what are you wearing on work Zoom calls these days?

by Alison Green on February 23, 2021

This post is sponsored by thredUP.

So, what are you wearing on Zoom calls for work these days?

For a very short time at the beginning of the pandemic, a lot of people on video calls were mirroring what they’d wear in the office – at least from the waist up. And then a lot of people went way in the other direction for a while – sweats, hoodies, even pajamas. Now at least some of us have swung back to somewhere in the middle – comfortable clothes that still roughly qualify as business casual, at least through a camera.

I was interested to see what a personal shopper might suggest for work video calls these days, so I asked the lovely people at thredUP to put together some clothes for Zoom calls for me.

If you don’t know them already, thredUP is the largest online thrift store that buys and sells high-quality clothing for women and kids. You can shop on-trend, like-new fashion from top name brands and designers for up to 90% off estimated retail. (That’s not a typo – it’s 90%, which is an enormous discount.) They have a massive selection, with brands like Anthropologie, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Theory, J.Crew, and more.

In addition to offering regular shopping, thredUP also offers Goody Boxes, which is a personalized shopping service. You explain what you’re looking for and fill out a style quiz that asks you questions like what colors you do and don’t like, how you prefer items to fit (fitted, looser, etc.), how you feel about things like animal print and ruffles, and lots more. You pay a $10 deposit which goes toward anything you decide to keep, and they send you a personalized box of 10 thrifted items picked by their stylists to match your size, style, and budget. You only pay for what you keep and return the rest (with no charge for return shipping). And it’s not a subscription so you’re not locked in; you can just do it one time if you want.

It’s pretty nice to just explain what I want and then sit back and let someone else dress me! If you’d like to try it yourself, click here to order your first Goody Box today!

When I ordered my box, I said I was looking for items with some visual interest that were still work appropriate. I asked for blues, greens, and other darker colors, and said I wanted to avoid orange, yellow, black, and white (limited colors is the redhead curse), and no animal prints, logos, or ruffles. They stuck to that! I’m keeping most of what was in my box, including a very cute Boden dress that I will wear on calls when I need to disguise myself as more professional than I actually am. (Returning the rest is easy with their free shipping label.)

Here’s some of what I’m keeping.

If you’d like to try it out yourself, click here to order your first Goody Box today!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by thredUP. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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{ 77 comments }

{ 77 comments… read them below }

  1. I'm that guy*

    I wear T-shirts with cartoon characters and pajama pants. I have a closet full of button-down shirts and Dockers that I haven’t worn in a year.

    1. BubbleTea*

      I had a video call yesterday for which I dressed my upper half and remained in pyjama bottoms. Midway through the call I had to go and stop the dog eating the post. Only after did I remember that the PJ bottoms have so many holes in them that you can see my underwear and buttocks through them. I am very much hoping that the camera angle meant no one saw that… they’re now going to fabric recycling.

      1. Anony-Mouse*

        Ahhh!! Nightmare!! I hope no one saw. This is exactly why I use backgrounds. When I stand up to get something and it no longer detects a person’s face, it just shows the background.

    2. PeanutButter*

      I have a shelf full of Transformers toys behind me when I’m working at home. I figure nothing I wear can look sillier than that! My co-workers have commented, but only because they (or their kids) wanted to see me transform particularly interesting ones. (I have a few GIANT collector’s edition Transformers from Japan).

  2. lilsheba*

    We don’t really do a lot of video calls they tend to be just audio. BUT that being said I wear what I want. Generally a t shirt and comfy pants/shorts or even a housedress. I don’t fuss with hair or makeup or wear shoes. I’m HOME and I’m going to be comfy.

    1. old curmudgeon*

      Exactly!

      There was a post here on AAM sometime during 2020 that contained a comment about when an employee is working from home, the employer is a de facto guest in the employee’s home, and that really resonated with me. Sure, if I am working in the office, my employer has a perfect right to set reasonable limits on what they consider business attire. But as long as I am decently clad with all of the naughty bits covered, my employer does not get to critique or comment on the clothing that I wear IN MY OWN HOME.

      My WFH attire is blue jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt every day in the winter, and shorts or capris with a short-sleeved t-shirt every day in the summer. As long as I remain in remote status, that is going to be my wardrobe. I am a cranky old codger, and if my employer doesn’t like me wearing blue jeans at home, well, fooey on them, I’ll just retire.

  3. LawLady*

    I’ve always loved ThredUp, but it’s been truly wonderful while I’ve been pregnant. I usually try to only buy clothes I know I’ll wear for years, but maternity clothes are by definition time limited. I’m pleased to get them slightly used (and then likely pass them on), so that my temporary clothes don’t have such an environmental impact.

  4. Lynn*

    Sitting here wearing my lastest ThredUp find myself — a big cozy Aerie sweater I scored for ~17!

    I have discovered one weird thing I love about WFH is being able to do a mid-day change. Where I am has had cold mornings and warm afternoons and I don’t like to run the A/C too much, so I’ve been doing morning sweaters and afternoon t-shirts! Would be hard to do a mid-day costume change in office (except apparently for that one LW’s coworker!)

    1. Risk Manager*

      I literally just ‘figured out’ I don’t need to wear the same things all day in the past week! It just hasn’t clicked for me…

    2. Bostonian*

      I’ve been doing the mid-day change, too! (Usually due to a mid-day shower. So refreshing!)

      I’ve also been taking this WFH opportunity to “try out” new work outfits with some items in my closet that have become neglected. If I end up not liking them, no big deal, since nobody is ever going to see the full outfit.

      I don’t know how I’m going to go back to wearing shoes all day, though…

  7. Coenobita*

    I am wearing a ThredUp shirt right now, LOL. The person in charge of my occasional goody boxes has clearly given up on getting me to wear anything new and sends me only cardigans, jackets, and oversized button-downs, which is what I wanted all along :)

    Also, as a person whose jeans were a little tight even before the pandemic, I recommend using ThredUp when you need to just try out an extremely large variety of brands and sizes to find which ones fit best. Normally I would do this at a thrift store, but I like the at-home version better (no limit on how many items you can take the dressing room!). I ordered like 10 pairs of jeans and kept three, and the restocking/return fee was waived because of my loyalty points.

    1. Yvette*

      Ok so return shipping is “free” but you have to pay a “restocking fee”? Is there really a difference? If you return everything could that end up costing more than shipping?

      2. BigGlasses*

        For clarity, I think the “restocking fee” doesn’t apply to the “goody box”, which is why it isn’t mentioned in the original post.

  8. Petrichor of Hades*

    Yes, thredUP! I’ve been buying from them for a couple years, and I’ve learned how to work their sales, price drops, and point codes. Thanks to their prices and selection, I’ve really been able to flesh out my wardrobe (which for work was previously 95% Kohl’s, DressBarn, and hand-me-downs—nothing wrong with those, just lacking variety) and feel confident in my workwear and style in general. It was especially helpful when I got a job at a business-formal office and needed things like blazers without breaking the bank or being limited to the current season’s styles.

    One thing Alison didn’t mention that I love about thredUP is its environmental friendliness (which applies to brick and mortar thrift stores as well, of course). Giving clothes a second life helps reduce their environmental impact. ThredUP will also do things like let you create a bundle to ship items together bought within 7 days and filter items to show only those at the warehouse closest to you.

    Of course, it’s not perfect. I’ve only ever bought from there, but I’ve heard their arrangement with sellers isn’t very good. I’ve also had a couple issues (wrong item sent, etc), but their customer service has always been adequate to very good in my experience. ThredUP has had a positive impact on my life and the environment, so I gotta give it that +1.

  9. Clorinda*

    I am literally sitting in a classroom wearing a leather skirt and a red cable knit sweater from ThredUp, clothes I could never have afforded new.

  14. Bostonian*

    I tried the Goody Box last time there was a promotion on this site, and I was super impressed with what they sent!

    I find it extremely hard to find pants that fit, but they sent me 2 pairs that were my exact style and fit perfectly!

    I did end up sending back about half the items in the box due to the style or fit not being quite right, but I kind of expected to not like everything. My main goal was to acquire a few good, new items that I never would have thought to buy myself, and that’s exactly what I got. :-)

  17. Environmental Compliance*

    I love ThredUp, but I wish the clothing selection boxes would do a little better (in general! ) with clothing that has to meet certain requirements. I’ve tried boxes before when I state for safety no drapey loose pieces, and I get sent giant open droopy necklines and scarves.

  18. Red Reader the Adulting Fairy*

    I tried a Goody Box the last time you did one of the ThredUP sponsored posts, and I was really amazingly unhappy with the results – like, I said I wanted business casual work clothes, and no dolman sleeves, pink, animal prints, stripes, and glitter, and half the box was one or more of those things. (The “winner” was the pink sequined cheetah-print batwing blouse. Like, are you even KIDDING me.) But I’ve also had very similar experiences with any of the “pick stuff for me” services that I’ve tried, so maybe I just have a weird curse.

    As a redhead though, I will take ALL your orange. :)

    I generally work these days in yoga capris and Disney t-shirts. Last week, my group for our leadership seminar was meeting with one of our C-suite, and I was muttering beforehand that if my sweatshirt and sweatpants were the same color, when we’re all working from home in a pandemic AND a blizzard, that counts as a suit, right? But I ended up putting a solid-colored v-neck tee on with the yoga capris.

    1. Caraway*

      I had basically the same experience with the Goody Box last time, unfortunately! I did like a few items that ended up not fitting well, but most of it was just not at all right for me. However, I will say that they sent me a pair of good black leggings from Ann Taylor that fit perfectly, are comfy and thick (no worries about them being see through), and that cost somewhere around $18. So I returned the other 9 items and have been happily wearing my leggings since then.

    1. caps22*

      Same. So many sweaters. It’s a good thing you can’t tell how bobbly and fuzzy they are on videocalls.

  20. EngineerMom*

    Honestly, I wear almost exactly what I normally wear to work (engineering/manufacturing and office environment), which is almost exactly what I wore as a stay-at-home parent:

    Black clean-lined t-shirt (topped with a colorful sweater duster when it’s cold)
    Black slacks (dark jeans on Fridays)
    Toms shoes (I wear a size 12 in women’s, it’s easier for me to wear men’s shoes, and Tom’s generally are gender-neutral enough that I can wear them – I like bright colors like the red ones, to compensate for the black of the rest of my wardrobe).

    I don’t wear makeup (never really have, just some Burt’s Bees chapstick – my skin doesn’t like makeup, I don’t like having to wash it off at the end of the day, and I prefer the way my face looks without it anyway). I style my hair in a way that keeps it out of my face but looks professional (at home and at work). It’s relatively straight and fine, so takes almost no time to dry and style.

    I absolutely LOVE wearing big, dangly earrings – my kids growing out of the toddler stage to where I could safely wear long earrings again was HEAVEN.

    My workplace rarely has video on during meetings – it’s quite technical most of the time, and we’re sharing screens, not looking at each other.

    I was a stay-at-home parent for 6 years, and figured out within the first week that I needed to get myself showered and dressed first thing in the morning. I don’t actually like being around my house in my pjs – my everyday clothes are very comfortable (I refuse to buy uncomfortable clothes! Even my formal dresses are very comfortable – I was a ballroom dancer for years, and figured out which styles I can move in), and I feel more awake and put together if I’m dressed!

  21. EvilQueenRegina*

    Still wearing work clothes (which for me is business casual) – I’ve done that throughout because that’s what makes me feel better.

    1. o_gal*

      Same here. There’s no difference between my “work” clothes and my “weekend” clothes, which is the bonus of being business casual. It also makes me feel more like I’m in work mode. That along with a definite start and end time. I’m lucky that my only kid is in college. I have dropped wearing makeup – we don’t do video for our Zoom/Teams calls, and I’m not wearing shoes. But those are the only changes.

  22. This Old House*

    What I primarily want out of WFH clothes in a pandemic is tops that look reasonably work-appropriate (I’m not saying I never wear a t-shirt on a video call, but if definitely depends on the audience!) . . . but that also allow me to wear a sports bra without the straps showing. (I haven’t worn a real bra in 11 months and I’m not sure I’m ever going back.) Button downs work reasonably well. Any other styles I should be looking at?

    1. Red Reader the Adulting Fairy*

      Depending on the cut of your sports bra, I have some drape-neck shells that might do, with a cardigan if you didn’t want to be sleeveless. Mine are Calvin Klein and came from Amazon – they’re listed as “Calvin Klein women’s solid drape neck cami” (I don’t know why they’re called camis, they’re very def not camisoles in cut) and are available in petite and plus sized as well.

      They probably wouldn’t work though if your sports bra is super high cut in the front; mine are cut such that they don’t show under normal v-neck t-shirts, so they’d be fine in the CK tops too.

    2. Rina*

      I love ThredUp! When I started a new job, I was able to get a whole “new” wardrobe in an environmentally and budget friendly way. When we started WFH and got a little more casual, I was able to get some great tops and sweaters that work for me. I’m a huge fan.

  23. Jellybeans*

    I’ve tried ThredUp 3 times and haven’t had good experiences. The first time, I bought specific items, but found that the colors looked different in person than in the photos (and had the common women’s-clothes problem of inconsistent sizing). The second time, I did a goody box, and they were really great at following my preferences and guessing what I was going for, stylistically. Unfortunately, while there were several items I loved, none fit well enough to keep (not their fault, but a hard problem to solve). The third time, I bought specific items from a brand I knew well, to avoid the sizing problem. One of the items said it was delivered, but never arrived. Customer service didn’t respond to my inquiries until I disputed the charge in my credit card, over a week later. Am I the only one who’s had problems with them? I would love to like them- the item that did arrive was perfect- but I feel like this is too much to be a fluke. Would you recommend trying again?

    1. Disappearing Ink*

      I’ve had some issues with them, too. I was an early adopter and used the site when it was pretty new and my experience was great! Lots of pristine clothes from really nice brands, detailed measurements, care info, free returns, etc. Once they expanded the quality seemed to go downhill. The last few purchases I made weren’t as described, as in they were supposed to be “like new” but came worn (fabric pilling) and one even had a stain on it. I’m pretty hesitant to try again, especially since you have to pay for return shipping now.

      1. Captain Vegetable (Crunch Crunch Crunch)*

        Same for me. I used to love love love them, but the prices went up and the quality went down. I started to receive things with holes, and also two different items with things in the pocket- crushed dog treats in one instance, and a used tissue in the other. Yuck.

    2. Petrichor of Hades*

      I’ve had about 25 orders in the past 3 years, and I’ve had 3 issues that were all resolved: two wrong items (one they sent the right item after, one I just wanted to return so they gave me a free label to do so). I also ordered a backpack for my partner that was categorized as like new but had a big stain on the bottom. It wasn’t very visible unless you were looking right at the bottom, so he decided just to keep it. Maybe some minor things like “hm, this button is pretty loose for a like-new item,” but I can do basic mending, so I’d rather keep the $15 cashmere cardigan that’s otherwise fine and fix the button. But I understand that’s not an option for everyone. My point is, with a pretty decent sample size, my experience has been overall positive. It sucks that they weren’t responsive about your missing delivery—hope that got resolved for you in the end.

      1. Jellybeans*

        It was sort of resolved. They eventually issued a refund for the item, but not the shipping, which cost almost as much. I suppose it’s not their fault the item was lost in transit, but it adds a level of risk.

  24. Bookworm*

    I wear my “at home” clothes. We don’t have a “dress code” other than it’s “appropriate” (no one is showing up in tank tops or undershirts, etc.)

    I’ve had one video interview so far and threw on a dress shirt (not the pants but not necessary).

  25. HugsAreNotTolerated*

    Two questions:
    1.) Anybody else having issues with the thredUp site? Like it won’t let me do anything but enter my e-mail to order a goody box
    2.) Anybody have any feedback on their plus-size selection?

  26. Heffalump*

    I dress the same as I always have for work–Levis, casual shirt. I’m in a line of work where I don’t need to go the full coat-and-tie route. A few months ago a female coworker called me on Zoom when I was in my undershirt. I said, “Excuse me, I should put on a shirt,” and she said no big deal. But I’ve tried to put on a shirt on workdays since.

  27. DataGirl*

    My problem right now is that I’ve gained 30 pandemic pounds and have no idea of my size. For the past few months I mostly live in leggings and oversized sweatshirts with inappropriate sayings on them, with a quick change to one of the two sweaters I currently have that fits if I have to put my camera on.

    I really hope we don’t have to go back in person anytime soon because I have no pants that are work appropriate. Most things I’ve ordered online lately haven’t fit and I suck at returning things, usually I wait too long then end up donating the brand new clothing. It might be worth trying ThredUp since at least they are affordable, but I still don’t know what will fit and for women it seems every store you’re a different size.

    1. RB*

      You are not alone in any of this. Goodwill is normally my go-to but they’re not allowing try-ons right now so I’m doing a lot of returns, which are for store credit only, so then I have to go back and find something else before my store credit expires.

  28. Anja*

    Voluminous grey sweatpants with elastic ankle cuffs, giant fuzzy socks, and a volunteer t-shirt from a previous job (in that it has “‘Previous Job’ Volunteer” emblazoned across the chest). I have a fancy shirt hung on the doorknob of my office so if I get called into a meeting with people I don’t know well I can quickly put on a different shirt and then just sidle off camera in an awkward crouch that keeps the aforementioned voluminous grey sweatpants below camera level if I ever have to get up.

  30. Temporicide*

    Long-time lurker, but I wanted to comment here because I encouraged my fiancée to order a goody box from ThredUP based on a previous AAM sponsored post. She kept a few of the items, but ThredUP tried to charge her for several of the items she returned in addition to the items she kept, and it required a lot of back-and-forth with support to get refunded for the items that were sent back. We won’t be ordering a goody box from ThredUP again.

  31. Danielle Kempe*

    I found thred up through Alison’s post a while ago and I just love them.

    I also am part of a group of women in MA trained on how to run for political office. I shared Thred Up with the group when someone asked how to afford attire that’s debate and campaigning appropriate.

    Thanks for sharing. I’m obsessed and am waiting on a package from Thred Up right now with some winter boots and a beautiful top.

    Parents, they have kids clothes too so I get some things for my toddler daughter too.

  32. Elizabeth West*

    I wear clothes. #badumtss :D
    No really, these are my only Zooms right now.

    1. My weekly meditation group (in OldCity, but still pandemic Zooming, so I get to join) — a casual shirt and either sweats or PJ pants. Nobody sees my pants. Background: the library in my mom’s basement (it’s just a room with bookshelves and a couch).
    2. A weekly CompTIA workshop and a few writing ones — same, because no video. Background: wherever I happen to be sitting, usually on the bed.
    3. Video interviews — business clothes, including pants (dark jeans), in case I have to get up. Background: the library again.

    When I have a job again and an apartment, I intend to construct an area for Zoom meetings. It will probably be in a corner or against a wall so nobody who might be visiting can walk behind me and contain appropriate art or bookshelves. Most likely, it’ll be a dedicated workspace for WFH days. It will also have WAY more light; the space I’m in now is very dark no matter where I sit and the lighting is terrible.

    I also need to go shopping for work clothes. Exjob let us wear jeans and t-shirts and I have very few business casual clothes, especially for warm weather. If I’m lucky, I’ll get another tech-industry job that lets me wear whatever the hell I want.

  33. LizardOfOdds*

    I spend all day on Zoom calls, and my standard WFH uniform is a comfortable tshirt or sweatshirt, leggings, fuzzy socks, and slippers. Luckily my company was already very casual, so the tshirt/sweatshirt on Zoom has never been a big deal. Whenever we go back to the office, I’m going to have a hard time adjusting to wearing jeans and real shoes again.

  34. Jennifer C*

    I wore Hello Kitty pajamas to my last Zoom staff meeting. None of my coworkers were surprised or offended. :-)

  35. voluptuousfire*

    Eh, I’m not into borrowed or used clothing, so ThredUp isn’t for me. I did take a look at their website for a brand I love, the prices were kind of outrageous, IMO. The prices weren’t any better than this brand’s sale/clearance for items that were already worn. I just can’t get into wearing clothes someone already wore, clean or not.

    Although it was fun seeing pieces I had myself years ago on there. :)

  36. Oaktree*

    I wear whatever the hell I want, frankly. Back in the early pandemic I would put on basic makeup and a nicer shirt for video meetings, but these days I just make sure my hair is presentable, and what’s visible to the camera (upper torso) is sufficiently covered-up. I also have use one of those digital backgrounds so my actual home isn’t visible onscreen.

  37. Quill*

    I’ve been on video twice. We just don’t have the volume / bandwidth / culture of having video on, especially since we’re highly international (and someone is always in a meeting for 5-10 minutes of content and working on something else while waiting.)

  38. pagooey*

    I work in software/tech, so have been on a pretty steady rotation of sweatpants + that one super baggy pair of jeans for the past year, and varying between t-shirts and casual sweaters on top. But! on maybe half a dozen occasions I’ve been called upon to present at a virtual conference , or teach a workshop online, and I do All The Things: makeup, a little jewelry, a nice top, even a bra. I told myself this was “just in case,” and then had to wonder, in case of what? Zoom turbulence? At any rate, it’s been long enough that it’s my business-casual days that feel like the most bizarre outliers. I dressed “better” when I actually had to go out and be seen in public.

    Meanwhile: Alison, I’d rassle you for that skirt! ;)

  39. Dramamethis*

    My amazing company does not require video to be on for most calls so I wear comfy tshirts & jammie pants.

    When we do have video on I’ll change into a business casual top & leave on the jammies.

  40. Jessica Fletcher*

    I’m truly blessed that my department is a no-camera environment. We put profile pics, so I look work ready even though I basically roll out of bed and into my desk chair.

    Cute dress and skirt, though!

  41. Invisible Fish*

    Ok, given that I haven’t been able to shop with people I like shopping with in a YEAR, reading all of this makes me want to say “Fashion show!” or something similar to what you’d do when helping a friend decide on outfits in the dressing room area of a store.

  42. blue*

    I feel like I have gone through the gamut of emotions about working from home and dressing accordingly from being psyched about it (yay yoga pants!) to desperately missing the office, office clothes, and and office life (going out for lunch yay!) to now where I am just numb to all of it. That Loft skirt just makes me feel vaguely depressed. I feel like I don’t need new clothes for the life I have now, and I can’t even fathom returning to the life where I would A. need and B. Be remotely excited to – buy work clothes again. It’s a bit of a dark place to be. Does Thred Up carry weighted blankets and lattes?

  43. Wine Not Whine*

    From the waist up, I’m wearing the same things I would have worn to the office, with the exception of jewelry (I do put in earrings once a week to keep the piercings from closing up, but that’s it). I have frequent pop-up Zoom/Teams calls and prefer to look reasonably professional: not suits, but sweaters, pullovers, soft shirts, scarves, shawls. I *have* shifted to sweats or jeans on the bottom, mostly because my house is drafty and I’m also trying to do quick mini-workouts at intervals during the day.
    Wearing office tops has an additional benefit for me, though. I used to have (and will again, eventually) a 45-minute commute. That gave me mental space to put work away and shift my mind and attitude to “off-work.” Now, changing into lounging (or chore-appropriate!) clothes is giving me a similar signal that it’s time to turn off the work brain and be at home.

  44. SpangleBob*

    Normally I just don’t show myself. My industry tends to attract extreme introverts, so it’s not considered odd to have your camera off even if you’re the one speaking, and a supervisor who tried to make you turn it on would be seen as unreasonably demanding.

  45. C Average*

    I haven’t had a real job in a while. These days I sell stuff online that I’ve found in the Goodwill bins. (Shopping the bins actually feels pretty safe–the warehouses are huge, capacity is limited, masking and distancing are enforced.)

    When I “work,” I wear something comfortable with pockets so I can carry my phone and listen to audiobooks and stay on top of my sales.

    I recently sent a box of really nice stuff to ThredUp–lots of J. Crew and Ann Taylor in great condition–because it wasn’t selling on the other platforms I use. Everybody wants leggings and hoodies! I’m hoping ThredUp can find good homes for the more professional stuff.

    The money from selling online is surprisingly good. I’m grateful for my partner’s steady income, because my sales aren’t consistent enough to really live on, but I am financing most of our groceries and takeout from my earnings!

    If I wind up making a few bucks from ThredUp, too, it’ll be sweet. It’s a new platform for me, so I’m keeping my expectations low.

  46. Leap Year Conspiracy*

    I’ve started wearing a lot of what I would normally wear in the office just so I have a sense of delineation between work time and home time even though it’s all in the same place. Jeans and slippers are two exceptions – I haven’t worn a skirt in forever and all the beautiful shoes I own rarely get trotted out.

    I’ve tried Thredup many times and found that for me the goody boxes aren’t my thing, almost always a miss. I have found the site really good for the following: finding a discontinued item that I already own that’s wearing out (Hello favorite Everlane v-neck t-shirt with the tags still on), getting a gently used or new with tags version of an item that doesn’t seem to go on sale/is pretty expensive and inexpensive dusters that I can get creative without worrying about the cost (embroidery, dyeing, etc.). I have little to no luck with pants on there – nothing fits quite right and it feels like 90% of the styles are skinny legs.

  47. Cassidy*

    Shorts and t-shirts. I am where it’s balmy year-round, WFH, and my bandwidth is such that I can only have audio.

    I have to say, though: I’d give it all up if it meant the pandemic hadn’t caused so much suffering, so I don’t enjoy the arrangement nearly as much as I normally would.

  48. Teri Anne*

    It is depressing to look at your clothes selections, because I am 5’9″ and I wear a size 18. These are nice clothes that I would consider wearing, but I already know they do not come in my size. Ann Taylor only carries up to a size 16, and many other stores carry only a few larger sizes. I have to try on a lot of clothes before I find something that fits and isn’t ugly. Most pants are too short, and the sleeves of most shirts are too short.

  49. Deborah*

    I love ThredUp.

    That being said, I’m not sure how people sit far enough from their screens to be seen! My head fills the camera view on my laptop when I sit at normal viewing/working distance from my 14″ laptop. I can’t sit 3′ away and see what’s happening!

  50. Sarah*

    I’m one of those people who has been taking full advantage of being able to wear a nightgown and plush robe all day. I have PCOS and endometriosis, so I deal with chronic pain as a result. Not having to wear pants since last March has been a real godsend for me!

  51. Sunny*

    Question: do they do well with older male children? I’m a guy, but small enough to fit into the upper end of kid sizes (14/16 bottoms, L tops), so this might be an interesting way to expand my wardrobe if they carry a decent amount of stuff that fits me.

  52. PeanutButter*

    When I’m at home, I have a ratty old black polar fleece half-zip that I bought back in high school (so very, very long ago.) It looks like a black turtleneck on camera and it goes overtop of whatever I’m slouching around in that day. Usually a sports bra, t-shirt, and yoga pants.

    When I go into the lab office, I’m in a weird spot. I work at an academic scientific research institute so when I’m working in the actual lab area, I’m usually the best dressed because I’m a technical professional – the students, post-docs, and bench-work lab techs roll in at whatever time of day they need to do their experiments wearing sweats because they’ll have to change into scrubs for bench work, while the PI rolls sometime mid-morning in wearing jeans/flannel button down because his body of academic work speaks for itself. I do computational stuff to assist everyone in the lab, so I’ve been trying to wear smart-casual clothing when on campus, like dark-rinse jeans and khakis with oxford shoes and cardigans. The result is that I’m usually the best-dressed person, but I’m trying to strike a balance and not look like I’m way over-dressed and out of step with the general culture.

  53. Not Mindy*

    I think that I’m an outlier because I am typically more dressed up than I was in the office. I wear dresses several days a week. Since I don’t have to worry about shoes or tights vs. bare legs it’s easy and comfy.
    I stopped for a little while because I had a foster dog and it was below freezing so pants were a must. But now that he has been adopted the dresses are back.

  54. Who Plays Backgammon?*

    Being home all the time has been a blessing for my closet! Before, almost all my nice things were for work. If a friend wanted to meet for Saturday coffee I had to scramble to see if my one pair of decent jeans was clean. Since WFH, I’ve had more time (and boredom) to browse online. I think partly because of the pandemic and also timing, like end-of-season sales, I caught some great deals and now I can dress as if I have a life in addition to a job.

    For on-camera meetings, I’m often spiffy from the waist up in a good blouse, necklace or scarf, and blazer, and comfortable in jeans or joggers. My boss gives us the head’s up if there will be a visitor and she wants us to dress appropriately. Otherwise it doesn’t matter if you’re in a sweatshirt. I like to dress casual nice and put on a bit of makeup anyway because it makes ME feel good, even on days with no video calls.

  57. Elle by the sea*

    ThredUp is brilliant! The only problem is that I have such a hard time doing online shopping because the clothes might be my size but they might be unflattering.

    I’m a redhead, too, and I also like blues and greens. But I love black and animal print, too.

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