No time like the present to get back into this thing. I have been working from home for several months now, and probably will be for several more months. Aside from all of the real struggles of the situation, something that has thrown me for a loop- what does one wear while working from home?
My wardrobe prior to this situation was probably:
50% work clothes
25% workout clothes
20% weekend/casual clothes
5% dress up clothes
While a portion of the clothing in each of these categories has crossover potential, I felt like I needed to beef up weekend wear and make it a little more polished. Hello video calls. Speaking of which, there’s also a lot of business on top and party on the bottom.
So what does this translate to? I’ve developed somewhat of a uniform with items I’ll swap in depending on my meeting schedule. Here goes:
Linen Tees
I might have this tee from JCrew in 4 colors… Some of the many reasons include: 1. it’s always on sale, 2. I like the way it drapes, 3. it’s so easy to layer in the AC with a blazer or cardigan (because my apt is the arctic circle), and works by itself when I need to run a quick errand outside in the 90 degree weather. I also picked it because it will be versatile for the long run way beyond the pandemic. You know I also have a Gap, Banana, and Lou & Grey version. You can never have enough plain tees.
Comfy Jeans
Brace yourself- this is a hot take. I prefer jeans while I’m working from home. I know, it’s blasphemy. In my defense, in my resting summer state I wear jean shorts all day long. Shorts are not comfortable when I’m sitting at my makeshift desk. And while I wear leggings to the gym, I’ve never been a casual legging wearer. I prefer a more structured pant, and the ultimate solution has been these straight leg Gap jeans– sized up for some of that quarantine room, if you know what I mean.
Blazer
Another red hot take- blazers for working from home. Here’s why. I already own them, and it’s something that will keep me warm, and, unlike a sweatshirt, gives me some structure and I never have to wash. I cannot stress this enough- my apartment is cold. My thermostat is set at 71 and I freeze everyday of the year, yet I’m not interested in changing the temp. I don’t think it will fix the problem.
Slippers
This is an obvious must have. I don’t have these in brown, I have them in gold, but JCrew doesn’t have the gold anymore. I wear these inside the apartment and my Rainbows outside my apartment.
Blue Light Glasses
My new favorite accessory. I am not willing to tell you how many pairs I have. They offer two benefits: 1. the project you from blue light, 2. they’re a great conversation starter on the WebEx calls. I’ve bought them from Anthro, Jcrew Factory, DIFF, and ShopBop.
So there you go- that’s the basic Sadie model. Sometimes I throw on a blouse or faux wrap shirt instead of the tee. I’m curious to see how this look evolves if the weather ever changes. Pray for Virginia, humidity is a killer.
What are you wearing to work from home these days?
I haven’t been doing too much shopping lately because it seems to be too late for winter clothing and the stores are just starting to release their shorts and tee shirts. I’m trying to hold out so I can see the full spring and summer collections before I make decisions. Also, all of my usual haunts are too boring right now. There are a lot of basics, not a lot of statement pieces out there. I’m hoping my luck will improve as the weather gets warmer.
PS- Please note the tropical color scheme below. Can you handle it? Note to self- think about colors other than blue, white, and grey.
Hits
I needed a new white tee, and this one caught my eye in the Loft. It’s actually by Lou & Grey, and it’s a linen blend which gives it a great texture. It’s not the most opaque tee, but I can work with it. I like the fit and the shirttail hem- it’s perfect for the spring and summer.
I’ve been thinking about light wash jeans for a while. These from the Gap caught my eye because I love a high rise, and I like how Gap jeans fit me. They are pretty stretchy but thick enough to give structure rather than being just glorified leggings. I often by jeans from J.Crew, but when I want to take a chance on a different wash, Gap is my go-to for something a little more economical. I have worn them the last three weekends straight.
I’ve also been looking at mules for a while now. I almost got a pair from Chinese Laundry last year, but I never pulled the trigger. I got these by Vince Camuto from QVC. The price was right, and I was being indecisive about whether I wanted a high or low heel, so these were a great middle ground. I will also be wearing these every weekend this spring.
Misses
I’m obsessed with idea of getting a maxi dress but this one from Banana did not fit at all. I made the mistake of reading the reviews after I purchased it, and they all said that it ran several sizes too small. I sized up just in case, because it’s a button up, but that was not enough. I hate when sizing is inconsistent across a brand. The hunt continues…
I’m so ready for warm weather- hence the shorts. These shorts from Athleta looked really cute and comfortable, but the proportions were off for me. The waistband fit perfectly, but apparently my rear end was just too much for them to handle. Oh well. Return.
Have you had any good or bad shopping luck recently?
Sadie Dishes 