How are you feeling? I hope you are taking good care of yourself. Last month’s blog was about achieving our true personal levels of happiness. With all that is happening in the world nowadays, it appears as if that blog was somehow accidentally prophetic because finding our personal happiness and lifting our spirits is now more important than ever.
Many of us have been staying at home and barely venturing outside over the past few weeks as we try to stay healthy (wash your hands!) and keep our neighbors healthy too. Finding happiness can be hard in our confined spaces. If you are working from home, it can be a challenge to get out of your pajama pants and make an effort as we Zoom, Skype and FaceTime our workdays away.
On the one hand working at home is nice. You can’t beat the commute; you come closer to managing a good work-life balance; you can blast your music — things are pretty Zen. Then there are the days when you feel like something the cat wouldn’t want to drag in.
Let’s be honest, there are days when you kind of know how that cat feels and those will probably be the days you have big, group Zoom meetings. Don’t worry, there are some simple ways to look your best in online conferences and lift your spirits at the same time!
TREND ALERT
Chatter in the trend world is revolving around a few key ideas about dressing for business when you are at home. One thought builds around the need to feel comfortable and cozy: soft, protective styles like sweaters and fleece. The other consideration is our need to look professional and create a good impression online. There is a lot of experimenting going on as people determine which styles are both comfortable and appropriate. When our image is on a small screen or close-up, like on a laptop with a low-quality camera, what we look like at that moment can leave a lasting impression.
Consider how many people are in the meeting, what colors, patterns and shapes “read” as professional and impactful in a good way. This is a new puzzle that everyone is working to solve. Getting to the right answer for #smartcasual and #stayathomestyle may take a few tries, but you’ll find what works best for you and your company.
BUSINESS-FROM-HOME STYLE
It is good to know if your online meeting is going to be with clients or only with your coworkers. Either way, it’s best to look tidy and pulled together. For client meetings this spring, opt for a comfortable but pulled together look. Start with a soft, stretchy tee that also looks professional, like the District® Flex Tee. If you plan your wardrobe correctly, maybe you could layer a “quick change” look for work in the day, and a coworker online happy hour look for later when you might want to appear more casual. Trade your OGIO® Ladies Luuma Cocoon Fleece for a District® Women’s Perfect Weight® Fleece Drop Shoulder Full-Zip Hoodie. This way there doesn’t have to be a full-on, Beyoncé-style wardrobe change in-between calls and meetings. Although, if you want to feel more dressed up, have fun with a vintage (or vintage-inspired) scarf for your client meeting and some statement earrings for your happy hour! You will feel better and give your “audience” a show by bringing some quirky character to your on-screen persona.
As another option, you can take the District® Flex Tee and layer it over a Sport-Tek® Sport-Wick® Textured 1/4-Zip Pullover. The zipper, outlined in white, gives your on-screen style some “zip” with its visual “pop.” Then when you move into your co-worker happy hour, you could slide into a New Era® Track Jacket and New Era® Flat Bill Snapback Cap to fully express your streetwear style.
Speaking of happy hours, I would like to raise a glass to the people I have seen who are pulling together looks that help their community from afar. For those virtual get-togethers, how about buying merch from your favorite eatery, cause or community event? It is a great way to support them during this difficult time and it gives people a glimpse into who you are and what is important to you.
Helen Rosner, a food writer for The New Yorker magazine, has an Instagram Stories link featuring tees, bags, hats and a few other logoed products you can buy to support restaurants and bars from across the country. It’s a great thing to do and an excellent way to see what kind of cool graphics are trending.
STAYING HEALTHY
For lots of people going to the gym isn’t an option right now. However, staying a safe six feet away and social distancing as you work out outside is. Wear some reflective gear that allows you to be seen as the sun rises or sets on your outdoor activity. Check out the OGIO® ENDURANCE Flash Jacket or the Port Authority® Ladies Zephyr Reflective Hit Full-Zip Jacket. This will show your amazing style and it will also let people know you are coming, so that everyone can keep their safe distance.
Your mental wellbeing is also very important so take care of yourself! There is a correlation between looking good and feeling good. Money is going to be tight, so work with the items you may already have in your closet. If you find a good deal on a nice item that lifts your spirits, but won’t be a heavy burden on your wallet, go for it. Be well everyone.