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Until recently, studies on working from home attire suggested that dressing formally could help you get into “work mode.” This sounds logical, but research shows that casual work-from-home clothing is actually more effective than formal attire. Why is this, and what exactly does casual clothing contribute to? I’ve looked into it.
From pajamas to proper clothing
During the pandemic, various research firms and universities delved into how our work attire has evolved. One thing all researchers agree on: when working from home, we tend to wear casual clothing more often than we would at the office. For instance, over 30% of people reportedly change out of their pajamas only when a webcam turns on, and 40% of women apply makeup solely for video meetings.
The same American study indicates that the clothing we wear also affects our sense of productivity. The smart casual dress code promotes high levels of engagement in 83% of participants—significantly more than business formal (79%), sportswear (70%), or pajamas (50%).
Casual work-from-home clothing outperforms formal wear
While the study above focused on changes in attire and its effect on productivity, another study by Columbia University in New York examined the relationship between work attire and job engagement.
The findings revealed that people working from home prefer wearing casual clothing because it makes them feel more authentic. This leads to higher engagement levels compared to wearing formal attire or a mix of formal and casual (e.g., a formal shirt with informal bottoms). When in a physical office, however, employees prefer representative, professional clothing.
Researchers concluded that it’s better to tailor work attire to the environment rather than the task itself. I find this an intriguing insight. Personally, I prefer casual clothing when working from home, but for the office, I enjoy wearing a tie and suspenders. I try to avoid working in loungewear as much as possible because it hinders my ability to switch to “work mode.”
What do you wear when working from home? Formal or casual attire?
Greetings,
Aileen