Whilst hoodies and tees were all the rage last year at the peak of the pandemic, our thoughts have inevitably turned back to our work wardrobes and how to fine-tune the perfect Zoom uniform office look. Whether your office is slowly reopening with scheduled days to control capacity, or whether you are set to be working from home for the unforeseeable future, the pandemic has changed life as we know it, which has had major impacts on what we wear. As a stickler for corporate dress and a tru
a true lover of suiting and heels, it has been an interesting transition for me. I have had to rethink my wardrobe choices and almost rebuild an appropriate collection of work outfits. The collection includes a variety of my classic go-to pieces, just restyled to feel slightly less formal and more casual to align with the environment we are all working in today.
1.Back to the office
For many of us who have not been back to the office in months, the return to office life can be somewhat daunting, particularly when you contemplate what to wear. If your workplace was a formal space and you are not sure what rules apply anymore, nothing beats the classics.
For the men, smart pants in navy or black, with a business shirt and leather shoe and for the ladies a trouser, skirt or blouse with a block heel and closed toe will also work. It’s like riding a bike, people! Once you return to the office, wearing a corporate outfit will like like you never stopped. The confidence, motivation and commitment it will emit will enforce the ever-important influence that dressing well has on our mood.
Dust off your old suits, bring out your heels and rock your work wardrobe because the feeling is contagious.
2.The daily Zoom
Zoom is a tool we have all become very well acquainted with and dressing from the top down has never been more important. A crisp button shirt with chinos for the guys and a top or tee with a blazer for the ladies will ensure your outfit passes the screen test every time.
3.The WFH juggle
For those of us who are juggling home schooling with a full-time job or sharing home as a workspace with your partner, I feel you and the many balls you are managing.
Multi-tasking the washing, kids’ lunches, a full inbox and diary of meetings means you need to be practical yet professional in your choice of attire, something that is comfortable but makes you feel like you have it all under control.
The WFH uniform therefore needs to be adaptable and dependable. Choose hard-wearing fabrics and styles and opt for functional separates such as jeans or polyester/elastane trousers.
For ladies, combine this with a wash-and-wear top and for the gents a nice polo shirt and you are set to go.
4. Frontline retail: What to wear
Not only has professional dress in the office changed, so have our thoughts on the retail wardrobe in our store-facing environments.
Our retailers are operating in a tough economy and whether you are in food, hospitality, fashion, or real estate, the impact of a first impression has never been more important. What your team wears and how they tell the story of your brand will separate you from the crowd and ensure your team is on-trend and comfortable. Rocking a bit of fashion will reassure customers that you mean business.
What the future holds
The trend towards smart casual workwear is something I identified even prior to Covid-19. This resulted in extensive product development in order to create the perfect custom tee. A retail frontline worker who is consistently on the go needs a fashionable and presentable garment that can withstand regular wash and wear, as well as suit a variety of shapes and sizes. Our take on trends for frontline is it is all about looking cool, comfortable, and collected particularly through a global pandemic.
As we try to navigate through this new normal, we recognise that the hoodies and trackies phase of the past year are well and truly behind us.
As the seasons change and we start transitioning back to traditional offices and shopfronts we are falling back in love with our blazers, linen shirts and wash-and-wear blouses. It really is all about the transitional wardrobe that can take you from your Zoom meeting, to the office through to the grocery store. Uniforms during these Covid times need the balance of not only staying realistically practical, but also combining professionalism.