How To Dress When You Work From Home (Without Feeling Sloppy)

A capsule wardrobe for remote work all starts with the tops, especially when it comes to Zoom calls. These are the most comfortable tops you can wear when you’re working from home and want the PJ feel without looking like you just got up.

Sweaters

All hail sweaters for being the coziest and most acceptable tops for professional settings. Whether you’re fully remote or need to pop into the office every once in a while, a few cute sweaters make looking good easy. Try to have a mix of fits and styles, with tailored turtleneck sweaters, oversized wool sweaters, cashmere V-necks, and slim cardigans.

Loose Button-Downs

I love an oversized button-down that gives off an easygoing but chic vibe, but a well-fitted button-down works just as well. Cuff the sleeves for a get-to-work kind of look or keep it simple to stay refined. I like going for neutrals like light blue, white, or soft beige, but also believe everyone should have one striped button-down.

Elevated Sweatshirts

Believe it or not, you can make a hoodie or pullover sweatshirt work for Zoom meeting outfits. But this can’t be your stained, sentimental hoodie from college. We need something a little sharper. Look for sweatshirts with clean lines and interesting details, like embroidery around the hood, a split neckline, elegant stripes, floral patterns, or classy buttons.

On hotter days or times when you want something that leans toward smart rather than cushy, these tops are perfect. They’re still comfortable, but give you a more sophisticated and awake look.

Flattering Tees

Flattering tees are not the comfy shirts you wear to bed. Instead, I’m talking about boxy tees with distinct lines, fitted V-necks and scoop necks, ribbed designs, or trendy loose tees. Stay away from graphic tees when you have Zoom calls, unless your company has an edgy vibe.

Sleek Tanks

Like with tees, you can find interesting silhouettes and fabrics to elevate your look and make it feel more professional without actually dressing up. These can be fitted, boxy, cropped, flowy, or any other shape you want. Don't be afraid to play around with patterns and unique details that give your look a personalized touch.

Satin Blouses

I can’t get enough satin and silk in my closet. While these materials come off as lavish and dressy, they’re supremely comfortable, making them the ultimate WFH style hack. I don’t care if it’s a sleeveless shell, a billowy button-down, a cropped tee, or a wrapped blouse—satin always feels fresh and luxe, and it looks that way on camera.

For hybrid office outfits, finding work pants can be a special challenge. You want something comfy enough for lowkey Fridays working on the couch, but polished enough for days when you’re beckoned into the office. These are those pants.

Stretch Jeans

I’m not talking about jeggings, because I think we should leave those in the 2010s. But you can find comfortable jeans in all kinds of silhouettes that just have a little extra stretch compared to classic denim. You can still wear your go-to jean style without the waist digging into you throughout the day or feeling so stiff you can’t cross your legs.

Baggy Denim

If you’re not a fan of stretchy denim, you can stick with traditional denim for work-from-home outfits. In this case, I recommend opting for a slightly baggier silhouette, like barrel jeans or boyfriend jeans, so that you can move around more comfortably.

Cargo Pants

Taking a note from Kim Possible’s style book, I think cargo pants can be chic when worn right. The bulky look, ample pockets, and grunge-leaning vibe can be a sensational contrast to dressier tops and accessories. Wear sporty cargo pants with a crisp, fitted button-down, intricate embroidered tank top, or plush sweater.

Wide-Leg Slacks

Oh, wide-leg slacks, how I love you. They feel like sweatpants, but they look like you’re trying, and that’s the dream. Get a pair in all the neutrals: beige, grey, black, chocolate, brown, etc. You can pair these with a basic fitted tee or elevate them even more with a satin blouse, and you’ll always look like a true professional.

We can take the comfort a step further with these more relaxed bottoms. They’re not as ideal for hybrid office outfits, so save these for the Mondays and Fridays when no one is willing to go to the office.

Sleek Joggers

Joggers can look like sweatpants, but they can also have a more tailored and refined aesthetic. Shop for dressy joggers, and you’ll never want for WFH pants again. The smartest ones are made from materials like tencel, satin, silk blends, cupro, and knits that signal a mature and easygoing style.

Linen Pants

Linen pants are just as fabulous for WFH days as they are dreamy vacations in Greece. Wear them with one of your loose button-downs for a resort look during spring and summer, or pair them with a fuzzy sweater for a winter work-from-home outfit.

Unique Track Pants

If a hoodie can be elevated, so can track pants. These days, brands like Nike and adidas make track pants with rich colors, dainty floral prints, lace details, embroidery, and other elements that kick them up a notch. You get athletic comfort with a sporty and fresh style, and they go well with simple tees and tanks.

Leggings

I know many of you probably came here to get out of your leggings rut, but they can be elevated with the right tops and accessories. Wear an oversized sweater, a long blazer, or a big button-down to hide the top of the pants. I recommend avoiding leggings with prominent brand logos or flashy designs like sheer panels or animal prints.

Work-from-home clothes don’t always have to be loungewear-adjacent items. Dresses can be casual enough that you won’t be itching to get out of them all day, and you’ll become the most fashionable person on the Zoom call.

Shirt Dress

I’ll never say no to a chill shirt dress. You probably won’t get away with an oversized tee, but an actual shirt dress looks effortlessly cool and collected. It could be a standard cotton T-shirt dress or a breezy button-down dress. Add a belt or pullover sweater on top to style it for a more thoughtful look.

Sweater Dress

A sweater dress is the pinnacle of comfort, and you can hide bike shorts underneath to feel extra cozy. I’m always a fan of the chunky cable-knit styles, but if you want something saucier, you can wear a fitted sweater dress that exudes the “office siren” vibe.

Satin Slip Dress

I’m obsessed with satin and silk slip dresses because they feel luxurious on your skin but look sublimely chic. If it’s good enough for a semi-formal wedding, it’s definitely good enough for a Zoom call or pop-in to your office. Add a sweater on top or even a hoodie for a mixed aesthetic. I love the Quince ones so much that I own four.

For the Mondays when your brain can’t be bothered to come up with stylish work-from-home outfits, you can default to these mindless thrown-on options.

Comfy Overalls

Overalls!? Yes, they can be so cute and are inherently nonchalant. Wear them with a flowy knit blouse underneath, a striped tee, a frilly tank top, or a plush cardigan on top. With an uncomplicated updo and light makeup look, you’ll have an adorably fashionable WFH aesthetic.

Matching Loungewear Sets

Polished loungewear sets are essential work-from-home attire; they’ve practically become the WFH uniform. These can be flowy, silky styles or toasty fleece sets that make you look tasteful, but require zero effort to put together. Go beyond the basic ones and look for sets with patterns, bold design details, and eye-catching silhouettes.

Rompers

Rompers are dresses with more versatility. I love them for WFH days when I have errands to run and dogs to walk but still want to look good. These are my go-to outfits for working from home in summer, whether it’s a luxurious silk romper with a paisley pattern or a striped linen one that feels beach-ready and meeting-ready.

I am not a shoes-on-in-the-house kind of person (I prefer slipper socks), but if you need shoes as a mental cue that you’re in work mode, there are plenty of comfy footwear styles. For hygiene reasons, I recommend buying one or two pairs of “inside” shoes, and sticking with soft, stretchy materials.

Plush Mules

Mules and clogs are just slippers no one will shame you for wearing outside, and that’s a beautiful thing. Find comfortable mules or clogs that you can wear around the house without feeling sloppy (that means no Crocs, sorry). UGG is a fabulous example of the overlap between outdoor shoes and slippers, so I suggest starting your search there.

Suede Sneakers

I adore the laidback but trendy suede sneakers, especially ones from adidas, like the Handball Spezial, Samba, and Gazelle models. Other brands make suede sneakers too, but let’s be real, adidas has that trend down to a stylish science. The flexible fit of suede makes these easy to wear all day, but they offer a supportive design.

Easy Slip-Ons

From Vans to Toms to Steve Madden loafers, there are endless slip-on styles that you can slip into when you don’t know what to wear while working from home. You feel like you’re actually dressed for work, but your feet won’t feel suffocated by laces.