I’ve worked from home for years… here’s the capsule wardrobe you need
As someone who’s been lucky enough to have the kind of job that can be done from home a lot of the time, I’ve learnt that being happy in the home office has a lot to do with finding the right nook and some good clothes.
Whichever nook you eventually settle in (I had one colleague who used to find her bathroom the most conducive place to write), each comes with specific needs.
But even if your preferred breakout space is bed, take it from one who’s tried most house styles: working in your PJS, once you’ve overcome the novelty, is not the way forward. Even on those (ahem) rare occasions when the clock suddenly strikes 5pm and I’m still in my yoga leggings – how did that happen? – I’ve learnt that wearing something smart on top is the sartorial equivalent of a bright lipstick. Some days I do the lipstick, too, because you never know when you’ll have a Facetime meeting or just catch yourself in a mirror.
If I have an actual meeting, I’ll put on a bias-cut skirt or slip dress and some chunky boots. Clothes, job done.
Keeping sartorial standards high will definitely help maintain your game and morale, and is equally definitely all about flat, slide-in shoes (mules and soft loafers, preferably furry or fluffy à la Gucci Birkenstocks’ sheepskin sandals, £115 birkenstock. com), fluid trousers and knits, and The Super Knit – warm, light (ideally), flattering with an interesting detail.
Think comfort plus elevated design
– so that even if you’re accustomed to wearing a tailored blazer or smart dress, you won’t feel as though you’re schlumping (technical term).
A striking knit will take care of an outfit in the same way a jacket can – looking sleek and stylish, even over your gym kit. This year’s knit updates include funnel necks, asymmetric hems, tie-dye effects, heritage patterns (Argyle, cable, crochet), sash necklines, ponchos, intarsias and fringes.
Cardigans are back, both boyfriend cuts (often with contrasting pockets in different textures) or the twinset variety.
To avoid moths, keep them scrupulously clean, either hand washing or in the machine at 20-30C. Add some white wine vinegar to the final rinse instead of fabric conditioner (which isn’t good for the environment) and invest in The Steamery’s debobbler. It’s pricey as debobblers go (£35 on en.smallable.com), but gentle and effective.
Keep knits in cloth bags to prevent snagging, and never hang them, because they stretch. If you run out of drawer space, pop them in shoe bags and loop over a hanger.
This next bit might sound weird, but unless you have a small home office where you can keep all your paraphernalia, I recommend keeping your laptop and other bits and bobs in a tote so that at the end of the day, you can scoop everything up from wherever you’ve been perching, and switch off.