Should I Dress Up While Working From Home?

It can be tempting to dress comfortably, wearing sweatpants and pajamas but at the same time dressing up can also help to maintain the sense of normalcy.

Is dressing up for work still a ‘thing’ in such crucial times where everyone is forced to socially isolate themselves, stay indoors and work from home? As people adjust to work from home -staying virtually connected via video conferencing- while Coronavirus spreads, another debate started, whether to dress up formally or not? Many people argue that during such unprecedent time focus should be on work rather than following the formal dress code necessary to be followed in the offices to feel comfortable and less stressed. On the other hand, people also have the point of view that dressing up influences their mood, make them feel normal and helps them to be more productive and attentive.

To support the argument to keep it casual and cozy, I would say that most of the employers do not care what you are wearing if you meet your targets, deadlines and get your work done. Staying cozy and casual is also good for the mental health during this stressful time. According to the experts dressing down saves time and that extra time can be spent on meditation, exercise or somewhere else. If you are not interfacing visually with clients or coworkers wearing something comfortable would make you feel relaxed and put you in the perfect mood to get your work done.  And being honest even while interfacing visually one can only see what you are wearing waist up and would never be able to see if you are wearing sweatpants or formal pants, heels or slides. Moreover, there are plenty of options to get super chic, trendy pajamas, loungewear and sweatsuits from various fashion brands.

To support the argument to dress up formally while working from home, I would say that it will help you to maintain your daily routine and sets your tone for the day. As your normal routine has changed, dressing up for work and keeping the routine would give you the sense of control and degree of normality over time upon which you have no control. This would make you feel better and research has shown that people feel more competent while wearing business clothes. You can experiment with your looks and try new combinations from your own closet. A business casual look would make you feel productive while working from home e.g. you can wear a t-shirt with jeans and a formal blazer. Opt for the looks which combine fashion with function so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

During these uncertain times clothing can be a source of comfort and to feel comfortable you can either wear your favorite loungewear or your brand-new power suit while working from home. Don’t forget to have fun. Keep experimenting and discover your style for working from home.