Working from home - does it matter what you wear?

What to wear to work is for many the first challenge of the day. For homeworkers it’s less of a priority as the only person likely to witness a sartorial disaster is the postman or an elderly neighbour. But should we apply a bit more thought to our working from home wardrobes?

A telephone interview for an article I recently penned on dress down Friday made me question whether my work from home attire needed sprucing up. It was when this pro-office casual interviewee said to me something along the lines of, “I’m probably wearing something not that much different to you,” assuming I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, that I had to stifle a giggle. I imagine as a senior level business professional, he wasn't wearing floral Primark pyjamas.

Giggling suppressed, I started to feel anxiety rising, as I feared I may actually be asked to reveal what I was wearing that Friday morning. Using every ounce of my interviewing prowess, I guided the interview off this potentially shameful track. I didn’t have to confess or lie on this occasion, but it did make me think about what I wear to work.

  

Does not having bothered to get out of my pyjamas to do a telephone interview show a lack of respect for the interviewee? Is slouching at my desk in joggers and a favourite hoodie a sign of a sloppy attitude? I hope not.

But just in case, I will be making more effort with my working from home attire. And this is only partly an excuse for another shopping spree.

Minimalism, midis and Mad Men

Watching a re-run of ‘The September Issue’, a documentary following Vogue’s Anna Wintour in the lead up to the publication of the (you guessed it) September issue, reminded me recently just how exciting September is.

It may be a time when we bid farewell to lazy days in the sun, bottomless jugs of Pimms and fancy free summer holiday adventures but I still always get excited as I flip the calendar over into September. It always feels like a new beginning after the laid back lull of the summer. Everything wakes up again re-energised. Including the fashion industry.

As the chill sets in I can’t wait to wrap up in a new season aviator (a must-have apparently and I’ve got my eager eyes on this one from Next) and clomp around in some new winter boots (loving these sock-lined clog boots from Topshop). But this blog is supposed to be about work and work issues, so any meandering off the subject to indulge my fashion interests should be kept to office friendly clobber. 

OK, back on track. The good news is the Autumn/Winter season trends seem particularly easy to translate into work wear this year. 

Minimalism. It’s a key theme in these austere times and is perfect for offices with dress codes that are firmly stuck in the dark ages. This collarless dress from Mango is perfect. But the key minimalist winter fashion item has to be the camel coat. The ultimate indulgence when it comes to covering up. And easy to slip over a suit. Coats like this military inspired one from Karen Millen or this cape from Pied a Terre just ooze a sense of classic elegance.

The midi. Now when it comes to skirt lengths little old me prefers them above the knee. So, I need a bit of convincing when it comes to the new midi length. With a hemline hovering somewhere in the dangerously unflattering (in my opinion) territory between your knee and ankle, it's definitely channelling the respectable chic vibe that most offices prefer. I prefer to see them pencil tight though like this one from Oasis.

The Mad Men craze. The next series is just about to hit our screens and everyone is talking about Christina Hendricks (who plays voluptuous office siren Joan Holloway). Curve complimenting dresses (like this one from L. K. Bennett) are destined to bring a bit of Mad Men's Manhattan sparkle (but hopefully less of the sexism, adultery, alcohol and tobacco abuse and scandal) to a grey Autumn day at work.

And that's all from me. Happy September. And happy shopping.

My ode to the shift dress - the heroine of the summer work wardrobe

Today's Afternoon Debate has a fashion theme. I could label it as 'personal branding' to give it a more professional edge, but the truth is this post is a personal indulgence. It's all about shopping. Yes, today's dilemma is what do you wear to work now the weather is hotting up and a suit feels too stuffy?

In my new self-employed life, I primarily work from home. Most of my communication is via email or telephone. If I wanted to, I could do this wearing my PJs and slippers and just put on my most professional voice (I never do anything so slobby as this though, of course). I no longer have the need for an extensive work wardrobe. And I miss this. Although there is a certain pleasure in not having to worry about what I wear to work each day (no more ironing shirts for me!), it's also an aspect of office life I sometimes mourn. Which is why I'm writing a blog on the subject. It feels like a wonderful indulgence, a release of my shopping frustrations and an excuse to do some internet window shopping.

It's that time of year when clothes are on our mind. A few sunny days into the summer and you find yourself lusting after new lighter and brighter summer clothes.  It's wardrobe transition time (or an excuse to shop). But when it comes to work, how much can you change what you wear? How can you maintain professional and credible image when all I want to wear is floaty florals, loose linen and flip flops?

But fear not, I have one answer right here. I put forward the shift dress as the ultimate solution to the summer work wear conundrum. Still smart and tailored, giving a professional image whilst being a bit cooler and opening up a world of possibilities in terms of exciting colours and fabulous prints.

Office clothing is often far too dull; a depressing combination of black and grey with a flash of white here and there. Everyone blends into one. But if you do want to stand out from the crowd, don't be scared to introduce some bright colours into the mix - see this dress from French Connection (also great if you like to keep your upper arms covered) or this bright blue shift from Next.

Or you may prefer to make your summer fashion statement with a bold pattern - this gingham print dress from Oasis has a pretty summery feel and this Jaegar shift would take you seamlessly from a day at work to a glass of Pimms in the evening.

But my favourite of the season has to be this beautiful dress from Jesire. The vintage feel and summery, lemon shade has got work summer party written all over it!

Happy shopping!