As the world readjust their routines to working from home, traditional morning routines have inevitably been compromised. But what impact is working from home having on our ability to ‘dress for success’? For some of people, the notion of ‘getting dressed up’ to stay at home is a foreign prospect with many people now opting for comfort over power-dressing. Personal grooming has gone much the same way with many people opting against typical shaving and/or make-up routines. However, for every sweatpant aficionado, there is a growing group of voices suggesting that the best way to ensure proper work-life balance and maximum productivity is by sticking to ordinary routines, including wearing what one would usually wear to work. One such aficionado is the renowned journalist, Gay Talese who, at 88 years old, still wears a full suit and tie to work in his home office on Manhattan.

As we look down the barrel of working from home indefinitely, does what we wear to work help or hinder our productivity? Should we continue dressing for success even if there is no one to see our efforts? Last year we explored the topic of activity-based dressing: the phenomena where employees should be empowered to dress for the day they have. Given the technological transformations underpinning our abilities to work remotely, especially the use of video conferencing to visually link colleagues and communities, there is a small fear that pyjamas and bed-hair might not quite cut it.

Perhaps this phase may give rise to a new form of workplace dress etiquette: comfort chic. While we continue to explore the parameters of the ‘new normal’, will we see more CEO’s in hoodies and jeans, or will tradition prevail? Realistically, only time will tell.

Of course there is the possibility you can take it too far, as hilariously depicted by this grounded air hostess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPlR9n_6uas.