There have been few bright spots during this pandemic season. However, one of the small positives has been the opportunity to work from home. More specifically, many have enjoyed the opportunity to roll out of bed and start working without having to go through the typical routine of showering and putting on professional attire.
However, working from home doesn’t mean being invisible. Zoom meetings have become the new norm, which means you still have to care for your appearance. The question is, what do you wear? And how do you make sure you look good without overdoing it?
Here are a few helpful fashion tips for online meetings (and classes)!
- Dress to Impress
While there’s a tendency to underdress – and your employer might even allow you to show up in casual dress – there’s something to be said for putting on some nice clothes.
According to a study conducted by psychological scientists, clothing has an impact on your thoughts and the ability to think in creative and abstract ways. And while we’re aware that it impacts how others see us, you may be surprised to know that it influences how you perceive yourself.
The study suggests that people feel most trustworthy, authoritative, and competent when wearing formal business attire. Likewise, they feel friendliness when in business casual attire. Consider this next time you get dressed for a Zoom meeting.
On the other hand, you probably don’t want to overdo it. When meeting virtually, it’s hard enough to make a connection with people via a screen. Being overdressed for the meeting can make you appear stuffy and unapproachable.
If you’re attending an online real estate license course, you probably don’t need a suit and tie! Similarly, business attire would be overkill for a casual cocktail hour with coworkers. However, if it’s a job interview, you might want to go all out. In other words, dress for the occasion.
- Stay Comfortable
The last thing you want to do is be stiff and uncomfortable. So while you should look professional from the waist up, there’s nothing wrong with keeping it casual down below. A comfy pair of paints and soft socks can go a long way. (Pro Tip: Always test your camera before going live to make sure you’re only showing from the waist up. Should you have to stand up during the meeting, turn off your camera during the transition.)
- Avoid Bold Prints
It’s best to stick with solids and very soft patterns. Anything with plaid, stripes, or intense prints can cause a distorted look on the screen. This may throw other people off and serve as a distraction from what you’re saying/communicating in the meeting.
- Keep a Quick-Change in Your Office
If you’re like most people, you have some meetings here and there. However, most of the day is spent off-camera. If this is the case, there’s no sense in being in professional meeting attire for the entire workday (unless you want to).
To make things easy and comfortable, keep a couple of quick-change options in your office so that you can easily pop something on to have a last-minute meeting without having to run to your bedroom or closet.
- Spritz Up
Smell is a powerful scent. It has the ability to change how you think and feel at any given moment. If you typically wear a certain type of deodorant or perfume when you go into the office, putting some on before a meeting could naturally coax your brain into “work mode.”
- Wear Your Hair Well
People on the other end of your meeting or class only have a limited number of things to look at. And while they’ll certainly notice your attire, they’ll also take notice of your hair. Wearing your hair well is a very important tip for looking your best. You don’t have to go through an extensive hair care routine, but at least run a brush through it.
Look Your Best (On-Screen or Off-Screen)
At the end of the day, you don’t need to do anything special or unique to look good in a Zoom meeting or online class. The best rule of thumb is to dress like you would if you were going into an office or classroom under normal circumstances. If you do this, you’ll never look or feel out of place.
