Watch the video above from my YouTube channel to discover my top five work from home essentials for men and women.
When looking through articles about work from home clothing essentials- as you would imagine, I saw never ending links about buying sweats, workout gear and stuff that you’d never wear out in public.
Don’t get me wrong, those WFH clothing essentials look extremely comfortable. But there not something you’d actually wear out to work.
If you want to be productive, focused and motivated while working from home- you should get dressed in a WFH outfit like you’re going into the office.
Here are my top 5 picks for work from home clothing essentials (for men and women) that you should have in your closet today- that you can wear NOW and later.
Essential 01. The Cozy Sweater
A comfortable, put together sweater should be a staple in your work from home wardrobe, year around.
Not only is it easy to wear, but they suit all body types and you can go as bold or subtle with the color as you’d like.
For those that are looking to invest in a long term wardrobe, I highly recommend in more luxe fabrications like cashmere or cashmere blends. Cashmere is a natural fabric that breathes, is so comfortable and fits all body types so well.
The good thing about buying a cozy sweater is that you’ll be able to create a more dress up work from home outfit quickly if you need. Layer on top of a collared shirt underneath and you’ll have a business casual outfit with hardly any effort.
MEN: Italic Cashmere Crewneck Sweater | WOMEN: 360 Cashmere Tamar Pullover
Essential 02. Lightweight Layering Pieces
One of my favorite essentials for those working at home is incorporating lightweight layers in the form of zip hoodies (left) or long cardigans (right).
By adding a lightweight layering you can instantly take your outfit from “EH” to “WOW” just by throwing on a third layer- aka a lightweight layering piece.
Best of all, not only can you wear this piece comfortably around the house, BUT also outside. They are just the right amount of warmth that you can layer underneath your outerwear and not heat up too much.
Remember that you’ll want to first invest in pieces that are in core colors, as you’ll get the most wear out of this. Once you’re covered in the core pieces then you can incorporate bolder colors and prints.
PRO TIP: When I was the Senior Buyer at Equinox, zip hoodies always sold better than pullover hoodies. Why?
Because people want low maintenance and that means not having to pull anything over your head. If you’re unsure about what to buy, start with a hoodie or cardigan.
MEN: Robert Barakett Dobie Zip Hoodie | WOMEN: ATM Women’s Long Cashmere
Essential 03. A Fitted T-Shirt
I’m often asked what are the essentials that you should have in your wardrobe and no matter your body type, location, profession, age– a great fitting t-shirt is one that is a MUST for everyone.
Not only can you wear them casually on weekends or make them a part of your work from home wardrobe, but you can also dress them up. Also, you’ll be able to wear them year around- long story short, they offer the most amount of versatility for your work from home outfits.
But not all t-shirts are created alike!
There are so many options out there- different fabrics, fits and styles– how do you know what’s best for you?
I always advise to opt for a basic crew neck t-shirt (vs. a v-neck or a henley) because it’s classic and will give you the most versatility and comfort.
For fabric, I’d invest in something that’s the coziest.
Yes I said get the most comfortable fabric out there.
I highly recommend a Pima Cotton- it’s a type of cotton that has longer fibers for maximum comfort and also is known for its durability. (Read more about the different types of cottons here)
MEN: Mack Weldon Pima Short Sleeve Tee | WOMEN: Lou and Grey Softserve Tee
Essential 04. Collared shirt
If you’re going to have a lot of video calls throughout the day, you want to make sure that you’re showing up in professional attire.
One way to take your casual work from home uniform to more professional is to wear a collared shirt.
When you wear a collared shirt, you automatically give your look a more put together feel that will make you stand out but not be the center of attention. This is true for work from home or whether you’re wondering what to wear to your office.
For men, the typical go-to collared shirt is a long sleeve button down dress shirt, which is what the average guy puts on every day.
If you don’t want to look like every other guy, opt for a short sleeve (or long sleeve!) polo shirt.
A polo shirt is a modern way to look powerful and put together for any situation. Best of all they are very versatile, comfortable and look professional without trying too hard.
For women, I’m a big fan of short or long sleeve button down shirts.
I recommend investing in a more luxe fabric like asilkor silk blend- this natural fiber breathes really well, is lightweight and looks so beautiful paired with a skirt, trousers or even jeans.
WOMEN: Equipment Leema Button Up Shirt | MEN: Theory Polo Geometric Knit Shirt
Essential 05. Comfortable Socks
Socks are an essential piece for a work from home wardrobe- especially if the weather runs chilly most of the year.
Think of investing in your socks as an accessory and you can apply my core color principle when deciding what color to invest in.
I highly recommend doing some texture with your socks- what does that mean?
Instead of doing a solid navy colorway- do a heathered navy instead. If you’re feeling more bold, you can incorporate a print like the zebra print on the left.
Next Level Wardrobe helps professional men and women create stylish and versatile wardrobes. Contact us if you want help upgrading your style.
WOMEN: Tabio Zebra Fluffy Short Crew Sock | MEN: Tie bar Solid Texture Grey Socks
