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You’re scheduled for a team check-in at 10 a.m., so you log in to Zoom at 9:59 and catch a glimpse of yourself. That boxy shirt! That dreadful lighting! It’s clear you’re not suited for broadcast despite your best efforts.
But who is? For many of us, working from home every day is the new normal. Even though all 50 states are currently reopening phases—and even though this includes the reopening of offices, many companies are still choosing to keep their doors closed.
With all of us working from our home offices and dining room tables, video meetings are still a relatively new concept. So is looking polished on screen. That’s why we asked a few career experts to demystify the art of getting camera-ready...especially if the camera in question is your unforgiving web cam.
“Exercising, then taking a hot shower, doing my hair and face, and putting on a nice outfit gets me into the work zone,” career coach Joanne Jastatt told Yahoo Life about working from home. She always moisturizes and applies concealer “at the very least” before a video chat.
“I've been getting dressed from the waist up on most days with hair, light makeup, a nice top, and WOW it makes an incredible difference,” adds Lauren McGodowin, founder of Career Contessa.
Experts agree that moving into natural light is also key when it comes to Zoom calls. If that’s not possible, get yourself an LED light ring, like the ones we reviewed here.
As for your outfit, these are the ten pieces that our career experts suggest—a kind of capsule wardrobe for work-from-home success. And they're all deeply discounted at Amazon's Big Style Sale!
“First off, wear pants,” says Jastatt of this surprising top choice. “There are comfortable bottoms that you can wear that will ensure that you look professional even if you have to stand up at some point during the meeting.” Cropped white jeans fit the bill perfectly, and this high-rise pair by Lucky Brand is 55 percent off during Amazon’s Big Style Sale. With a bit of stretch, they’re easy like Sunday morning—but on a Monday morning.
“I think that in this time of people wearing sweatshirts it really helps mentally and professionally if you dress as if you were in the boardroom,” says Kat Connelly, Manhattan branch manager for Dress for Success Worldwide. With that being said, there are ways to dress down appropriately for video on Casual Friday...or even Casual Tuesday. This Goodthreads top is lightweight and all cotton, and the light blue hue screams office caual. Right now it’s an additional 33 percent off.
“Want to stand out a bit more? Wear a bold color like red!,” advises Goodwin, but keep your makeup simple and always avoid “overwhelming eyeshadow” on camera. We found the perfect red one-piece that you can throw on fast when the boss asks to FaceTime at a moment’s notice. This fit-and-flare jersey dress feels like pajamas but looks like your standard scoop-neck. It’s easy to lounge around in—and right now it’s 35 percent off. Grab it in black if you want something a little more classic.
“Solid colors are your friend for video,” says Jastatt, who recommends setting aside four to five outfits to keep on hand as a Zoom capsule wardrobe that you can mix and match. This loose-fitting, cinnamon-colored jumpsuit will quickly become your go-to solid for on-screen meetings. The sleeveless, wide-legged one-piece is the kind of garment you’ll never want to take off, and right now it’s 19 percent off.
You’ve traded in a conference room table for a dining room table, but you can still maintain the same professional appearance while leading the meeting from home. “For an interview or high-level conference call, wear a jacket or blazer,” says Connelly. During the hot summer though, a high-necked sleeveless blouse reads just as chic on-screen. This peachy silk one by Club Monaco has a tie at the neck and is 50 percent off right now.
A great accessory goes a long way in creating a polished appearance on screen. “A simple necklace and pair of earrings can really step things up nicely without much effort,” says Jastatt. Now what’s a foolproof necklace that looks great on almost everyone? It’s this popular Pearl Lariat necklace, a modified take on a delicate classic—and it’s almost half price right now.
Read More from Yahoo Lifestyle:
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