5 Tips for Dressing Professionally While Staying Comfortable

Long gone are the days when everyone wore pajama bottoms to their Zoom meetings from home and knew all their coworkers were doing the same. There was an unspoken agreement that, because this was temporary, it was allowed as long as no one brought attention to the fact that it was happening. 

The temporary nature of remote work has since become more or less permanent for many businesses, as the cost-savings that come with needing less office space are too appealing. Pajama bottoms are no longer acceptable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be comfortable while still looking professional. Here are five tips for dressing professionally both at home and at the office, without compromising on comfort.  

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

Stick to pants

Sure, dresses and skirts look incredibly cute and are a great way to express your femininity. However, even the coziest sweater dress still leaves your legs bare. Unless you’re planning to wear leggings underneath that dress, you’re never going to be as comfortable as you would be in a pair of pants. 

Wearing pants doesn’t have to mean expanding your collection of black slacks. Look for comfortable trousers in a range of colors and patterns to allow your sense of style to show through. 

Material matters

What puts most people off dressing in business attire is the thought of the material of those office-ready pieces. You know the type – unbreathable, slightly scratchy, inorganic material. 

When looking for professional clothing pieces, look for items that are made of cotton, linen, or wool. These materials feel better and allow your skin to breathe. If you prefer to order your clothing online, make sure you check the material composition, and order from shops that offer free returns so you don’t end up with a low-quality item you know you’ll never wear in your closet. 

Conservative cuts

If you’re not fond of suits, blazers, and classic button-up shirts, you can still look professional. The key to making sure your outfit still looks elevated without these business staples is to choose more conservative items. A cozy mock neck sweater looks more professional than a v-neck sweater, while a scoop neck tank is best paired with a cardigan. 

If you’re having trouble finding the perfect business casual attire, look into workwear designers that can create custom pieces for you. Though it may cost a little more, it may be worth it if it’s something you’ll wear for years to come.  

Sensible shoes

Though a non-issue if you’re working exclusively from home, skip the heels in the office and find a pair of shoes that are comfortable. Life is too short to waste on uncomfortable footwear. 

Don’t forget hair and skincare

Over the past couple of years, many women have stopped wearing makeup daily and are enjoying having a fresh face. Though those old pressures to wear makeup to work remain, you can look put together without any at all just by taking the time to style your hair and follow a skincare regimen. 

Natural beauty care will give you glowing, fresh skin that looks great on its own or under makeup. For your hair, you don’t need to do anything fancy; just make sure you don’t look like you’ve just rolled out of bed, and you’ll be good to go.