The pandemic really changed a lot for us. Masks are a more acceptable accessory around the world, we’re doing our nails at home, and I think a lot of us really stopped to appreciate what it means to have community in our lives; and how important it is to cultivate when we don’t have it. One thing that was a drastic change for so many was the pivot to working from home, and a lot of us are still doing that in full or in part. And working from home means taking video calls. As Zoom is the frequent location for calls (for work and personal, think all those family get togethers over Zoom!) the question I get a lot is “what should I wear during a Zoom call?” Well girlfriend the good news is it’s only half as hard, or half as fun as getting dressed for the real world, because you only have to plan for the top half of your body.
You get to choose
A choice that you can make if getting dressed isn’t your jam is only dressing the top half of your body. You don’t have to consider several of the typical decisions when getting dressed. Your shoes are irrelevant, and hopefully you have on comfy slippers, your pants are irrelevant, are you tucking in the top or leaving it out? Are you wearing a belt, a bra, or deodorant? Who knows! It won’t make a different to the people on call with you. They won’t know either way.
But if getting dressed is something that brings you joy and excitement, helps you feel excited about your day and gives you energy, helps bring confidence and power into your being, then sometimes getting dressed for only Zoom can be difficult in another way. It can feel limiting to not put a complete look together; because it can feel just that–incomplete. For those of us who find excitement or even peace in putting together a whole outfit, part of the joy is being able to match things to create the perfect look. It’s like finding all the right ingredients for a recipe, when all other people is to just have a snack. But don’t worry, I’m here to help.
It’s like finding all the right ingredients for a recipe, when all other people is to just have a snack.
The makings of a Zoom outfit
Whether you fall in the camp of people who love getting dressed every day and putting together an outfit, or you’re someone who would rather just not and don’t understand why PJs can’t be appropriate attire all day every day, you still have to put something on. I got you.
For those who don’t want to put in too much effort
If you just want to commit to the top half here’s what I recommend. Think first about comfort and know that it’s mostly chest up that can show up on camera, if even that much. Have a selection of tops including sweaters, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and light jackets that you can throw on and go (to your desk at home). Make sure whatever you’re putting on is relatively clean and the collar or neckline is flattering. Then all you have to do is throw on a pair of comfy pants (that don’t have to match your top). Voilà. A couple of my favorite tricks include:
- Throw a jacket over a tshirt, or if it’s a last minute situation then put it over your pajama top. A jacket is also a great way to hide the fact that you’re not wearing a bra. I see you Jill, I see you.
- Get a pair of blue-light blocking glasses. Whether or not you have a prescription, blue light glasses will blur out your eyes which includes your undereyes. No one will know that you didn’t have time to put on concealer.
- Dry shampoo. You probably shouldn’t be washing your hair every day anyways. I like to have dry shampoo sprays, powders, and pastes. I like to go from light to heavy, depending on the texture the dry shampoo provides. My one hero product though is the R+Co badlands. Put a pea size amount in your hands, warm it up until it dissolves then zhuzh it in your roots. It’s the perfect face framing tool, just pinch and go. Honestly, you’re welcome.
- Wear half your workout clothes. If working out around your meeting schedule is important I always recommend putting together an athleisure look that feels intentional. A matching look from Set Active with a cardigan or a jean jacket over the top is fabulous. That way when you have a break you can run to the studio downtown or over to the mat on your living room floor and get your sweat on. Then throw your jacket back on for your later meetings.
For those who wish their whole outfit could be seen
If you are the type of gal who loves having a whole fit, know that just because you’re working from home you don’t have to sacrifice your style. No one will know that you have on jeans instead of yoga pants or sweats, but you will know. Even if you’re not this type of person normally I recommend that everyone try getting ready fully and see how it makes you feel. You will probably feel more confident and poised. More like yourself. If you’re not anti-shoes in your home you can even try completing the look with the perfect pair. You don’t have to get super dolled up because no one will notice if you have on all layers of your makeup, but throwing on some tinted sunscreen like the Iris & Romeo (my current fav), some blush from Kosas, bronzer from Ilia, and a gloss from Glossier, you’ll be put together and people will notice your glow.
Even if you’re not this type of person normally I recommend that everyone try getting ready fully and see how it makes you feel.
Whatever your vibe is just know that getting ready for the day has purpose and value in your life. That doesn’t mean there won’t be days when you’ve maxed out the appropriate amount of dry shampoo and you’re stinky and haggard, but let those be few and far between. We all create habits with our daily appearance, you can choose to create one that involves getting ready to the extent you can and are excited about, or you can choose to roll up and shelp it out.
My biggest tip is to consider how you want to feel when you’re in your meetings then do the things that will enable you to feel that way.
