Tips on How to Dress for Video Meetings

Has your life become a series of back to back video conferences? Ours, too. However, when we see ourselves in that little video cube, sometimes we can’t help but wonder: What on earth are you wearing? If your offline clothing selection needs an online upgrade, follow these simply tips to turn your fashion don’ts into how’d ya dos.

How should you dress for work while working from home?

While no specific what to wear, what not to wear protocol has been set in stone, following one basic guideline may truly be all you really need. It’s simple. If you are a classroom teacher, dress as though you are heading to your classroom. If you are an architect, dress as you would for an in-office meeting. Even if your work culture allows for a more lenient business casual vibe, the last thing you want to do is pop into a video meeting wearing shades and the tank top you bought for spring break when you were in college. You get the jist. However, there is one tiny loophole many are taking full advantage of: camera positioning. Generally, only the top half of your body can be seen during video conferences. So, as long as you keep it ultra-professional from the waist up, you can remain ultra-comfy from the waist down. If you are currently loving living in yoga pants and cotton shorts, keeping a custom business women’s work blazer handy for video meetings is an easy way to look put together in a snap without a total wardrobe change.

Is your clothing too tight, oversized or too revealing to be worn during a video conference with your coworkers?

If so, you’ll know as soon as you see yourself on the screen. To avoid such embarrassments, do a test run. Put your outfit on and sit down. Is anything bunching up? Gaping? Does your top become too revealing when you change positions? A tight top may create unwanted lumps. A fun print may look too busy on screen. Common wardrobe problems such as these are virtually nonexistent when you are standing up to look at yourself in the mirror, yet rear their ugly heads the moment you sit down. The trick is to wear clothing that skims your body without clinging to it, like a women’s embroidered work blouse. Tops that have more structure do you nothing but favors. Throw on custom logo polo shirt with your company logo for your next video conference. You’ll be amazed at the difference such a small change can make in the way you look and feel.

Are the colors of your outfit flattering when seen during video meetings?

Unfortunately, not every color is the best on video. Be mindful of your color choices as you strive to avoid putting too much emphasis on what you’re wearing vs. what you’re saying. Overly bright colors may “glow” on screen. The same problem can happen with busy patterns. You don’t want to give people the feeling of reading books from the back seat of a long car ride, right? Your first choice should be a simple solid, or uncomplicated pattern – think tone-on-tone or subtle stripes. Another key point to consider is the color of the room you’re sitting in during the meeting. Is there natural light or windowless and dark? Is it possible to clear the wall behind you? Remember, you want the focus on you and what you’re saying, not the room you’re sitting in and what sort of art you fancy.

Should patterned shirts be worn during video conferences?

This topic deserves a little more time, because it can be confusing. The short answer? No, patterns are best left in the closet. While we all love the benefits of a bold pattern, they are almost impossible to wear well during a video conference. Wide, bold stripes and checkered patterns tend to blur on camera. Swirls and bold geometric patterns tend to dominate the screen and become a total distraction. Basically, patterns pull attention away from your face and often prevent your message from being heard. So, unless the pattern of your top is intended to be the topic of the video meeting, it is best to wear something that is more of a whisper and less of a shouting match. Think a traditional university stripe Oxford button down shirt, business logo work clothing, or a textured polo in a nice solid as your starters, then build from there. Easy does it.