I used to joke that I kept my day job for the reason to get dressed up several times a week and for social interaction.
Well, it’s been two weeks since I *went* somewhere to work (and therefore got all dressed up for work) and I officially feel like a slob.
“They” say to get dressed up even if you work from home because it sets the tone for how you feel. And while that might be true, it’s also true that a big perk of working from home is being comfy. And spending a lot of time sitting at a computer wearing actual clothes just isn’t as comfortable as wearing yoga pants and a giant hoodie. Team Stretchy Waistbands!
I’ve tried to find a home “uniform” that is a mix between comfortable but still feels like an outfit. So on those days, I wear leggings or jeggings, a tank or shirt, and a long cardigan. If I leave the house, I throw on some tall boots and a scarf and call it a day (the cardigan covers my tush, not to worry!).
On most days, though, I feel slightly sloppy as my yoga pants get stretched out, I have no makeup on, and my hair is a ratty pile on top of my head.
I don’t exactly feel professional and competent when I look in the mirror, which is ironic since I am love this job than any job ever.
So! If you are home all day – working, momming, whatevering – what do you wear? Do you get dressed up? Chill in yoga pants? Put on some jeans?
Is it possible to feel good about yourself and be super comfortable? Should I just bejewel my yoga pants? Should I start pinning “inspiration” photos on Pinterest?
Possibly related – what are the best leggings? (I have a pair from Target, but they are a little too thin and sag quickly).
I am a stay at home Mom but am running around constantly. I wear nice jeans, a casual shirt and put on jewelry. I wear the yoga pants only when I do go to yoga or to the gym. I think if I wore sweat type yoga clothes too much, I might want to take it too easy and take a nap ;) and I never have time for that.
Check out UNIQLO’s “legging pants”, which are amazing!! They are on sale for fifteen bucks right now, come in many colors (including denim) and really look like actual jeans & not leggings. They are super comfortable and I wear them daily.
Ashley, check out Seamly.co – they make clothing here in the USA from deadstock fabric – eco-friendly and ethical. I have the Midsummer midi dress and I love the fabric! They’ve released leggings this fall with a nice fold-over band.
Maybe also try jeggings – amazing what a fly and back pockets can do for making you feel “dressed”, or some comfy dresses over leggings or tights – Horny Toad is another great company; they practice more sustainable and ethical manufacturing, too, and the dresses are very flattering.
I work from home and unfortunately have the exact same feelings! Any time I try to convince myself I should at least wear jeans I fall back on the fact that yoga pants are so much more comfy. Let us know if you come up with a solution :)
I work from home once and week and while I normally do succumb to my rattiest pair of yoga pants that I bought at Target 5+ years ago, there are days when I have to be on video conference calls, and need to be put together (at least from the waist up).
I have two pairs of leggings that I really like and wear ALL the time in the winter. There is a pair I got at Jcrew (I waited until there was a 30% off everything sale) – http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/pants/knitpants/PRDOVR~17689/17689.jsp. I have had them for about 2 years now and wear them at least once or twice a week in the winter.
The other pair that I absolutely love (but you should wait until someone buys them for you) are a pair of Wunder Under leggings that I got as a birthday gift a couple years ago from LuluLemon. Crazy, crazy expensive, BUT I have had them for about 4 years now and wear them not only out under tunics or skirts, at home to lounge in, on the plane (they are my go to travel pant) as well as for running in the winter (don’t worry, they get washed). Not only has the stretch still stayed but the color is just as black as when I first got them.
I have also heard good things about the Zella leggings from Nordstrom or even from Old Navy. I also got a super cute sweatshirt dress on clearance from Old Navy (http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=91338&vid=1&pid=648135002) that feels like I am wearing a sweatshirt but looks a little more put together.
Good luck!
LOL, yes, bejewel your yoga pants :p
When I am working at home I usually choose comfy over professional, still feeling “pro” enough. Maybe it’s also a bit of a getting used to? I’d suggest trying out a few different things and then see what works best.
For example, I’ve realized that mornings are my most productive time of the day, so after I eat breakfast I often sit down and start working with a cup of coffee…in my pjs. I work a solid 3ish hours and when I feel like I need a break I go shower and actually get dressed. I often even go for a run after those 3 hours of solid work so it makes sense for me to not shower beforehand.
Just gotta figure out what works for you :)
I’m actually more apt to dress up for fun if I’m not going anywhere at all. But when I’m home all day I’m not doing paid work, just chasing munchkins:) If we’re going somewhere it’s usually errands and I throw on jeans, a shirt, and put my hair in a ponytail. Getting out of the house with both kids dressed and wearing shoes/coats is enough without worrying about looking cute.
But, like I said, if we’re not going anywhere, I’ll often use any extra time I have to play with makeup and put together fancy outfits to try them out. Not always, though. Sometimes it’s leggings, unwashed hair, and no makeup:)
When I was a SAHM, my uniform was pretty much skinny jeans/jeggings/leggings and a cute, comfy sweater or shirt. Cute enough to go outside if needed but comfy enough to hang out at home. Although there were plenty of days where my uniform was boxer shorts and a nursing cami.
With that said, one of the things I love best about working outside my home again is dressing up. But I forgot how much more time it takes to look cute!
I’m a PhD student, which means lots of time studying/researching/writing in front of a computer. I too work with the long cardigan & legging combo. When I wear yoga pants, I’ve found that it helps to have a nicer top, or maybe a statement necklace to offset the super casual bottoms! And, instead of wearing slippers (which keep my feet warm, but make me sleepy) I wear ballet flats. Sometimes a little structure is enough to make me productive while still being comfortable!
I would definitely wear yoga pants or leggings every day if I worked from home :) But I don’t tend to dress up too uncomfortably when teaching either for obvious reasons.
I wish I had some advice but I think I would be a little crazy if I worked from home- I’d need to schedule at least once “get out” plan a day, and then I’d just get dressed only for that haha
i like Ann Taylor Loft’s leggings :) also have a nice Style&Co pair from Macy’s. now of course, I will go browse the leggings suggested by your other commenters!
Being unemployed, I struggle with getting dressed most days — so generally my rule is I have to at least put a bra on.
But I have a jersey cotton tshirt dress (with pockets!) that I tend to wear all day. Throw on some leggings and I can even leave the house in it if I wanted to. Old Navy has a lot of comfy things, so I tend to hit them up especially when they have sales. When I was recovering from my surgery, I wore ON skirts and dresses all the time, even for work and traveling. So definitely comfy and you can make it work to look cute. Also, No nonsense leggings are some of my favorite.
I had my eyes on a pair of lululemon wonder unders for a while as one commenter posted. I found a nice compromise in buying the same kind of legging at Gap. They are meant for running, and are an activewear type material, but I mainly wear them under tunics. They don’t stretch to see through and never sag or stretch out. I love them.
I work from home, and at the risk of sounding like a slob, I’ve found that making sure I shower and blow dry my hair every morning makes me feel halfway decent. I still rock yoga pants and a t-shirt most days, but with my hair done I feel just a little bit better – like if I had to suddenly look presentable, I’d be closer to my goal, if that makes sense.
I have this problem all the time too! I definitely wear a lot of sweatpants/yoga pants/etc. I feel better and more productive when I get at least semi-dressed. That involves taking a shower, drying my hair, and at least putting on a bra!
I’m actually trying pretty hard to come up with a good capsule-ish wardrobe for working from home–something that you COULD put on shoes on wear out if you needed/wanted to. I’ll let you know when I figure it out! haha
Oh, I love this topic! I have trouble wearing what I refer to as “pants with zippers” when I work at home. I just feel too formal, maybe? I usually end up wearing a ridiculously, insanely, way too expensive pair of wind pants (sweat pants?) from Lululemon (http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/athletic-pants/Studio-Pant-II-No-Liner-31069?cc=10696&skuId=3501007&catId=athletic-pants) with a longsleeved T shirt and a moderately dressy sweater. That makes me feel more pulled together than yoga pants or sweats but I’m still able to get the stretchy pants benefits.
Oh, and I agree with the person above who said that showering and doing your hair makes all the difference. Even wearing stretchy pants, you still feel more pulled together.
My favorite leggings are from American Apparel. Actually, now that I think about it, they’re the only pair of leggings I’ve ever owned. I bought them five years ago, and I wear them a ton. They’ve held up super well. I think I’ll probably get a few more years out of them easily.
I have two favorite pairs – wunder unders from lululemon – an investment for sure, but worth every penny. I’ve had mine for four years and they’re still in amazing condition. The second favorite was a more recent find but comparable quality to my wunder unders – the live in leggings from Zella at Nordstrom.
Tip from a fellow petite lady – if you’re going to go for the wunder unders, look into the crops. My cropped wunder unders were about $20 cheaper than the full leggings but still come down to just above my ankles. Same with the Zella crops.
Also, gap & old navy both have great quality leggings if you don’t want to dish the dough. Not as great as lulu or zella, but for the price (about half of the other two considering the markdowns gap & old navy have frequently) they’re really comfy.
When it’s warmer I would suggest some cotton gauchos or some wide-hemmed skirts. I hate the A-line, I need room to move. And I love sitting cross-legged so room for movement is a must. For winter I think the jeggings or stretch pants are fine. I’m not one to stay in my PJ’s all day. Never understood that. Simply changing into SOMETHING makes my day seem more productive.
I have some leggins I found at Marshalls. They are also on AMAZON and I swear they are the next best thing to Lulu. Search for “Teez-Her”
As a teacher, I do a lot of my work at home. Or, I should say, I do a lot of my work outside the classroom. When I’m home, I’m in my pajamas, but I’ve found that I actually get more work done when I leave the house and go work in a cafe. This way, I don’t feel bad if I’m grungy when I’m at home.
I read a blog post written by a woman who hated wearing pants, so she would wear dresses while hanging around the house. I’ve found that dresses with forgiving waistlines are great for looking nice while being very comfortable. Also, they go great with leggings.
I struggle with this too! I usually try to put workout clothes on in the AM, because then I’m compelled to workout if I get the chance. If I workout first thing, though, which is my preference, well, then I am usually in dirty workout clothes all day, sans shower and…yeah. No bueno. But on days I know I’m going to not workout, I do the same as you…leggings (Old Navy’s are thicker than Target’s, I think) and a t-shirt dress, scarf, etc.
Definitely wear something comfortable (read: yoga pants, sweatshirt), but I ALWAYS change out of my pajamas!
The days I work out at 6am, I sit in my workout clothes for most of the day. Ewwww. haha
From the advice I got on other WAH websites, I tried to always get up and get dressed in actual real clothes early in the morning. I’d usually get up, surf the net for a bit, eat breakfast, and then shower and get dressed by 11 or 12. I don’t really own yoga pants or any kind of loungewear, so that probably helped! I’d just wear jeans or a skirt (depending on the season), a tee or tank top, and sometimes a cardigan if I felt cold. It probably looked like your typical weekend wear, but since I was coming from the corporate world of PR it definitely felt relaxing to me! I suppose it just depends on what you’re used to.
Yoga pants are my dressy pants! They’re a step up from my flannel cupcake jammies at least. ;-) I’m also loving these “fancy” sweatshirts that are in style right now. I got one at Target and it’s got a hoodie/cowl neck. So comfy and also looks like I’m trying!
I work as a lawyer so I have to “dress up” every day for work and even though I would love if they introduced a super casual day every once in a while (sometimes I just have days where being in comfy pants and a flowy shirt would be all I need), I’ve come to like it. Not because of blouses (hate ’em) or the high heels but because I get into a work mode when I put them on and get rid of my work day when I take them off. And even though I’m a Chucks converse/Jeans-girl through and through, I also honestly find it nice to get a couply of nice things and feel great when I wear them for work (I just got into dresses!).
So I’d say for work-at-homers: Get a (comfortable) work wardrobe which (1) separates work from free time and (2) makes you feel good and “in business” when you wear it. Hope that helps coming from someone who can’t even do home-office ;-)
I have some excellent leggings from Victoria’s Secret that I adore!
Also, I’ve noticed when I work from home I really need to just shower to get motivated to put actual clothes on. I may not look my cutest but I consider putting clothes on that aren’t pajamas are a step in the right direction, ha.
I’m late to this conversation, but enjoying everyone’s comments. One thing I did when I worked from home, is that I got up, got dressed, and drove to get coffee. The act of getting out of the house, first thing in the morning, helped me get a productive start to the day.
I know they are pricey, but I really love JCrew leggings. They are comfy, don’t bunch in weird places, or bag out. Also, they haven’t faded either. An investment for me, but I have been really happy with them.
MOST days I get dressed. Not like, super dressed, just jeans or leggings and a t-shirt or sweater. Some days, I just let it go and wear my pajamas until I have to go somewhere, but I try to limit those days. But it’s just so easy! I’m so glad you asked the question about good leggings though — I have some from Target (hard to resist $6 leggings!), but want something sturdier. Working from home has so many perks, but it’s so easy to get lazy, ha.
We have totally talked about this!!! This is my 3rd year working from home… and I think I’ve finally figured it out. I have spent time buying workout clothes that are cute and also comfy, and I typically wear something more work-out-ey that I can easily leave the house, walk the dog, or just be comfy at home in. Then in the afternoon I’ll put on something a bit more clothing-ey like stretchy jeans/jeggings and a loose comfy top. I love dresses, and have a few that I keep on the ready that I won’t wear around the house but can throw on in the event I have to run out.
Oh – sock bun has saved my life. I literally NEVER wash my hair. Having my husband gone 4 days a week has some perks… :)
Invest in some cute/comfy dresses that you can wear over tights! That is a pretty comfy outfit to be in all day and then you can throw on boots and a scarf to go out. Though I pretty much live in leggings + long shirt/cardigan + scarf + boots on the weekends so who am I to talk :)