As someone who works from home, I know that it’s very tempting to secretly wear pajama pants with your nice top while you’re on a virtual call with a client. Or to roll out of bed and head directly for your inbox, only to look up and realize that it’s noon and you still haven’t showered. While doing those things once in a while can feel luxurious, doing them regularly can make you feel like your work life is one big sick day.

How we dress affects how we feel, and how we feel affects our productivity and our happiness. Here are some tips that have helped my clients and myself become better versions of our work-at-home* selves:

Get what I like to call “grocery store presentable.” Even if you probably won’t be interacting with another human being, take 20-30 minutes to get dressed, wash your face, and fix your hair. Don’t make getting ready its own project, but do something to help yourself feel ready for the day. And then if you do have to run to the post office or the grocery store later, getting dressed isn’t a hurdle to leaving the house.
Don’t reinvent the wheel. Trying to come up with a new and exciting outfit every morning is a recipe for disaster no matter where you work. This is where utilizing outfit templates (sign up for my email list if you haven’t already gotten your copy of my Easy Outfit Templates!) or even a daily uniform can come in handy.
Dress for comfort. I believe in dressing for comfort no matter what, but I think it’s especially important when you work from home and the siren song of pajama pants is always calling. Make sure your clothing fits well and doesn’t distract you with uncomfortable fabrics. Stretch denim, ponte knit, and whatever fabrics you enjoy most are your friends.
Accessories are essential. A lot of my work-at-home clients cite their outfits feeling “unfinished” as a major source of wardrobe dissatisfaction, and there’s no easier way to fix that problem than with accessories. Even if you wear the same pair of silver filigree hoop earrings every single day, they’ll still dress up your look. Lipstick counts too!
Be intentional with your layers. Try not to throw on your ratty old robe when you’re working, even if it is the warmest and coziest thing you own. Better to spend a little time finding a great cardigan, a lightweight knit poncho, or a chic pullover that will keep you feeling in work mode. When you find it, buy it in two colors.
Make your workspace comfortable. This isn’t strictly wardrobe-related, but when I upgraded my home office - investing in a laptop stand, an ergonomic keyboard, and a comfier office chair - I felt much less of a desire to wear house clothes when working, because I wasn’t trying to compensate for an uncomfortable workspace.

What are your favorite ways to dress up your work-at-home wardrobe? I’d love to hear some fresh tips!

*This post is geared toward people who work from home in any capacity, including stay at home/homeschooling parents, people who are retired, people who work from home on video calls, and people who work from home while never seeing another soul.