Hipstik Legwear was built on a work from home model to minimize overhead, keeping costs low for our customers. I’ve been growing the Hipstik brand from home for four years. Some days I admit that I’ve snoozed another 20 minutes arriving at my desk in my robe and without makeup or a single comb through my hair. But by lunchtime, I’m already jumping to get into what I call “real clothes” and “fix my face” as my southern Grandmother says. In loungewear at my desk, I feel agitated and restless, yet drowsy, lacking a belief in myself and my vision as a femfounder. These feelings are actually backed by science!
Laura, founder, working from home office year 2.
Working from home office year 3.
Fast Company shared a study that was published in Human Resource Development Quarterly. Those who wore business attire felt more authoritative, trustworthy, and competent. Women are deserving of these attributes. Bring your style ‘A’ game to your outward appearance, whether you’re in the office or now working from home.
Three keys to dressing for success while working from home:
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Dress to keep up a visualization of professionalism, even virtually
What we wear is proven to influence how we act. Think about your prom or wedding day: wearing those gorgeous gowns gives you wings. Zoom video call in your future? Downgrading your style in virtual calls gives off the vibe that you’re not in it for your team. Dress up, find a well-lit place to conduct the video chat and seriously consider what’s behind you in the video. Think like a newscaster who always knows their background. Take the opportunity to show off your style and personality with the bookshelf or wall behind you. If you’re a manager, consider positioning these tips to your team running or joining virtual calls. What to wear working from home? If for your sanity right now you need a happy medium between PJs and professional dress, try Hipstik’s Footless Tights, the best of both worlds - comfort and style and pairs with virtually anything in your closet. Toes in or out of shoes - your choice! Dress to increase confidence in your work and productivity We wear professional uniforms for reasons of function, as well as first impressions. Think about when you’ve seen a woman in uniform. You’re immediately confident in who she is and what she’s good at. Impressions matter. How you dress directly affects how others perceive you and even how productive and confident you are. If you’re wearing yoga pants, you might feel distracted from work to do a quick chore at home, taking you away from your workflow. Relaxed dressing is proven to impact your work in a negative way.
Featured here in uniform is Vickie, a Hipstik wearer when she’s not at the firehouse. She says one of her favorite things about being a firefighter is being a role model for little girls to know they can be firefighters, too.
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Dress to increase confidence in your work and productivity
We wear professional uniforms for reasons of function, as well as first impressions. Think about when you’ve seen a woman in uniform. You’re immediately confident in who she is and what she’s good at. Impressions matter. How you dress directly affects how others perceive you and even how productive and confident you are. If you’re wearing yoga pants, you might feel distracted from work to do a quick chore at home, taking you away from your workflow. Relaxed dressing is proven to impact your work in a negative way.
Hipstik’s design is rooted in the idea that comfort doesn’t have to sacrifice style. It’s a perfect time to try tights again - to boost your mood in your favorite skirts and dresses paired with actually comfortable tights that don’t pinch, dig or roll - as comfortable as loungewear only dressed up to feel fancy. Shop styles online delivered right to your door.
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Dress for boundaries
Routines are important. The only positive to PJ dressing at your work from home space is being able to go from bed to desk in the time it takes you to walk the distance in your home. The greater downside of this is the lack of visual distancing from work and sleep. None of us want to feel like work never ends, especially now when there is a lot of emotional strain on us women. More than ever before we’re businesswomen, pioneers, teachers, chefs, maids, nurses, boredom-busters, and emotional support animals to everyone. If your family is now at home, maintaining the routine of normal life will provide mental structure. Consider the work-life balance example you’re setting, especially if you find yourself hollering to the kiddos, “Going to comb your hair today!?”
Work-life balance is difficult to achieve working from home and impossible if you wear what you wear to bed to your desk. Now is a great time to “try on” some styles without commitment. Wondering if you’d love wearing a shorts + tights look? Try it at home when you have the option to change halfway through the day if it’s not you. Pair new colors together to renew your energy.
Today I joined a webinar on Zoom and was distracted away from the content by the visuals of the attendees on video at home. Their company and name was noted making it impossible not to form perceptions about their brands. One attendee was in a nightgown in her bedroom folding clothes. Not kidding. One was even using a teddy bear to share emotional responses to the webinar. Huh? Don’t allow this newfound method of working from home degrade your style, leaving you and your work-weary. Work from home style is important. Dress for success from home for your image, but also do it for yourself.