In the middle of a pandemic. Going nowhere. And what to wear — matters!
Yeah, that’s right. WTW when you’re WFH. And why you should GAF.
Yeah, that’s right. WTW when you’re WFH. And why you should GAF.
Let’s start by getting this out of the way. It is ok (it is!) for shallow concerns (shoes and truffle salt, for example) to live side by side with fear, pandemic, and sorrow. Throughout history, little things have sustained us through bigger things. Small pleasures have made life more dignified and joyful and survivable. Personally, The Hills comes to mind. In the throes of divorce and all the related grief, I would say to myself: “Well, next week there will be another episode of The Hills.” It helped.
Getting dressed matters to me. It matters to me as a joyful art form. It matters to me as a way to shape my day and arm myself for challenges. Putting together the right outfit, a feel-good, moment-appropriate outfit, is a ritualistic creative process that has implications for how I feel inside.
As a consultant who is rarely in the office, I could conceivably stay home in sweats for days on end, working solo and taking video calls. But I’d be miserable. I just don’t believe in that on so many levels. As a business, Honor Code is all about the face-to-face whenever possible. There are certain intangibles you get when meeting live. An open and honest exchange is the foundation of who we are. And so is helping in meaningful and multiple ways — which we can’t do without being there and hearing and seeing what’s happening. But also — I like to get dressed.
I like a separation of home and office. I like a separation of go to work and go to bed. I like the dignity of this separation. I like the fun of this separation, the fun of “going out into the world!” Think of Mary Tyler Moore tossing that hat. While I realize I can’t “turn the world on with my smile” (also — ew) I want to feel that fresh air in my face, skyscrapers above, anything-is-possible feeling! I find my work, the work itself, exhilarating. But I don’t think you can feel exhilarated in the same way if you head downstairs in the same thing you slept in and just start banging away on the laptop. So I choose not to. I make meetings, lots of them, and I dress for them. And all of it is a ritual I enjoy.
(Also — I have an “in between outfit.” By which I mean, when I come home and take off whatever meeting outfit I had on, I put on something else before PJs. That’s for myself and — I know this sounds kinda 1950s — to honor my husband! I just feel there’s something inherently “I give up on passion” about getting home and getting into PJs. I don’t put on a slinky dress or anything. But some jeans and a cute T-shirt with a little style.)
Are you with me so far? A little bit? So now, here comes the pandemic. And suddenly I am fully WFH. And I’m not the only one. Virtually all of our clients are closed on site and functioning as remote-only for the forseeable future. There go my in-person meetings. And now you’re WFH too! So. We could all put workout tights on and listen to MSNBC all day while singing happy birthday (2x!) for handwashing until our hands crack. But might I suggest instead, MSNBC limited to 1 hour a day. HBD hand washing yes, but maybe some nice lotion after. And the following WFH fashion thoughts:
Depressing yields depression: If you wear depressing clothes, you’ll feel depressed. Don’t put on stuff you hate. Things that make you feel hideous. Anything ripped/stained. Morose colors. Also, if you put on PJs, you’ll get tired. And seriously, that’s the ultimate in giving up.
Don’t sweat it: Working out is great for the psyche. Lingering around in workout clothes is great for no one. We’ve all been there — you do a workout, and then you’re just going to answer one email, and then, boom. All day sweaty fare. No bueno. If you’re going to work out, great. Go put on actual workout clothes. Then afterwards, take a shower and change. Pronto.
Sweats upgrade: I think soft (not tight! not clingy!) jeans are great for WFH days. My current fave is a Moussy high rise, purchased 1–2 sizes bigger than my usual. They make me feel like I’m doing something w/o being overdressed in my own home. But if you want to keep things soft, pick sweats that aren’t super sporty. I love the Monrow solid sweats and they are a solid investment. I have a dark green pair from 2011 that’s sharp as ever. You could add a blazer and a boot in a pinch and go outside, too.
Speaking of blazers…: I love my soft blazer from Dudley Stephens. It’s like if a sweatshirt and a blazer had a baby. I wear this around the house a lot. And again, you can run out if you have to. Or get on a video call and look like you have your sh*t together. Which pandemic or not, you do. I also like their long tunic (I like it a couple sizes big), which is like a dress you can hang out in with leggings and feel put together.
Leg it out. Yes, leggings all day is an option. But again, create some separation. Have workout leggings and go-to-work leggings. The best, most flattering, softest leggings I have ever owned are these from The Row and I know the price is crazy. But I wear these to actual in-person meetings with a blazer. I wear them to everything. I always feel amazing in them. I also love the leggings (and honestly everything) from Paridaez for WFH. It’s all chic and dignified and meeting-ready and uplifting. You’ll feel like a minimalist, not a slob who gave up.
Do not dare to go bare(foot): This one is controversial, I know. But unless it’s cultural, I don’t take my shoes off. And I don’t want to walk around shoeless when I’m working from home. That episode of Sex & the City says it all. I might cuddle on a chair w/o shoes, but the shoes are right there. I’m not eating dinner shoeless or taking a meeting with my toes exposed, whether you can see them or not. Still, boots in the house seems like a lot. I gravitate toward something slipper-y but with the looks of a shoe, or a fun slide. Or a bright moc.
Party on top: For a video call especially, I try to have something on top that lends some interest + authority. Maybe it’s just a puffy sleeve (this rugby is fave of mine; there are used versions for sale on eBay + Poshmark). Sometimes a big pair of hoops. Or the fleece blazer. Or a cute scarf I toss on. It helps that I have to take meetings in my closet, because everywhere else I go my cat tries to make out with me.
So who’s with me? Hanx just reminded us that “there’s no crying in baseball.” No there is not. And putting on the uniform reminds you that it’s so.
Hit the clapping hands if you’re (even a little bit) with me. Also — come hang with me on insta @heymrssolomon — see you there.