18 Ideas to Make WFH Outfits Less Boring

Actually, there ARE options

As I started thinking more about my WFH wardrobe, a number of posts on dressing for WFH caught my attention. Is it because I started noticing them? Maybe. There was that Tibi Fans post, a take by Harriet Hadfield, Ann Newton’s version, and others. I also scoured the internet, Substack, and Instagram for inspiration and gathered a number of ideas - all synthesized here. Enjoy!

ACCESSORIZE

Use your summer shoes as slippers

I (and perhaps you too?) usually ignore the aesthetics of my slippers, but put a lot of thought into my summer shoes - which then sit in the closet all winter. Why not wear them at home? Clean up the soles and use them indoors - it adds a little something extra.

Use cool socks and/or slippers to elevate your outfits

There are quite a few interesting slippers and socks out there that can bring back the joy to your WFH outfits. Honestly, socks are a story in themselves. You could even have a little “collection” and match them with each WFH outfit. Great if you’re on a budget, too.

You can barely see the difference - but these blue and yellow socks give me so much joy!

Dial up the jewelry

One of the best tips I’ve gotten for elevating a simple T-shirt is to add a necklace. I’m still a novice in the jewelry department, but one idea I’ve seen work really well is the Evie Marques necklaces - they're stylish and fairly affordable.

Source: Evie Marques

Dial up makeup and nail art

Makeup is my daily go-to - and let’s face it, a good nail design or a touch of extra makeup can make you feel special. You can be more experimental on Zoom since the camera blurs details, so even bold makeup feels more subtle. With nails, the options are endless - and they're a great mood booster.

ELEVATE YOUR SWEATPANTS

Upgrade your sweatpants

I was getting bored with my sweatpants looks, so I tried lounge pants with prints - and it immediately felt fresher. Sweatpants can range from subtle to statement-making. Tibi excels here. Even though their Calder pants don’t inspire me as much anymore, the Rohan and Winslow styles are very interesting. Other good brands to check for more interesting sweats: Dries and Doni.

Clockwise from top left: Donni silk striped sweats, Tibi Winslow and Rohan sweats, Dries Van Noten sweatpants.

Wear nicer T-shirts with sweatpants

I thought the issue with my WFH outfits might be my T-shirts, so I tried some from Lindex that had more drape and a modern cut. Unfortunately, they didn’t solve the problem. They’re still essentially T-shirts, and layering them under sweaters doesn’t quite work.

Wear interesting tops with sweatpants

A better idea: swap in more interesting tops. Practical and stylish is the sweet spot. My go-to for this is COS - for example, their tie-back top is casual but has that extra detail that makes it pop.

Switch to knit sets instead of sweats

If you're tired of sweatpants, try knit sets. I’ve tried a few - some were too transparent and bump-emphasizing on me - but they can look amazing on others. It is a category I plan to explore more for next winter too. I personally have not found my favorite, but the Extreme Cashmere offerings seem very soft (albeit quite pricey), and Arket has some options too.

Style your sweatpants creatively

Nobody does this better than La Deeply Shallow. She always comes up with unexpected ideas and aesthetics. Check out her list of ways to style sweatpants - it’s experimental but super inspiring.

How to wear sweatpants without feeling "defeated"

Play with color

Color can completely change the vibe of a sweats-only outfit. An interesting T-shirt can help extremely well here, as it can give that something extra peeking from underneath the top.

Go monochrome

Alternatively, try going fully monochrome. It feels a bit boring to me, but fashion lovers swear by it - they say it instantly elevates a look. I believe the key here is to have many and different monochrome pieces with shapes and textures.

Switch to good leggings

I realized that my biggest need for WFH is a comfy waistband — which is why sweats rule my world. However, one way to solve this is to replace uncomfortable tights with leggings. Now, leggings can be tricky — they can look extremely blah — but fashion people tend to focus on a specific type — ponte leggings — and often make them look stunning.

I noticed that two ponte leggings in particular — the Tibi Compact Stretch and the Leset Rio — are fashion crowd-approved. That ponte element somehow makes all the difference. If you switch to leggings, try pairing them with dresses or skirts and treat them like tights. They’re just as comfortable as sweatpants, but the overall look is way more elevated.

Tibi Compact Ultra Stretch Knit Stirrup Legging and Leset Rio Stirrup Pant

LAYER UP

Start with a strong base and build

Harriet Hadfield did a great post on this. I won’t repeat it — just check out her suggestions. Layering can totally transform a minimal base.

How to dial up your WFH base outfits

Add a non-blazer blazer

Frankly, this is a category that could easily be a full post on its own. I’ve found that pieces like shirt-jackets, cardigan-blazers, or other hybrids are instant winners. A blazer on its own implies layering — which looks great — but the “non-blazer” aspect brings the comfort and casualness that WFH calls for and does not look too formal at home.

Cos cardigan-sweatshirt, Tibi Eco Poplin Bubble Hem Shirt Jacket, Uniqlo Jersey Relaxed Jacket

Cool outerwear for errands

If your only need is to leave the house for coffee, school runs, or groceries — and you’re otherwise happy in your sweats — the solution is good outerwear. A great trench, coat, scarf, cap, bag, and shoes can pull the whole thing together.

REFINED

Have at least one refined element: a skirt, dress, or blazer

I realized that the main issue with my WFH outfits is probably a lack of refinement. One easy fix is swapping sweatpants for a skirt, or simply adding a blazer. Mind you, I’m not the type to sit around at home in a full-on structured blazer — but a cotton or jersey “non-blazer blazer” could be perfect. It’s definitely one of the solutions I want to try more than I am doing now.

Go all in with refined clothes at home

Ewelina from

On Shopping My Closet

suggested fully dressing up for WFH — and honestly, I’d never considered it before. But it actually makes sense: why keep your nicer pieces for rare “special occasions”? I have a Uniqlo satin dress that’s machine washable, and I could totally wear it daily. Definitely something to experiment with.

I could wear it on a school run…

Use your highest CPW items for homewear

This one’s my own idea — but then, I opened my Stylebook app and noticed that my least-worn expensive pieces are mostly wool or silk, which I don’t really want to wear around the house. But your wardrobe might be different. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!

My highest CPW items - Maxmara dress, Tibi dress, Raey (RIP :( ) dress.

Go full experimental

This suggestion came from one of the Tibi fans - and I love it. At home, you can go full fashion week if you want, just toning down the Zoom-call zone when needed. Curate a whole collection just for homewear. No rules, no pressure — just fun.

I hope this gives you some ideas - please let me know if you tried anything to spice up your WFH life. I am personally mostly enjoying testing different sock combinations with my outfits, and looking forward to bringing some casual-refined items like casual dresses into my wardrobe for spring.