WFH Workwear Essentials You Need To Have On Standby

Slip-On Shoes

Crocs Classic Platform Clog in Blush Pink, £49.99, crocs.co.uk

We’ve all been there: tapping away on your laptop when the doorbell rings, then scrambling up and shoving your feet into the first pair of shoes available to make it to the front door in time. A slip-on shoe is a must in this situation, and one such item of footwear making a tremendous comeback amongst the TikTok generation is Crocs. And before you say anything, hear us out. We love a good slipper as much as the next homebody, but the last thing we want is to see them get muddy and ruined as soon as we take a tentative step outside to let the dog out or collect the post. Crocs are waterproof, stylish and young people approved – what’s not to love?

A Shacket

John Lewis Anyday Plain Jersey Shacket in Oatmeal, £36, johnlewis.com

If your job calls for you to dress up a little bit at home, or if you just want to layer up when you can’t bring yourself to turn on the heating, then a shacket is the way to go. While popular styles these days are more lumber jack fashion than officewear appropriate, you can find a number of sophisticated styles out there that will work just as well for WFH as popping out to the shop. This shacket from John Lewis ticks all of our boxes: a lovely transeasonal piece that can be dressed up and down as much as you like.

Loose Jeans

7 For All Mankind Modern Dojo Flared High-Rise Stretch-Denim Jeans, £210, selfridges.com

Vintage alternative: Levi’s 501 Big E Blue Light Wash Jeans (W26 L32), £75, rokit.co.uk

While you’re more than welcome to live it up in your finest pyjamas and loungewear, on the days you fancy a change, you can slip into a pair of jeans. Since you’re probably going to be sat down for most of the day, we’d suggest avoiding skinny jeans and tough denim in favour of looser fitting styles – think flares, straight-leg, tapered and bootcut. Jeans have always been the definition of casual chic, but now they also make a great defence if you ever need to stand up during a video meeting.

Lounge Trousers

Reformation Ethan Pants, £185, thereformation.com

Rental alternative: Sleeper Cosmos Flare Lounge Suit (Size S), rent from £34, hurrcollective.com

Dressing up on your top half leaves you to find something with more chill vibes for your bottom half. Opt for lounge trousers for a loose fit that is comfortable (ideal for that important lounging), but with a more sophisticated feel than if you just slung on a pair of leggings or joggers. Bonus points if you have pair with a tie-front or elastic waistband.

A Breezy Button-Up

Frankie Shop Blue Georgia Striped Cotton Shirt, £160, brownsfashion.com

Resale alternative: Rejina Pyo Marty Shirt in Check Yellow, £120, rotaroresale.com

As we’ve mentioned before, looking put together from the waist-up is important if you’re going to be spending the day on video calls. An easy (yet stylish) fix can be found in the humble shirt. You can wear one over your favourite lounge trousers so you comfortably work from home, and maybe even dress things up with a pair of jeans and trainers for your next casual day in the office. Our pick from Frankie Shop has a pair of matching trousers available to purchase, so you can feel even more put together in this relaxed fit.

A Cosy Cardigan

Beaufort & Blake Bewl Cardigan, £120, beaufortandblake.com

Rental alternative: LoveShackFancy Jamie Alpaca Cardigan (UK10), rent from £71, hurrcollective.com 

Cosiness is key when it comes to home working – but rather than traipse around the house in that jumper you badly need to chuck in the wash, make yourself waist-up presentable with a stylish button-up cardigan. Our pick is this Fair Isle piece from Beaufort & Blake, which fuels our cottagecore fantasies with a pretty line of tulips on the front and back. Ideal for keeping warm as we head into the cooler months (and for those all-important Zoom calls, of course).