KBI Digital

One of the best things about working from home is the flexibility.

No commute. No rushing out the door. And yes, you can probably get away with wearing much more comfortable clothes than you did when you went into an office every day.

But working from home doesn’t mean we should forget about looking professional.

You may work from home, but you’re still at work.

Your Camera Can Turn On at Any Time

Remote work has made Teams, Zoom, and other video meetings part of the normal workday.

Sometimes those meetings are scheduled. Sometimes someone sends a message asking:

“Do you have a minute to jump on a call?”

That’s not the moment you want to realize you’re wearing pajamas, a baseball cap, workout clothes, or the old T-shirt you normally wear around the house.

My rule is simple:

Dress so you’re ready to turn your camera on.

You don’t need to wear a suit every day. You don’t even necessarily need traditional office clothes. You just want to look polished enough that if your boss, a client, or an executive suddenly appears on your screen, you feel comfortable turning on your camera.

KBI Tip: Not Camera-Ready? Protect Your Privacy.

There are going to be days—or simply moments during the day—when you’re not camera-ready, and that’s okay.

If you know you’re not ready to appear on video, consider unplugging your webcam or using a physical camera cover. The last thing you want is for your camera to turn on unexpectedly when you thought it was off.

It only takes a second to reconnect your camera when you’re ready for a meeting.

A simple rule: If you’re not camera-ready, make sure your camera isn’t ready either!

Comfortable and Professional Can Go Together

One of the biggest misconceptions about dressing professionally at home is that you have to sacrifice comfort.

You don’t.

A simple top can look completely different when you add a cardigan, sweater, blazer, or jacket.

Keep one nearby and you can go from comfortable work-from-home mode to meeting-ready in seconds.

This is especially helpful on days when you don’t have many meetings planned. You can stay comfortable while still having an easy way to look polished when needed.

Think Twice About Baseball Caps

Baseball caps might be fine when you’re running errands or working around the house, but they’re usually not the best choice for a professional video meeting.

There may be exceptions. Your company might have an extremely casual culture, or perhaps you’re participating in a company event where hats are perfectly appropriate.

But when you’re meeting with leadership, clients, vendors, or people outside your immediate team, take the baseball cap off.

The same idea applies to workout clothes and pajamas. They’re great for before and after work. During your workday, choose something that says you’re ready to do business.

Be Careful With Graphic T-Shirts

Graphic tees can be another gray area.

Some companies have very casual dress codes where they’re completely acceptable. Your organization may even have Casual Friday when jeans and T-shirts are encouraged.

If that’s your company culture, great.

But think about who you’re meeting with, not just what you’re technically allowed to wear.

A funny graphic T-shirt might be perfectly appropriate while working independently but not necessarily the best choice for a meeting with a senior executive or an important client.

When you’re unsure, a plain top is an easy choice.

And remember that you can always throw a cardigan, sweater, blazer, or jacket over it.

Dress for the Meeting You’re Having

Remote work doesn’t mean every day or every meeting requires the same level of dress.

A regular team meeting might be casual.

A client presentation might call for something more polished.

An interview should be treated much like an in-person interview.

A presentation to senior leadership may be another occasion when you want to step things up.

Consider your audience and dress accordingly.

Your company culture matters too. Some companies are extremely casual, and there’s nothing wrong with embracing that culture. But casual doesn’t have to mean sloppy.

When you’re unsure, being slightly more polished is rarely a bad choice.

Your Appearance Is Part of Your Professional Brand

Whether we like it or not, people form impressions quickly—especially on video.

Your clothing, background, lighting, camera position, and even how you sit all contribute to the image you present.

You don’t have to look perfect.

You just want to look like you came to work.

This becomes even more important when you’re trying to advance your career. If you want to be viewed as someone ready for the next position, start presenting yourself that way now.

Dress for the position you want, not just the position you have.

Dressing for Work Can Change Your Mindset Too

There’s another benefit that has nothing to do with what your coworkers see.

Getting dressed for work can help create a mental separation between home time and work time.

When you get up, get ready, and put on work-appropriate clothing, you’re signaling to yourself that the workday has started.

That doesn’t mean heels, dress pants, or a suit.

It simply means making an intentional transition from I’m at home to I’m working from home.

That small routine can help you feel more focused, productive, and prepared for the day.

The KBI Digital Rule: Comfortable, Professional & Camera-Ready

Working from home gives us the opportunity to redefine professional clothing.

Take advantage of the comfort—but don’t let comfort turn into looking like you just rolled out of bed.

A few simple guidelines can make a big difference:

• Skip the pajamas during working hours.
• Save workout clothes for your workout.
• Avoid baseball caps for professional meetings.
• Be thoughtful about graphic T-shirts.
• Keep a cardigan, sweater, blazer, jacket, polo, or collared shirt nearby.
• Consider who you’ll be meeting with that day.
• Dress a little more professionally for clients, interviews, presentations, and leadership meetings.
• Stay comfortable below the camera—jeans, yoga pants, leggings, or shorts are perfectly fine if appropriate for your workday.
• Most importantly, be ready to turn your camera on.

Every company’s culture is different. Some workplaces are extremely casual, while others expect traditional business attire even for remote employees.

Learn your company’s culture and expectations—but when you’re unsure, it’s usually better to be slightly more polished than too casual.

KBI Tip

Keep a “camera-ready” sweater, cardigan, blazer, jacket, polo, or collared shirt in your home office.

Even if you’re dressed casually while working, you can put it on before an unexpected video call and instantly look more polished.

Before your first meeting of the day, turn on your camera for a quick preview. Look at yourself the same way the other people in the meeting will see you.

Ask yourself:

Would I be comfortable appearing this way in front of my boss, a client, or senior leadership?

If the answer is yes, you’re ready for the day.

You don’t have to dress like you’re heading to the corporate office every morning.

You can be comfortable. You can take advantage of the perks of working from home. You can even wear those yoga pants or shorts.

Just remember one thing:

Working from home is still working—and dressing for success can help you look, feel, and perform like the professional you are.

Work Smarter, Not Harder!

KBI Digital