Fashion

21 Work-From-Home Wardrobe Essentials You’ll Wear on Repeat

Outfit of the (every) day.

By Brittany Chatburn
Woman laughing in comfortable work from home outfit.

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The year is 2020. You haven’t showered in +/- three days. You’re wearing the same sweatpants you slept in. That top knot is still holding strong and the Amazon boxes full of cozy socks, craft kits, and elderberry gummies are collecting on your doorstep. You feed your sourdough starter, eat a slice of banana bread, and hop on Zoom for your morning meetings.

Perhaps that paragraph should have come with a trigger warning. But isn’t it great to know how far we’ve come?! We went HARD with the sweats and swung the pendulum over to donning black-tie gowns in grocery stores just to feel something. Then, we found a new work-from-home rhythm as many of us stayed remote or hybrid. Now in the year 2024, we wear sweatpants when we want to, thankyouverymuch. And for the most part, we get dressed. Still, no matter which way we get the job done, we all face the same question every morning. What am I going to wear?

Woman working at desk in comfortable work from home clothes.

I can help you with that. I’ve worked fully from home for five-plus years before moving to the hybrid model two years ago. As a “professional” WFH-er I’ve collected a few rules and standards for work-from-home clothes. Let’s review.

Woman working on laptop with baby.
Image by Teal Thomsen

The Rules of Work-From-Home Clothes

  1. No Hard Pants. There must be room for easy movement and therefore this COVID-era rule remains. Urban Dictionary defines hard pants to perfection: “Pants that don’t have a stretchy, elastic waistband. During any pandemic, the desire to wear only elastic waistband pants instead of pants like jeans. During the pandemic, Victoria refused to wear hard pants.
  2. Wear Easy Layers. The thermostat does not care that you set it to the same temperature every single day. It will always be colder in one room and warmer in the next. Layers are key for comfort.
  3. Clothes Must Be Versatile. Your clothes need to take you seamlessly from Zooms to coffee dates to errands to lunches. From sitting to standing and sitting again. A solid collection of basics mixed with fun items makes for a closet full of options.
  4. Opt For Casual Yet Professional. This one should be pretty obvious—no need to wear a pair of heels down the hall to your home office—but we can also try a smidge harder than three-day-old pants.
  5. Clothes Should Make You Feel Like You. It’s at the bottom of this list but consider it rule number one.

Work-From-Home Clothes IRL

Everlane trousers work from home outfit

I have a few essentials that I’ll recommend, all of which check off all the rules. I still LOVE my nap dress, for example, and I’m obsessed with these tailored pants. But there is a particular pair of pants I see on just about every WFH outfit list that I had to go try for myself.

I went to the store to try them on and… yeah. They were not as dreamy (pun intended) on my particular body as I hoped they’d be. However, I did discover these incredibly comfortable and versatile trousers (above!) that I immediately loved. They only had petite in the store so I’m planning on ordering the 32″ inseams, but I also don’t totally mind the shorter length. (I’m 5’8″ for reference.)

Work-From-Home and Office Capsule Collection

Behold the ultimate collection of work-from-home clothes for the modern gal. I gathered my personal favorites alongside some everyday essentials, then polled my very fashionable and amazing colleagues via Slack to share any pieces they swear by. I’d first encourage you to shop your own closet for items in these particular categories and then decide what’s missing. (P.S. Don’t sleep on a red power dress. In a sea of neutrals sometimes you need to opt for something fiery and strong!)

Check out the entire collection below and scroll on for three great outfits to get you started.

work from home capsule wardrobe

Outfit 1: The Day You’re Toggling Back and Forth

work from home outfit casual

Buck Mason Pima Boxy Crew / Sézane Valerio Jacket / Everlane The Way-High® Drape Pant / Chuck Taylor All Star Classic

Outfit 2: The Day You Take Meetings From the Couch

zoom meeting outfit

Sézane Max Shirt / Everlane The Easy Pant / Minnetonka Chesney Slippers

Outfit 3: The Day Your Calendar Is Clear

work from home lounge outfit

Wrap Cardigan / Black Rib-Knit Tank / High-Waist Leggings / New Balance 574 Core

Outfit 4: The Day You Go From Home to Happy Hour

work from home outfit dress

Soft Lounge Slip Dress / Sézane Max Shirt / Chuck Taylor All Star Classic

Scoop-Neck Rib-Knit First Layer Tank Top

I have this tank in black and white and truly, I could build an entire wardrobe around these two pieces. The fit is snug but cozy and the soft fabric holds up over several washes. However, I’ve learned that my basics take the most heat when it comes to spills and stains. This price point makes it easy to grab a new one when those days inevitably come.

Pima Boxy Crew

My Buck Mason tees are some of the hardest working pieces in my closet because I just can’t stop wearing them. I love this boxy fit that’s sporty and feminine at the same time.

Valencia Blouse

I’ve had my eye on this blouse for years and I finally own her for myself. It instantly elevates a pair of worn-in jeans—so chic and yet so comfortable. UGH, j’adore.

Max Shirt

You might call this classic button-up the Camille Styles office uniform. As Camille quipped on set just last week, “I could literally wear this shirt every day.”

Valerio Jacket

We’re still rocking blazers but lately, it’s the chic cardigan jacket that brings an outfit together in a snap. (And it’s a bit cozier for WFH wear.)

Unisex Oversized Crew

The oversized sweatshirt is a must for those days when you’re craving cozy productivity.

Kara Wrap Cardigan

It’s a blanket disguised as clothes, what more do you need?

Soft Lounge Slip Dress

The Internet-famous dress is just as soft and comfortable as it claims to be.

The Scarlet Dress

Take it from me, a Christy Dawn dress doesn’t go out of style. Expect this to take a starring role in your wardrobe for years to come.

The Easy Pant

It’s all in the name. Comfortable, easy to pull on, and look great with a tee, or a button-up, or a cardigan…

High-Waist Airlift Leggings

IYKYK. The only black leggings, as far as we’re concerned.

The Way-High® Drape Pant

The aforementioned pants, these trousers are easy to dress up with a blouse and a flat after working from home in a tee and sneakers.

Lounge Waffle Mockneck Top

The lounge set is the essential piece of a WFH-er. This top has matching pants (and honestly, all A&F’s loungewear is on point these days).

Grove Short Sleeve Field Suit

Yes, Barbiecore is out, but if Greta Gerwig can rock this exact jumpsuit on set day after day then you better believe it belongs in a solid working-girl wardrobe well beyond trends.

Villa Jogger

These are joggers you can wear outside the house and no one will even know you’ve lived in them for two days straight.

Tencel Jersey Fit and Flare Dress

I’m of the opinion that the right dress is more comfortable than any sweat suit you throw at me. This dress proves me right.

The Ellie Nap Dress

Speaking of comfortable dresses, this one was literally (okay, kind of literally) made for napping. I’ve had one for three years and it’s the easiest choice when I can’t put any effort into what to wear.

Adelaide Sweater Set

It’s a sweat suit, but it’s elevated. You’ll be more productive because it’s cute. It’s science!

New Balance 574 Core

A pair of New Balance sneakers belongs is any collection for the sheer comfort. They look good with leggings, trousers, and dresses alike.

Minnetonka Chesney Slippers

Avoid those cold floors AND putting on Big Girl shoes. We’re in our slipper era.

Chuck Taylor All Star Classics

White sneakers for under $100? Done.