Use Your Wardrobe to Look Polished and Professional on Video

Companies around the world are having employees work remotely. Whether you’re a newbie or Work From Home pro, being comfortable on video is important to stay productive.

It’s realistic to assume that shifting to the ‘home office’ will become the new normal for many of us for a while, given that the coronavirus has officially reached ‘pandemic’ status and we are practicing social distancing.

Now that you’re spending time on screen, it’s worthwhile considering what works on screen to give you the most credibility and the look of professionalism.

What to Wear on a Video Conference

Just like an in person meeting, when getting dressed think about how you want to be perceived on your video call.  If it’s a business call and you want to be seen as more credible, confident and authoritative. Therefore you want to look polished, professional, and not wear anything that would distract from what you are trying to accomplish on your call.

Wearing patterns on a Video Conference

If you are looking for an easy to follow rule, on camera go for solids over patterns most of the time as they are easier to look at.

Large patterns can they can dominate and take attention away from your face and your message.

It’s also advised to avoid busy patterns, such as stripes, animal prints, or plaid. Not only are they highly distracting to the viewer, but they also appear distorted and dizzying on camera.

Even though florals and animal prints are extremely popular and the perfect way to show your personality, it’s best to keep them for in person meetings. A good tip to keep in mind when choosing a pattern is to try not to look like a jungle animal or your grandma’s couch!

How does color appear on video conferencing? 

Colors like teal, cobalt, purple and coral pop on screen. Wearing a top in one of these bright shades will really warm up your face.

Avoid white, bright red and all-black tops on Video.  

All three of these colors pose technical problems. 

When wearing white the camera finds it hard to get the balance right causing a look of overexposure along with a distracting glow. A small amount of white is okay peeking out from under a blazer or a cardigan, but your best bet is to opt for a light blue
If your top/shirt is white, make sure it’s not see through… an outline or pattern of an undergarment would be very distracting for yours if you notice it during a call as well as those you’re chatting with.

Black poses a similar challenge…. the camera is confused by black causing the color to look too dark. The definition of your garment will be lost, so you’ll look shapeless. 

Bright red sometimes “bleeds” on camera, giving off a slight, hazy halo.

How to accessorize on video conference calls

If you are in a business environment, a scarf can also work to add contrast and interest to your portrait area.  Just make sure it’s not too bulky so that you don’t look like it’s overwhelming you!

You want to make sure that any jewelry isn’t distracting.

Make sure your jewelry isn’t overly sparkly to the point that it’s catching the light and creating a disco ball effect around the room.

Avoid big dangly earrings.  They are fun but on a small screen when all we are seeing is your upper body, they can be distracting especially if they make any noise.

In fact be wary of noisy jewelry, clanking bracelets are also not advised on a video conference as your microphone will pick up and amplify these kinds of distracting noises.

A necklace can help to draw attention to your face, but this is not the time for it to be too huge and statement, which can detract from your message.

If you need to wear glasses make sure they have a non-reflective coating.

On Video Conferencing, it’s all about the fit

A blazer that’s too tight will have you tugging at it, either consciously or unconsciously, and create a distraction to the person on the other side of the screen.

The same can be said about any item of clothing that is ill-fitted, whether it’s too big or too small.

Clothing with too much drape and folds doesn’t look good on camera.

A collar is a good way of making yourself look professionally dressed when on screen, whether this is a shirt or blouse with a collar, or a jacket over your top, wearing a collar says you mean business.

A knit top with a soft jacket that fits well at the shoulders and front is a good option to look authoritative but approachable.

Make sure clothing doesn’t bunch up when you sit down, your garments should lie smooth and flat when sitting.

Items of clothing that should be exempt from your video conferencing wardrobe include:

• Tank tops/ spaghetti strap tops

• Low-cut tops

• Crop tops

• Anything sheer or mesh

Other Things to Consider When Being on a Video Conference

• Beware of what your hands are doing.  They need to be in frame as you speak, but steepling separates you from your audience.

• Keep your head straight as it gives you a more authoritative appearance.

• Poor body language will undermine your credibility very quickly on screen.

• Look directly at the camera – position your own camera box right underneath the video camera so that you are not looking off to the side at yourself during a call.   Looking away from the camera makes you appear disinterested or unengaged.

• It’s very obvious when on a computer if you look away at something else on your screen, don’t undermine your credibility when on a video conference by looking at your phone, or doing other things while on the computer.  Imagine you are in the same room and behave in the same way, giving the speaker your full attention.

Practice makes Perfect for Video Conferencing!

It’s definitely a good idea to try video conferencing with a friend to get feedback on lighting, camera position, lighting, background and outfit choice to make sure that you are presenting the image you want and one that doesn’t reduce your professional presence.

Do you feel like you’re more confident video conferencing? Please contact me here with any questions you still have about what to wear on video!

Since this is the direction the we are moving in, please share with post your colleagues, friends, and family to help them comfortably and confidently be able to get on a video meeting!

Welcome!

I'm Melanie! A personal stylist and confidence coach for high achieving women. 

Here on the blog, I write about style tips, personal branding, outfit creation, and how to use your wardrobe to get noticed. 
Let me know if there's any way I can help you!

------------

Curious about how a personal stylist can help you? Let's Chat about it. 

 On our call we will discuss what's holding you back from being excited about getting dressed and showing up as the leader you were born to be.  We'll discuss your personal challenges and talk about easy solutions.

Related Posts: