The work-from-home revolution has changed how we dress for the job. That perfect balance of looking professional enough for video calls while staying comfortable enough for your home office can be tricky to nail down. Nobody wants to sit in stiff dress clothes all day at their kitchen table, but showing up to an important meeting in your favorite worn-out t-shirt isn’t going to cut it either.
The good news? You can look sharp on camera without sacrificing comfort. This guide will help you build a practical work-from-home wardrobe that keeps you looking professional when it matters while still feeling like you’re dressed for your own space.
The Video Call Dilemma
Video calls create a unique style challenge. Unlike being in an office where people see your full outfit, on video calls people typically only see you from the chest up. This creates what I call the “video call mullet” – professional on top, comfort on the bottom.
This visual limitation means you can strategically focus your efforts (and budget) on what actually appears on camera while prioritizing comfort for everything else. It’s not about cutting corners – it’s about being practical about what matters.
What People Actually Notice
When you’re on video calls, people primarily notice:
- Your upper body – Shoulders, chest, and arms
- Your collar area – Necklines and collars stand out prominently
- Your face framing – How your shirt/top frames your face
- Color and pattern – Some colors and patterns look better on camera than others
The rest? It’s typically off-camera or barely noticeable. This doesn’t mean you should wear pajama pants to important meetings (the one time you stand up will be the time everyone sees), but it does mean you can prioritize comfort for those items.
Upper Body Focus: What Actually Matters
Since your upper body is the star of the video call show, let’s focus there first:
Collar Choices That Work
The area around your neck frames your face on camera, making it the most important part of your video call look:
- Collared shirts – Button-ups create structure and instantly look more put-together
- Polo shirts – A good middle ground between casual and professional
- Crew neck sweaters – Clean, simple necklines look intentional
- Quarter-zip pullovers – Practical and professional without trying too hard
What to avoid: Deep V-necks, stretched-out collars, or anything that looks like sleepwear.
Colors and Patterns That Look Good on Camera
Not all colors and patterns translate well to video. Here’s what works best:
- Solid, mid-tone colors – Navy, medium blue, olive, burgundy, and gray look reliably good
- Subtle patterns – Small patterns won’t create distracting moiré effects
- Muted over bright – Very bright colors can look overwhelming on camera
What to avoid: Pure white (often blows out on camera), tiny stripes or checks (can create strange visual effects), and anything neon or extremely bright.
Remember that choosing colors that work with your skin tone is even more important on video calls, where lighting can sometimes wash you out.
Comfortable Professional Pieces
The key to work-from-home style is finding pieces that look professional but feel like weekend wear. Here are some wardrobe workhorses worth investing in:
Upper Body All-Stars
- Stretch button-ups – Shirts with some stretch move with you as you shift in your chair
- Performance polos – Modern polos in technical fabrics offer comfort and structure
- Knit blazers – For important meetings, an unstructured knit blazer feels like a sweatshirt but looks like you mean business
- Merino sweaters – Temperature-regulating, comfortable, and professional-looking
Bottom Half Comfort Champions
While these rarely show on camera, you still need to be prepared for those moments when you need to stand up:
- 5-pocket pants with stretch – Look like chinos, feel like sweatpants
- Dark, clean jeans – For creative fields or casual workplaces
- Performance chinos – Technical fabrics offer comfort while looking professional
The stretch factor is your secret weapon here. Many brands now make traditional-looking workwear with hidden stretch and comfort features that make sitting at a desk all day much more pleasant.
Zoom-Ready in 5 Minutes
For those surprise calls or mornings when you’re running late, having a few go-to moves can save you:
The Quick Change Artists
Keep these items within arm’s reach of your workspace:
- A solid button-up shirt – Can go over almost any t-shirt in seconds
- A simple quarter-zip – Instantly elevates any basic tee underneath
- A dark, solid blazer – The ultimate “I’m professional” piece for important calls
The 60-Second Upgrade
Even if you have literally one minute before a call, you can:
- Switch from a graphic tee to a solid crew neck
- Add a simple watch (yes, it can be visible and adds a touch of professionalism)
- Run your hands through your hair with a tiny bit of water to tame bed head
- Position yourself in front of the most neutral background available
These small changes take seconds but significantly impact how put-together you appear.
Managing Different Call Situations
Not all video calls require the same level of formality. Having formulas for different scenarios helps you stay appropriate without overthinking:
Daily Team Check-ins
For regular calls with your immediate team where comfort and consistency matter:
- Polo shirts or casual button-ups
- Simple crew or quarter-zip sweaters
- Clean t-shirts in solid colors (if your workplace is very casual)
Client Meetings
When representing your company to outsiders:
- Button-up shirts in colors that suit you
- A blazer for important first meetings
- Slightly more attention to grooming
Upper Management or Job Interviews
When you need to make your best impression:
- Your best-fitting button-up shirt
- A blazer that fits well through the shoulders
- Consider a tie if that’s standard in your industry
- Take extra care with lighting and background
For interviews especially, it’s better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed. You can always remove a blazer or tie if you realize you’re more formal than needed.
Beyond Clothing: Environment and Grooming
Your appearance on video calls isn’t just about what you wear – your environment and grooming also impact how professional you seem:
Background Basics
A few simple adjustments make a big difference:
- Position yourself with a neutral wall or organized bookshelf behind you
- Clean up visible areas and remove distracting items
- Consider a simple virtual background if your space isn’t ideal
- Good lighting matters more than people realize – face a window or add a small desk lamp
Grooming Shortcuts
Working from home doesn’t mean abandoning basic grooming, but you can streamline:
- Keep your haircut maintained, focusing on the sides and areas around your face
- For facial hair, edges matter most – keep necklines and cheek lines defined
- A quick splash of water and comb through hair before calls makes a big difference
These small grooming habits only take minutes but significantly impact how put-together you appear.
Building Your WFH Wardrobe: What to Buy
If you’re setting up a dedicated work-from-home wardrobe, focus your investments strategically:
Worth Spending More On
- 2-3 excellent video-friendly shirts – These get the most visibility
- A comfortable, unstructured blazer – For important meetings
- Quality webcam – Surprisingly, this makes your appearance look better overall
Save Your Money On
- Multiple dress pants – 1-2 pairs of comfortable, decent-looking pants is sufficient
- Dress shoes – Unless you’re regularly walking on camera, these rarely matter
- Accessories – Minimal accessories read better on video anyway
The beauty of work-from-home style is that you need fewer items overall. You’re not dealing with the same frequency of laundering when you’re not commuting daily, sweating on public transit, or sitting in stuffy offices.
Conclusion
The work-from-home revolution has created new style rules that prioritize both comfort and professionalism in ways traditional office wear never could. By understanding what actually matters on camera, you can create a simplified, comfortable wardrobe that still presents you as capable and professional.
Remember the key principles: focus on your upper body, invest in comfortable yet professional-looking pieces, have quick-change options ready, and adjust your level of formality to match the importance of the call.
The best part? This approach isn’t just more comfortable – it’s more efficient. You’ll spend less time and money on clothes while still looking exactly as professional as you need to be. That’s a work-from-home win-win.
