What do you wear when working from home?

[nehpets4627]

For those of you that work from home either some or all of the time, what do you wear during the work day at the house?

The reason for my question is that it looks like I may be changing jobs soon and will be working from home about 1/3 of the time, traveling 1/3 of the time, and working from a sister-company's office 1/3 of the time. My current workplace is very much khakis and button-downs or polos unless meeting with clients or traveling. The 1/3 of the time I'll be in the office with the new job will be about the same (I've actually worked there previously) and the 1/3 of the time spent traveling will be a mix of suits and mixed-separates or even chinos and blazers.

My only prior experience regularly working from home was 6 months spent as a writer for a trade publication. In that position, I would work off-and-on from morning to bedtime in a very unstructured manner. That just won't work in the new position I'm in which will keep more regular business hours regardless of my location.

So, for those of you that do spend some substantial time working from home, how do you dress? Do you find that you get more done or are in a more business mindset if you're dressed like you would be at the office? Or are you able to keep a business mindset even in your lounge-wear? Do you work from a dedicated office in your home, or are you on your laptop on the couch or in bed?

Any other tips on making working from home as productive as being in the office? Any other insights, other than the coffee being better? Thanks!

 

[Eeyore]

I dress the same as in customer locations, or in the office. Even when working from home, a client might give me a call, and request on-site assistance.

Besides, I don't like answering the phone, and processing work emails, when I am not properly dressed (and shaved ). So yes, I stick to business casual when working for home, both for practical reasons, and to be in the professional mindset.

 

[Bill Smith]

I work in a creative field and work from home, for example today I'm wearing a brooks brothers lavender sports shirt OCBD, a pair of Gustin Selvage jeans and some suede chukka boots.

 

[Doc4]

Is there a chance that employers or co-workers will be dropping by? Dress like you would at the office. More likely, is there a chance you will be doing skype or other webcam stuff with co-workers??

Do you find that you get more done if you dress "business"? If so, do so. (I once worked with a chap who worked part time from home, and he said he'd always put on a suit and tie as part of his mental preparation. When you wear the suit, you know you gotta get things done, when you take the suit off you know you can relax.)

Otherwise,

whatever you want. Just make sure you are getting your work done.

 

[Boro62]

as far as clothes wise, I have some friends who work from home about 60% of the time, he doesnt deal with end users so he usually just in lounge clothes when working from home. However he does actually have a home office, and works from there and not from bed or on the couch. He says this helps him from being distracted and gets more work done.

 

[August West]

 

[miclwilde]

I work from home 100%. I do have a dedicated office, but I dress in whatever is most comfortable. I personally get more done when I am most physically comfortable. That means that I often work in sweat pants and t shirts. I dress better for grocery shopping than I do for work. All my work is done through my computer and phone and no client or coworker is going to see me.

Sticking to a schedule is more important for me than what I am wearing. I could do my work at any time of the day, but if I make a schedule and stick to it I am much more effective.

 

[Jerryz]

I work from home about 40% of the time. T-shirt and sweats most of the time.

 

[StillShaving]

Do you participate in meetings involving video conference/webcam, then maybe this:

Otherwise this, or whatever you like .

I think being comfortable can be your guide, but also feeling like you in the right frame of mind for work is important too.

 

[nehpets4627]

I doubt there will be much video-conferencing, mainly PC and phone. I'll have a dedicated office. I have a feeling I'll settle on shorts/polo when warm and jeans/polo or jeans/sweater when cool. My real line of thought is that I probably need presentable enough to ensure that I don't bum around just because I'm still dressed like a bum. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the insights!

 

[nehpets4627]

It may not make too big of a difference, but I will still be taking the kids to school first thing in the morning, so I'll still be up-and-at-em around 6:00-6:30am and will have to at least put something on to get them out of the house, so I'll likely stick with the same routine I'm currently in (shower/shave/dress), just more on the casual side of business casual (basically jeans instead of khakis or slacks).

 

[Mick]

 

[TheShaun]

timely question. I'm working from home tomorrow. I rarely if ever work from home. the reason i'm working from home is that I have to get a bunch of stuff done and can't be distracted by co-workers and staff. I've wondered, will i get out of my jammies or get dressed? I'm likely to get ready for the day like a normal work day, so that i'm in that mindset.