Dress for success: 10 cozy WFH outfit ideas

Dressing for success in this new age of remote and digital working has a distinct aesthetic from professional dress codes of the past. For one, you can usually get away with half a formal attire and leave your other half lounging in your comfiest PJs with no coworker the wiser. From suiting up for virtual meetings in the comfort of your bedroom to getting ready for a workday packed with other errands, there are a number of wardrobe choices you can make when not going back to the office.

Only have one meeting for the day? Boss wants to video chat unexpectedly? Already in your PJs at 3:55 when you realize you have a catch-up at 4? Having certain clothing items ready to go and throw on at a moment’s notice can instantly transform even your comfiest sleepwear into an office-ready, professional getup.

… Well, whatever’s visible on camera, at least!

This staple piece from our days of working in the office remains to be a staple of working from home for very good reason. Button-down tops, particularly ones in neutral colors (black, white, beige), are the foundations of any professional capsule wardrobe, and they’re a godsend in those times when you suddenly find yourself needing to go on camera and looking the part of the consummate professional (which you are!).

Always have one or two button-down shirts ironed and ready to go in your closet so that you can be Zoom-ready in two minutes.

Some days, you might not have two minutes to change into a different top. Maybe your schedule is a nightmare, and you’re already running late for your next meeting. Maybe you’re tired and simply can’t be bothered. We totally get it. That’s where having a nice, well-fitting blazer comes in clutch.

Blazers can instantly elevate any top - even the old, ratty ones we can’t just seem to get rid of. And if you don’t want people seeing your top, simply buttoning up your blazer is all you need to do.

Sometimes, it’s just too hot to put on a thick, long-sleeved overwear on top of your current shirt. This is why it’s also a good idea to have a cardigan. Made of lighter, airier materials than blazers - and with a plethora of short-sleeved options, to boot - cardigans are a fantastic alternative to blazers that can help you breeze through any meeting or work day.

They’re not as formal as blazers, which is perfect if you’re looking for work-from-home outfits that are casual but still smart and professional.

Collars are the hallmark of the business dress code and are an essential work-from-home outfit. Just by popping on any collared shirt, you can instantly look ten times more professional, fluffy pajama pants and all. They’re even more convenient to wear than a button-down shirt with their comparatively less number of buttons, so as far as quick-change outfits go, collared shirts just can’t be beat!

What better way to show company spirit than by donning your company swag? If you have a one-on-one with your boss, now’s a great time to bust out your corporate-branded apparel and show your love for your work.

If you don’t have company swag goodies yet - and you’re tasked with making them - Canva can help you create your own. Browse hundreds of ready-made, fully editable design templates for custom shirts⁠(opens in a new tab or window) or hoodies⁠(opens in a new tab or window) that you can easily tweak for free. For inspiration, explore our Disney Hoodies⁠(opens in a new tab or window) for magical designs, Disney Princess Hoodies⁠(opens in a new tab or window) for enchanting templates, or Frozen Hoodies⁠(opens in a new tab or window) for a frosty and fun twist. Whether you’re making something simple with only your company logo and/or tagline, or producing something complex for a special event, using these templates makes the design process much easier and faster.

Of course, looking presentable for your virtual meetings is not the only reason to dress up while working remotely.

Maybe you need a change of scenery and want something nice to wear while working at your favorite coffee shop. Perhaps you have errands to run at lunchtime, but have a half-hour brown-bag meeting at the same time. Or maybe you’re having one of those days and need a cute but low-effort pick-me-up outfit to lighten your mood and better distinguish your “home” hours from your “office” hours.

Whatever your reason, having a few choice pieces of clothes in your wardrobe can not only help you look put-together but feel the part as well.

Hear us out: the best jeans are the ones that are comfortable, but not too comfortable. The goal is to have something cozy enough to work in that you’re not distracted by the fit, but not so cozy that you can practically sleep in them.

When working from home, the lines between your relaxation and leisure hours versus your working, focused hours can be blurred, so you want to set them apart as much as you can. Clothing can really help with that.

For busy bees who make the most out of their day, swap out your pajama pants for a sleek pair of tights and you’re all set to run all the errands you need. Leggings - or tights - are an easy way to look put together but still have all the mobility you need for a day jam-packed with office and housework.

If you haven’t found your holy grail pair of leggings - or think all leggings are uncomfortable and chafe at your skin - consider investing in a sturdier pair made with performance fibers like nylon or polyester. These materials are more durable than cotton, making them great for active work like exercising, as opposed to simply relaxing at home.

From sweet messages of encouragement to cheer you on to funny, relatable statements that capture your mood, statement shirts can add a little more fun to an otherwise routine day at work. Whether it’s a classic Disney T-Shirt⁠(opens in a new tab or window), a Frozen T-Shirt⁠(opens in a new tab or window), or Disney Princess T-Shirts⁠(opens in a new tab or window), these designs bring a playful spark to your work-from-home wardrobe.

With Canva’s customizable graphic shirts⁠(opens in a new tab or window), you can send out your own message to the world. Turn your favorite inspirational quote into a t-shirt. Find your favorite meme and let your outfit speak for you. Or even make matching statement shirts with your coworkers to really feel the team spirit.

Being stuck at home can sometimes feel confining. Swapping out your PJs for a nice, cute dress can be a simple but effective way to break the monotony.

Dresses are fantastic work-from-home outfit staples. They’re already an entire outfit all on their own, so less need to mix and match. They’re generally easy to put on and are fairly comfortable to wear for hours. And they’re effortlessly cute. If you’re looking for a low-effort pick-me-up outfit that instantly makes you look nicer, you can’t go wrong with pretty dresses.

Do you need to go out but don’t want to leave the comfort of home? Get a nice set of loungewear and have the best of both worlds!

Loungewear strikes the perfect balance between being and feeling casual, but not looking too casual. Typically, loungewear attire combines pieces that either have a loose fit and/or are made of cozy materials like cotton, satin, or knitted materials. The key to pulling them off is to find complementary pieces that match or balance out one another. For example, having the same, neutral-colored top and bottom is an effortlessly cohesive look. You can also pair something uber casual like sweatpants with something dressier like a pullover (especially one with a turtleneck that emulates the “look” of a collar).

When done right, the resulting look is as elegant and smart as it is comfortable.

Working from home changed many things for the modern workforce - and that includes how we dress for success. For many of us, we can be just as productive doing our jobs in pajamas as we are in pantsuits. But for those times when we need or want to look a certain way, having a wardrobe of curated work-from-home attires can be a lifesaver. From smart button-downs and blazers to nice dresses and loungewear, there’s an assortment of low-effort outfits you can choose from to instantly look the part of the consummate professional!

And for those of you looking to take your statement-making outfits to the next level, send out a message with Canva’s customizable clothing templates! Design your own graphic shirt⁠(opens in a new tab or window). Make swag hoodies⁠(opens in a new tab or window) for your company. Or even start your own line of WFH “uniform” statement shirts. Whatever design need you have, Canva has a ready-made, fully customizable template you can use.