Video meetings have become a big part of our lives over the last year. With so many people now working from home, socializing from home, and getting their education from home, and many people likely to continue that way in the future, there is one burning question on everybody’s mind; what do I wear when online?
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When holding meetings online, it isn’t as if it is the same as a formal meeting in the office, so do you need to dress in the same professional outfit that you normally would at work? Yet on the other hand, it’s still a meeting, so it isn’t appropriate to turn up in a pair of sweatpants. You’ve also got to consider how the pattern and color of your clothes might affect the video. Finding the right outfit can be tough, but with these tips, you can get it right every time.
Wear Fitted Items
Anything that is loose or baggy shows up more on camera and can look messy and unprofessional. It can even cause you to look larger than you are! Even if it doesn’t appear that way in person, you give off the wrong impression in your video meeting, so it’s best to wear slightly fitted items. For example, you can get some great Jackets for women online, which are perfect for video conferencing. Blazers are a smart and professional choice, and well-fitted so they look sharp on camera. A simple blouse works well too, just avoid anything with ruffles or too much detailing because it can look messy on a video call.
Steer Clear Of Heavy Patterns
Anything with a heavy pattern on it can play havoc with the picture during a video meeting. Stripes and plaids are particularly bad and they can make it very difficult for people to see you clearly, which distracts from what you are saying. So, if you want to be safe, go for solid colors instead, and avoid anything too bright that is likely to be overpowering. Simple black and white or grey outfits are one of the easiest options if you want to look professional, and they’re better for on video.
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Keep Jewelry Light
There are a few reasons why you need to keep your jewelry light. Firstly, you don’t want people to be distracted by the light reflecting off the large crystals in your necklace while you are talking. Secondly, big jewelry can be quite noisy if it’s jangling around, so avoid layering up lots of big bracelets, for example. Jewelry can be a good way to make a plain outfit more interesting, but for an online meeting, you may want to keep it simple.
Don’t Forget The Bottom Half
Many people will tell you that it doesn’t matter what you wear on your bottom half so focus on your top half and then grab some sweatpants because nobody is going to see them anyway. But what if you have to stand up for some reason during the meeting? If you want to avoid any embarrassment, dress as if everybody will see your full outfit, just in case they do. The clothes that you wear also have a big impact on your mindset and wearing sweatpants doesn’t exactly inspire self-confidence. You’ll find that you are more productive in meetings and when working from home in general if you dress for the office.
Stick to these simple tips when choosing your wardrobe and you will be able to pick the perfect video meeting outfit every time!