Why I Find Solace in Neutral Clothing While WFH – MSN Money

Why I Find Solace in Neutral Clothing While WFH

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Vogue logo Vogue 3 hrs ago Sarah Lee
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As we continue our social-distancing pledge, the Vogue staff is working from home for the foreseeable future. This article is part of our This Week on Zoom column, where one Vogue editor shares their WFH outfits from the previous workweek—from the waist up, of course.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve gravitated towards neutrals and minimalist designs. I venture out of the norm occasionally and add in a nice pop of color or print to my wardrobe, but neutral colors (shades of white, beige, grey, and black) have always provided me a sense of calm, especially as I have been working from home. Unsurprisingly, my apartment follows suit with a similar theme and minimal decor. Creating space in my apartment has provided me with energy and inspiration.

While I was never a morning person, I have certainly become one within the last few months. Working from home has also allowed me to invest in my morning routine, making my mornings an essential part of my day where I can get things done without any distractions. Every morning, I’ll spend 15 minutes using my stone to relieve tension from my neck and face. Adding gua sha into my routine has also improved my skin enormously. I’ll also take walks (with my mask on of course) which really helps me process my thoughts and anxieties — setting my intentions for the day. When I’m back, I slip into a tonal outfit and begin my workday.

Monday

For the last couple of months, I’ve been rotating tank tops throughout the week, which my colleagues can probably attest to. The official theme for my summer uniform is comfort and basics. Today, I tossed on a ribbed knit outfit head-to-toe to start off the week. I’m a huge fan of the silhouettes and minimalist designs of LE 17 SEPTEMBRE, a Korea-based brand by Eunhye Shin. I also pretty much never take off my gold hoop earrings that I bought several years ago after searching for a pair that wouldn’t irritate my ears.

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Tuesday

Finding a steady workout-from-home routine has been a struggle as I skip through YouTube videos and sign up for several free trials. While I’ve incorporated yoga into my regular routine, pilates has become my recent new obsession. My colleague Puja and I always recommend classes to each other and our current favorite is The Pilates Class by Jacqui Kingswell. It’s important that my workout clothes are comfortable and can be worn casually to run errands. After I work out, I’ll throw on an oversized white shirt for my Zoom meetings throughout the day.

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Wednesday

Surprise! Another ribbed tank. This one is my favorite from Re/Done — a true classic I’ve had for years. I’ll pair it with beige trousers that are a bit more dressed up but still comfortable. I probably wear this pair once a week — something about dressing up inspires me to be more productive.

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Thursday

Thursdays are always the busiest for me because my calendar is packed with Zoom meetings. This Goldsign tank was a splurge for me but the fit and design of it was the perfect tank I was looking for this summer. Wide legged jeans with a bit of stretch have been a great WFH option as well as they allow me to move around more freely. The one thing I also keep next to me all day besides my water bottle is my beauty elixir from Caudalie which really leaves my face feeling refreshed.

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Friday

I slip into a comfortable but luxe-feeling silk-satin dress to celebrate the weekend upstairs on my rooftop. I throw my essentials into my favorite summer bag, hand knit by @mikcardnas. I make sure to bring along my newest obsession — We’re Not Really Strangers, a card game which has been trending across Instagram that is meant to deepen your connections with your loved ones. Pour me a glass of wine and I’m ready to play!

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Gallery: What to Wear When Every Day Is a Casual Friday (Vogue)

a little girl sitting in a chair: For the past five months, my “office” has overlooked the kitchen counter, the couch, or admittedly sometimes my bed. Unsurprisingly, I have adopted a more laissez-faire attitude about what I wear to work. Fitted blouses, ankle-grazing skirts, and heels once part of my regular rotation have been replaced with more relaxed pieces, like comfortable prairie dresses, striped long-sleeved sweaters, and loose button-downs. I like to think that I’m living in one perpetual casual Friday, it’s helped me find equilibrium with my wardrobe again. When I first started working from home, I’d wear too-fancy tops with sweats at the bottom, dressing solely for Zoom. Then, I went through an all too comfortable phase, where head-to-toe sweatsuits became my go-to. After a few weeks of crewnecks and elastic waistbands I found myself overdressing for outings to the grocery store—an obvious sign that I was overcompensating for weeks of informality. Recently, I tried getting dressed in a more pared down version of what I’d wear to the office by throwing on a comfortable floral dress and some worn-in loafers, and I finally found some semblance of normalcy. I was comfortable enough to work from my kitchen counter, but I felt dressed up enough to seize the day. And I’m not alone. Vogue’s Willow Lindley shares a similar sentiment. “I don’t get dressed with the same tour de force that a full body look used to require. My greatest form of interaction is my local fish market, so I like to make sure I’m 2020 dressed up, jeans, maybe a crisp shirt, and a well matched mask.” Here, items that hit the goldilocks zone between comfort and formality, the 2020s way of getting dressed up each day.

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