HOMING IN ON STYLE
TRYING to keep things light in the current coronavirus crisis, I have been enjoying all of the “working from home” memes doing the rounds, from the deeply unflattering camera angles on video calls, to conference call bingo and people taking working from home to the extreme of not actually getting out of bed.
The one that pips them all has to be American political analyst Robert Kelly giving a serious interview live on
BBC news, only to have his toddler daughter dance into his home office, followed by a baby in a walker and finally his panicked wife desperately trying to shoo them all out. Working from home comedy gold.
Having worked from home a lot in the past I have gone through every stage. Sitting in front of my laptop in my PJs was fun at first, but it wasn’t long before I felt like a slob, plus then the school run got thrown into the mix, and I draw the line at walking any further than my wheelie bin in my pyjamas.
Long-term working from home requires a bit more discipline. There is something about the routine of getting ready for work that prepares you for the day ahead – shower, clean teeth and clean clothes are the bare minimum.
Comfort is important, but beware of anything too fuzzy or cosy or you may step into hibernation mode and be drawn to the couch.
The trick for modern day working from home, where video conferencing could see you facing your entire team at any given time of the day (does anyone else get distracted by other people’s interiors and wish they would reward you with a virtual tour of their home mid-meeting?) is making yourself look respectable from the waist up.
That doesn’t mean wearing a shirt or sitting at your kitchen table in an uncomfortable dress, comfy jeans worn with simple sweatshirts are a no-brainer. No cartoon characters – your boss doesn’t need to see you in your ancient Tweety Pie hoodie – and for video meetings get clever with necklines.
I found the ideal working from home top on Next.co.uk from the Label Mix collection with its long-sleeved, ribbed jersey fabric, pointed collar and fetching mis-matched buttons.
Wear your comfiest pants and slippers and look like you mean business – from the waist up at least...