Why You Should Dress to Impress, Even While You Work From Home

August 1, 2020 | By Alejandra Yzaguirre

Over the last few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, society has adjusted to new ways of communicating, traveling, and working. For many, work routines will never return to the way they were before city lockdowns and social distancing. 

A recent Gallup poll found that 59 percent of U.S. workers would prefer to work remotely after pandemic restrictions are lifted. People are realizing they can save money and time when they don’t commute, and that they find their homes to be more comfortable work environments.

Unfortunately, for many, “comfort” translates to sloppy dress—and wearing pajamas and sweats to work can kill productivity and self-confidence. 

We get it, dressing well takes thought and time. It may feel unnecessary when you’re no longer dressing to impress colleagues and clients. Most people, when left to their own devices, don’t want to put in the effort to look good. But you aren’t most people. 

You’re not the kind of person who phones in your work while sprawled on the couch, binge-watching Netflix. You’re not the guy that puts in the least amount of effort when it comes to work attire, preparing presentations in his underwear. And, you’re definitely not the guy who only gets half-dressed just because the people on the other side of the Zoom call can’t see your gym shorts. You have respect for the people you work with, and for yourself. 

Some may think they can get away with working in loungewear at first, but sooner or later that laziness seeps into their performance. A study out of Northwestern University found that the clothing we wear influences our psychological processes. The study concluded that dressing the part can make us more engaged and committed. Another similar study reports that wearing formal business attire made subjects feel authoritative, trustworthy, and competent.

At Harper & Jones, we start our day by approaching our closets the same way we did before the pandemic, and we hope you do too. Neckwear isn’t always necessary, but a coat shows that you care about your work. Some of our clients have found that a suit is simply too formal for their changing company culture, so they are considering tasteful alternatives. With Harper & Jones custom polos and custom athleisure pieces, they are setting themselves apart with elevated style, while setting the standard high for their coworkers.

Harper & Jones clothiers are ready to hear about your new work routine so they can suggest outfits based on items that you already own. We all need to adapt to stay safe and successful in the new normal. Dress well and be well. 

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