Working from home changed the rules of getting dressed for a huge share of the US workforce, and years later, plenty of people still have not settled on a routine that feels right. Some days call for something structured enough to hop on a video call without a second thought, while other days genuinely only require whatever is comfortable enough to sit through a stack of emails. Shein’s casual and workwear-adjacent categories have become a common source for this particular in-between style, since the selection spans everything from strict loungewear to pieces that read as polished from the waist up while still being soft enough to wear all day.
The trick to dressing well for a home office is usually not about matching a traditional office dress code at all. It is about identifying which two or three outfit formulas actually work for your specific routine, then keeping a small rotation of pieces on hand that fit those formulas, so getting dressed each morning takes minutes rather than becoming its own daily decision.
The Camera-Ready Top, Comfortable Bottom Formula
For anyone with regular video calls, the most reliable formula is pairing a structured top with soft, comfortable bottoms. A button-up blouse, a fitted knit top, or a simple collared shirt reads as intentional on camera, while joggers, soft knit pants, or leggings underneath keep the rest of the day comfortable. Shein’s blouse and knitwear sections carry a wide range of options in this camera-friendly category, and because most video calls only show the upper half of the body, it is worth prioritizing tops in solid colors or simple patterns that do not create a distracting moire effect on screen, which busier prints and fine stripes sometimes do during video compression.
A cardigan or a lightweight sweater layered over a simple tank also fits this formula well, and it adds the option of shedding a layer if the room gets warm partway through the day. Keeping two or three of these camera-ready tops on rotation, rather than one single favorite, avoids the awkward moment of appearing in the same top on back-to-back calls with the same group of coworkers.
Loungewear That Still Looks Put Together
On days without any calls at all, many people gravitate toward full loungewear, and there is nothing wrong with that. The key difference between loungewear that looks sloppy and loungewear that looks intentional usually comes down to fit and coordination. A matching set, whether that is a ribbed knit two-piece or a soft joggers-and-hoodie combination in the same color family, tends to look far more put-together than a mismatched pairing of an old college t-shirt with pajama pants, even though both options are equally comfortable. Shein’s lounge and matching-set categories are built around this idea, offering coordinated pieces designed to be worn together as a complete look rather than as separates pulled from different drawers.
Fabric choice matters more for loungewear than for almost any other category, since these pieces often get worn for eight or more hours at a stretch. Reading the fabric composition listed on the product page, and favoring cotton blends or brushed knits over stiffer synthetic weaves, tends to make a noticeable difference in how comfortable a piece feels by the end of a long work day.
What Does Your Actual Week Look Like?
Before restocking a work-from-home wardrobe, it is worth mapping out a real week rather than guessing. How many days actually involve a camera-on meeting, and how many are truly heads-down with no video at all? If the honest split is roughly three days on camera and two fully off, buying five identical loungewear sets will leave you underprepared for the days that matter on screen, while buying five structured outfits wastes money on comfort you did not need. Matching the wardrobe to the actual weekly rhythm, rather than to an idealized version of a work-from-home schedule, tends to produce far more useful purchases.
Small Details That Make a Difference
A few smaller additions can round out a work-from-home wardrobe without requiring a full closet overhaul. A soft, structured blazer that can be thrown over even a casual top instantly raises the formality of a look for an unplanned client call. A single pair of comfortable flat shoes, even if they are rarely seen below a desk on camera, can make a short walk to get coffee or check the mail feel less like an afterthought. None of these pieces need to be expensive, but having them ready in a drawer means never having to scramble minutes before a surprise meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colors show up best on video calls?
Solid, mid-tone colors such as navy, burgundy, sage green, and dusty blue tend to look the most natural on camera. Pure white can appear overexposed under bright lighting, and busy patterns or fine stripes can create a flickering effect on lower-quality webcams, so it is generally safer to save those for days without calls.
How many work-from-home outfits should I actually own?
A rotation of four or five camera-ready tops and two or three loungewear sets is usually enough to avoid repeating the same outfit too often within a single week, without requiring a large wardrobe investment.
Is it worth buying a matching lounge set instead of separates?
Matching sets tend to save time in the morning since there is no decision to make about pairing, and they generally photograph better on the rare occasion a camera turns on unexpectedly. Separates offer more flexibility for mixing with other pieces, so the right choice depends on how much you value speed versus variety.
Do I need different clothes for a home office than for actual office days?
If your role occasionally requires an in-person day, it is worth keeping at least one or two slightly more formal outfits set aside specifically for that purpose, since day-to-day home outfits are often built around comfort in a way that does not always translate well outside the house.
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Published by the Calderwise Editorial Team.