So, a couple of months ago, we heard of a virus occurring in other parts of the world – something to be mildly concerned about, but no change to your day-to-day. And then, several weeks ago, it started appearing on US soil – but again, no dramatic difference for most of us. But then it started impacting our lives in a big way. Social distancing, working from home, and shelter-in-place orders are now in force for many areas. And suddenly you’re stuck at home more than you ever have been and are expected to work your regular Monday-Friday schedule via emails, phone calls and video calls, and home school your kids (or just deal with them being home all day). But you’re just not motivated – and you’re not alone in feeling that way.
Over the last week, I’ve been on a bit of an emotional roller coaster, but I’m doing my best to stay positive and productive in these uncertain times. And what helps a lot is doing things that I would normally do on a given day, like getting dressed. Because I believe that it’s totally worth it to get dressed, even when you’re spending the day at home. Why?
It supports a sense of routine, and routine is important in reducing stress and anxiety. And it also helps maintain a sense of ‘normal’.
It shifts your mindset from relaxing mode to work mode and from nighttime to daytime.
It’s a form of self-care and your mental and emotional self-care is just as important as your physical self-care right now.
It keeps you from feeling like a ‘schlub’. A few days of ‘schlub’ is totally fine, but we may be in this for the long haul.
And if you’re not convinced that getting dressed is a good idea, ask yourself a couple of questions:
Who are you getting dressed for? I’m not just talking about these weeks in quarantine – I’m talking about every day. Are you getting dressed just for the people you’re seeing at the office and your friends? Or are you getting dressed for yourself? Of course you’ll dress appropriately and conform to social norms - but there’s also the notion of getting dressed, loving your reflection in the mirror and having a great day. And you deserve to feel good about how you look right now, even when you’re not leaving the house.
Why not get dressed? Ask yourself this and then think about your answers. If you think it’s because all your clothes are uncomfortable, then maybe we need to take a look at what’s in your closet. If you think it’s not worth the trouble, I’ll tell you that it is. And I’m not asking you to get dressed every single day that you’re sitting at home. Chill in sweats on the weekends and get dressed for your work-from-home days. Or get dressed Monday-Saturday and make Sunday a pajama day. Whatever you decide, just remember that what you wear is a tool in making you feel good – so, use that tool purposefully.
Ok, enough lecture on why you should be getting dressed every day. If you’ve read this far, I’ll assume that you’re with me and ready for some guidance. Here’s how I’m thinking about it: shoes can set the tone for your outfit when you’re heading out of the house (think about when you wear heels vs. when you wear flats vs. when you wear sneakers). But when you’re not heading out of the house, pants can be a key decision. Breaking out of sweats and yoga pants is the first decision - and then the second decision is what kind of pants you’ll wear. So, take a look at a few outfits I created for my clients (based in certain kinds of pants) that totally work for your time at home. And also check out some specific style advice to use when your daily commute is from the bedroom to the couch to the dining room.
ELASTIC WAIST PANTS & VIDEO CALLS
Elastic waist and drawstring waist pants can be a godsend, especially when you pick ones made from a drapey or knit fabric. They’re super comfy and so easy to put on, right? But that doesn’t mean that your outfit is just a reimagination of sweatpants and an old t-shirt.
If you’re jumping on and off Zoom calls all day, pair your elastic waist pants with a work-worthy top or sweater. Put on a piece of jewelry (or two) to elevate your look - and if you’re in the mood (or your house is chilly), add a denim jacket for business casual style or a relaxed blazer if your regular workplace attire is a bit more refined.
Zoom and video calls present a tricky style dilemma. Yes, you can do the mullet of outfits with a nice top and yoga pants (business on top, couch potato on the bottom), but why not stay aligned with your personal brand in an outfit that looks appropriate for the office, but is a little more at-home comfortable? Especially if you’re a leader in your organization or you’ve crafted an intentional image in the workplace, now is not the time to shift from an appropriately professional look into a ‘I don’t care because I’m working from home’ outfit.
If you’ve been stuck in a white t-shirt, sweatpants and a hoodie, elevate each piece to enhance your stay-at-home style. And remember - in the house or not, fun jewelry adds major style points!
Your stay-at-home style should reflect your in-the-office style, but it’s okay to be a little more relaxed. And feel free to trade out your workday flats for cozy slippers - no one on the Zoom call will know.
An unstructured or sweater blazer can feel as comfortable as a cardigan - and it’s a bit more put together if you’re in a leadership position.
JEANS & A UNIFORM
Stretchy jeans – some of my clients love them, some of my clients don’t. But as a work from home pants option, they strike a perfect note if your office is super business casual. Wear them with a lightweight sweater, elevated t-shirt or comfortable button-down and you’ll be ready for any work emergency, home schooling check-in or a few minutes on the sofa scrolling on your phone.
And if getting dressed everyday takes a little more energy than you have to give, create some uniforms. You can wear outfits made up of similar pieces each day – just switch up the actual items to give your clothes a chance to breathe. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday go for a column of color with a dark t-shirt, jeans and a cropped cardigan. And then on Tuesday and Thursday, switch to a cozy long cardigan, striped t-shirt and sneakers.
Keep it easy with a nice t-shirt, jeans and a cardigan - and translate this combo in different ways during the week (see below).
The same outfit feels distinct by switching from a navy t-shirt and blue jeans to a black top and black jeans - and a hit of leopard never hurts.
If your work style is super relaxed, a long cardigan, striped t-shirt and jeans are still a step above sweatpants and a sweatshirt - and they can make you feel more pulled together.
LEGGINGS & YOUR KIDS
I know, your life right now might feel more hectic than before you decided to self-isolate. You may be juggling remote office work with suddenly running a non-stop day care and making a home-cooked meal every night. Or you may be overwhelmed by a 24/7 houseful of family. So, for ultimate comfort (without sacrificing how you feel in the mirror), grab a nice pair of leggings and a sweater.
Please note – I’m making a big distinction here between yoga pants and leggings. Yoga pants are what you wear to work out, do yoga or other physical activities. Nice leggings are made of a heavier (but still stretchy) knit fabric, with some details that move them beyond workout gear. They live in the land between basic leggings and pants, and are a definite step up from what you wear to break a sweat. Pick a pair of jeggings or a ponté knit option - and if you’re in the mood, go for faux leather or suede leggings for an at-home date night or just because you want a change of pace.
During this crisis, it’s easy to get caught up in getting everything done and checking off all the boxes on your to-do list. But it’s also important to remember the example we’re setting for our kids. Our kids listen to what we say, but they also watch what we do. And if we’re asking them to get out of pajamas and into ‘regular’ clothes, then you need to do it, too. It sends them a message that, even though everyone is home all day every day, some things are still ‘normal’ and life is moving forward.
The simplest trade off is switching from yoga pants and a t-shirt into nice leggings and a sweater. It my feel like a subtle shift, but it’s worth it.
My client wanted a few outfit options (based in nice leggings) that she could wear running errands. So, she can just trade the boots for sneakers (or slippers) to make these easy at-home outfits!
I know that in the grand scheme of things, what you’re wearing pales in comparison to the coronavirus pandemic. But with so many things out of our control right now (where we can go, how long we’ll be housebound, where the heck we can find toilet paper), we’ll benefit from focusing on what we can control. And getting dressed is one thing that you can choose to do that may make you a little more focused, a little more productive and a little more positive. And I’m all for feeling a little more positive right now.
Will you get dressed, even when you’re staying at home? Share your stay-at-home style on Instagram and tag me @urbsuburbstyle so that we all can motivate each other to get up, get dressed and get moving with our day.