We did a poll recently with our customers on their preferred dress code when working from home. Surprisingly, we do receive a good 55% says they would still formal, be in shirt or have a jacket over a polo or crew neck T and decent bottom for online management or clients meetings/presentation, 40% says they go casual due to their industry (largely in FinTech or StartUp) , 3% would dress up in full gear but ditch the tie. 2% would .
Which dress camp do you belong to? Regardless, it’s always nice to present a professional image of yourself on screen. It’s a show of respect to self and the receiving party. .
Yes, this is one of the work wear/dress etiquettes that Ms. Adele Chung, a resident Personal Styling Consultant at Meiko Tailor, sheds light on. Let’s look at a few.
The attire you choose to put on for online meetings has a subliminal perception of your personal image.
Dressing up for your Zoom meeting
While dressing up for a video conference call may not require as strict a dress code compared to in-person meetings, first impressions are still important and you’d want to make the best of that opportunity; especially if your video conference call/Zoom meeting is for a job interview. When it comes to Zoom meeting attire, there are several factors to consider. Here are some things to keep in mind, as well as some suggestions for smart and wearable clothing.
Tip 1: Put on a brightly coloured top
This may seem counterintuitive, as you may be tempted to dress for a Zoom meeting in the same way you would for a TV interview. In reality, however, you will be using your laptop or an attachable webcam for your Zoom meetings, neither of which is known for its quality. A brightly coloured top can help to brighten things up and make you stand out in a grey or blurry landscape. This is especially true if the wall behind you is plain.
Tip 2: Avoid a low-cut neckline or a neckline that is too high
If you have a work-related meeting, a low-cut neckline will draw attention away from your face and should be avoided. Furthermore, they become a distraction because they must be constantly adjusted or fixed.
A too-high neckline, on the other hand, can be problematic for other reasons: you might end up looking like a floating head! As a result, you should avoid turtlenecks, button-ups, mock-necks, and other similar styles. So look for tops that hit right in the middle and don’t require any fidgeting or maintenance.
Tip 3: Tops that are fitted or super structured should be avoided
Because you’ll most likely be sitting behind a desk, avoid wearing anything that pulls or tugs across your middle or shoulders, anything that gaps (avoid button-ups if possible), or anything that is too tight. To complete your Zoom OOTD (outfit of the day), you’ll need a comfortable top that fits well and doesn’t stretch uncomfortably across your chest.
Tip 4: Wear a proper bottom
Wear proper pants, no matter how tempting it is not to! If you need to get up to grab something or go to the bathroom, you should wear a full outfit, not your favourite pyjama pants or boxer shorts. That would be extremely embarrassing!
Other things to consider
When attending a Zoom meeting, your dress code should depend on the nature of the meeting (for example, a prospective client versus a weekly catch-up with your boss and coworkers), but in most cases, business-casual attire is appropriate. That is unless your job requires you to wear a specific outfit. When it comes to colour selection for your outfit, use bright colours whenever possible. A bright colour will liven up a grey or blurry webcam image and add contrast if you’re sitting in front of a plain wall. Begin with blue, red, green, or yellow. Another option is to wear a top with a nice print or a neutral colour, especially if you have a busy background. At the end of the day, no matter how well-dressed you are for the occasion, all your great dressing effort may still fail to come through due to poor lighting and camera quality. So, here are a few additional pointers:
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Purchase a ring light. This can be a bit of an investment, but if you know you’ll be doing Zoom calls frequently, it might be worth it.
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If a ring light isn’t an option, try to position your laptop near a good source of natural light (i.e. a window).
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Make your hair a statement and wear bright lip colour if you are a lady. Our best features can sometimes get lost in a Zoom meeting due to its typically blurry nature. Flyaways will detract from a polished appearance (especially if you sit near a window).
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Check your camera angle and avoid sitting too close to it.
Conclusion
Zoom meetings and video conference calls have become a part of our professional routines in this day and age. Luckily for us, this still gives us an excuse to dress up and look good even if we’re not leaving the house. For more individualised and personalised pointers on how to dress up for your online meetings, get in touch with us and let us help you with your personal styling and branding!
