year or so as there are quite a few of us with home offices. I dress for work everyday, whether I'm going out or not. Now I'm not in a suit or pumps, but I am dressed to be able to answer the door, respond to a quick request to meet a customer, or whatever it might be. I just can't feel like I'm actually working or being a professional if I'm in my pj's after 9 am. Thanks for these links - they are good ones!

BridgetteRaes

(website)

Thanks, @Maneera. My bathroom is like the beach with all the dust. Next time I ask for sand and water I will be more specific.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

This is always one of my favorite topics and Lisa and Viv and Suz and I in particular seem to have hit on it a few times in the last year.

I have been working from home for more than 15 years. When I'm working (and I do work full time, if not 8 hours in a row every day) I usually am in a dressy version of casual, because it helps me to feel more professional and ready to work even if clients don't actually see me in person.

This is a good topic for summer though, since I'm usually all about the third piece. Since I control my indoor climate and prefer warm, I often end up more casual in the summer because I like wearing something like a casual dress or shorts and a printed top. I'm looking forward to seeing the latest round of people's ideas for this season in work-at-home.

We are a no shoes household, though, so I don't get to take advantage of my shoe collection as much as I might wish.

JenniferAnne

Thanks for posting these resources! In two weeks I'll be transitioning from full-time work-from-home to half work-from-home/half stay-at-home mom. These are great refreshers for that big change!

gardenchick

Veteran

Thanks for posting these links. I work at home too these days, and sometimes go out to meetings, etc...

Robin

What a great thread!

I have a feeling I'd be a lot more productive if I get cleaned up and get dressed early in the morning, rather than trying to convince myself that I can work in what I slept in.

The trick for me will be finding an outfit that's put together enough for me to go out (whether it's taking the dog out or popping over to the coffee shop for some tea and some out-of-the-house writing time) but still comfy enough to also do light housework.

I have a feeling that outfit might be a colourful tee and these great high-waisted leggings I bought a couple of weeks ago - will have to experiment.

Hmm, shoes for working at home. I feel sure they'd boost my morale and sense of being at work and not lazing around the house, but, well, I like to go barefoot, putting socks on when my feet get cold, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to talk myself into shoes.

Your reply

ramya

Veteran

Being ah Indian shoes at home don't work for me, plus nursing and infant friendly clothes are new to me. I am now sporting sporty lux looks plus printed harem pant look.
I am now getting a haircut, I have realized that a good haircut is a must to feel fab

abc

Veteran

Thanks for the links! I am very interested in this concept as you know already

carter

Veteran

Thanks so much for the link to Rachel's site. That will keep me entertained all evening! I love Bridgette, but her site is painfully slow on my tablet (as is Imogen's), so it tends to be a once-a-week read when I have some free time in the office.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks for posting these links Maneera. I am currently working from home and finding it a challenge to utilise my wardrobe. I like bridgettes ideas about thinking about ways of easily upgrading your WFH outfit for external wear. Will have to give this more thought!

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Great to know you all like these.

I'm hoping some of you will also join abc and me to become accountable for what we wear at home. This is going to be so fun!

@Ramya, I'm Indian myself and stay in India. Flat sandals and ballet flats are easy to wear at home. And for us, they are so cheap too! Most local stores and flea markets have great shoes. I have a small collection and change it every season and it barely costs me anything. Also, pretty flip flops in florals and metallic! I love flip flops with a wedge heel! I think you should try them. Oh yes, and congrats on my baby