Use Your Wardrobe to Look Polished and Professional on Video
While we are practicing social distancing, what to wear on a video conference to appear polished and professional
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:
Using Jewelry to Enhance and Polish Your Outfits
For me, jewelry is very personal. My family owned a jewelry store when I was growing up and I worked corporately in the jewelry industry for 10 years before styling. I have a very emotional connection to jewelry. But as a stylist, jewelry is a powerful accessory with so many benefits and uses. I love getting jewelry as gifts, but I am particular about what I like and want because I know the importance of jewelry to my personal style. Jewelry is personal and can be such an important part of your wardrobe.
Jewelry means so many different things to so many different people. Some people love it, wear it, treasure it. Others don't care about it and can hardly be bothered to wear it. There are also a lot of people who don't know HOW to wear jewelry. Some people wear WAY too much. Others are afraid of looking gaudy or foolish, so they avoid it.
Why is jewelry so important?
Jewelry can be what completes an outfit. It can tie various pieces together and can make a look appear more polished. It helps to make you look like you got dressed purposefully, you didn't just throw on the first thing you touched. Jewelry makes it look like you put some thought into what you were wearing.
You can use it to accentuate your positive features. When you throw on a long necklace, it draws a person's eyes up and down, making you look thinner and longer right away. It draws attention away from the hips and the center of the body. Shorter necklaces and statement earrings draw attention to the face and away from any other parts of your body. Cuffs, bangles or other bracelets detract attention from your arms and chest and brings it to your hips. Wearing dainty pieces will make you look bigger, and if you're smaller wearing large pieces of jewelry will make you look weighed down. Figure out where you want to draw attention to and decide what you want to achieve with your look before choosing your jewelry.
Jewelry enhances more than just your features
Jewelry can also save an outfit that's not quite perfect. I've mentioned before that black is not a flattering color on anyone. It drains your face of its natural color. BUT, let's say your favorite dress is black and you're just not willing to give it up. An easy way to improve the dress is to throw on a colorful necklace.
Not only can jewelry impact your look, but it can also affect how you interact with others. If you're a person who likes to make a statement, jewelry is an excellent tool for that. There are enough unique pieces out there for you to find some fantastic pieces that create a statement about who YOU are and what you represent.
If you're someone who networks for work, charity, or social purposes, your jewelry can also be a conversation starter. For women who find it hard to start a conversation in networking situations, wearing something exciting like a unique piece of jewelry may inspire someone to ask about it, starting a natural conversation.
Don’t be afraid of wearing jewelry!
If you're worried about looking gaudy, or you're afraid of wearing too much jewelry, consider where you're going. You can tone it down for work but if you're going to a wedding or networking/social event, wear a little bit more attention-getting pieces. I’ve created to fabulous tool to ensure your outfits aren’t too much or too plain… but are just right. Click here to check it out.
My last piece of advice is to take some risks! Jewelry doesn't have to match anymore. There used to be a lot of rules against mixing metals or stone colors, but those rules are outdated. You can mix up, just make sure that the mixture makes sense with your outfit.
I want women to enjoy adding jewelry to their outfits and not see it has a nuisance. Reach out if you want some help sprucing up your wardrobe with jewelry or some new pieces for this season!
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:
4 Ways to Confidently Style a Business Casual Outfit
Dress codes can be so confusing… especially when they are unclear. The idea of a business casual environment is meant to empower you and let you be creative, but what if the idea of being creative stresses you out?
My goal is to take all of the stress and confusion out of getting dressed. I’m all about taking the work out of dressing for work and sharing my best tips for dressing casually while still looking put together.
The idea of a business casual environment is meant to empower you and let you be creative, but what if the idea of being creative stresses you out?
Not having rules can lead to lots of questions and cause overwhelm and confusion. To quote Bene Brown “Clear is kind.” When are rules helpful? When are they restrictive? And of course, when can they be broken? This comes up a lot when we’re talking about personal and professional style, especially as more industries embrace a casual dress code — which often means less structure, and more confusion about what is office appropriate.
What is “Business Casual?”
Can you wear sneakers with a dress? Is a blazer always formal? How can you look relaxed but still refined? A casual dress code can be intimidating because it means different things to different people (like that guy in your office who wears shorts on Fridays), but the key to pulling off a casual look that doesn’t look sloppy is to focus on styling. Yep, like a well-worded email, it’s all in the details.
My goal is to take all of the stress and confusion out of getting dressed. I’m all about taking the work out of dressing for work and sharing my best tips for dressing casually while still looking put together.
1. Mix and Match Formalwear with Casualwear
Wearing formal items with more casual ones is the quickest way to make an outfit look and feel more relaxed. For every casual piece you put on, grab something a little more polished or upleved.
I love pairing a casual top, like a relaxed boyfriend shirt, with a pencil skirt…. Top it off with a statement necklace or a unique pair of earrings and you good to go.
Another high/low tip is to take a more formal outfit and bring it down a few inches — literally. For instance, a pair of tailored pants and a blouses are elevated by heels, but made more relaxed with a pair of sneakers. There are so many great hybrid sneaker/ shoe options that are out right now that can dress down your business outfit…
Check out a few of my client go to’s here…
If sneakers at the office aren’t your thing, try mixing casual and more formal fabrics. I love the look of a casual white t shirt with a more formal skirt or pair of pants. Which leads me to the next tip…
2. Make An Elevated T-Shirt Your Go-To Top
Yes, you can and should wear t-shirts to work especially when paired correctly. A simple t-shirt can take you from Monday through Friday, think of it like a blank canvas. You can add color, prints, whatever you want to do- it’s a necessity for your wardrobe.
A put-together, relaxed-but-refined wardrobe is full of basic tees, but they don’t have to be the regular cotton variety. More structured and polished knits, look just as crisp with jeans as they do with your suit. One thing I like to do with client’s pieces is to maximize their wear.
3. Trade in your blazer for a vest
Think of a vest as a “modern twist” on a blazer.
Vests are understandably a somewhat intimidating layering piece. If the proportions are off they can look unnecessary and fussy — and make you look bigger than you are. Here are some tips that will prevent you from looking like a crossing guard or a girl scout:
With a shorter vest, wearing a shirt that is noticeably longer helps balance the look. If you are petite, be careful that the top is not too long, as it will overwhelm your frame. Wearing this with a long-sleeve shirt is a great look.
A long vest is easy and forgiving to wear. Depending on your frame, you may need to have the vest tailored for the perfect length. A good seamstress can help you find that perfect length, but as a rule of thumb, consider having it be the same length as your favorite sheath dresses. Pairing a dress with a vest is a great look.
This isn't always an easy look to pull off, but if you're going to do it keep this one thing in mind: fit is key. Just like with a blazer the it fits your body,the better you will look. This may mean that the vest should be fitted at the waist or have a belt to create a waistline.
When you find a style that works for you, you'll find that vests make cool and creative layering pieces for a contemporary look.
4. Roll A Sleeve The Relaxed Way– by Leaving out the Cuff
When it comes to button downs, it’s the way you cuff a sleeve that really indicates what kind of business you’re getting into, as some cuffs look sloppy while others look purposeful. For a more formal look, a button down can be worn perfectly ironed and buttoned up under a suit jacket. But, for a more casual look, go a little oversized and unbutton the top two buttons, roll up the sleeves, and you’ll immediately look like someone who’s ready to get down and dirty. Another option is to leave the actual cuff out of your roll. When you roll up a sleeve, leave the cuff out of the roll, so the harder clothing parts are part of a casual action you are taking.
Another important tip for making your basic button downs look a little more purposefully relaxed. “Sizing is something you want to play with when you’re considering dressing in a relaxed format. If you are a true size 6, you might want to try a size 8 to give a little more ease. Especially with a button down- maybe you roll up a sleeve instead of getting your proper size. Another option is to try a more relaxed fit, like a boyfriend style.
Check out some boyfriend relaxed button downs below….
My Final Pointers for Confidently Dressing in a Business Casual Environment
Know your office — and yourself. If you’re more comfortable in formal clothes like sheath dresses (if you’re transitioning from a formal office to a casual one) try to add in fun shoes, jewelry, and other accessories to make your look more “business casual.” If you’re more comfortable in casual clothes like jeans, and want to dress it up, find things like comfortable sweater blazers to polish your casual look.
Seek a good balance between structured looks like sheath dresses, and more casual, unstructured looks, like waterfall cardigans, I advised a young woman seeking advice on how to dress in Silicon Valley. This is such a challenging environment to dress business casual because some people are dressed very casually and some people are dressed very formally.
Remember that professionalism comes from how you act as well as how you dress- so if you’re really freaked out, glide on the more conservative side until you are ready to start experimenting.
Is it okay to show your personal style at work? I say yes! showing your personal style in the office creates connection and starts conversation. Looking for ideas on how to appropriately show off your style in the office? Check this out.
I’m a firm believer in being true to yourself, knowing your limits, and what makes your feel comfortable and feel confident. Please make to always be yourself when getting dressed!
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.
How to Look Polished, But Not Like You're Trying too Hard
Getting dressed is all about blending in and standing out simultaneously. That fine line between being polished, but not looking like you're trying to hard. Not an easy task when you have about 10 other things on your plate at any given time. Here’s 5 ways a personal stylist uses to get excitement into a wardrobe
Getting dressed is all about blending in and standing out simultaneously. That fine line between being polished, but not looking like you're trying too hard. Not an easy task when you have about 10 other things on your plate at any given time.
How do we go about creating this perfect balance of fashion Yin and Yang? How do we look polished and professional, but not like we’re doing too much?
By having a foundation of go to classics that you are are able to mix and match and wear in a variety of ways.
Do you have those pieces in your closet? If you’re not sure, last weeks post that outlines those items... Check it out here if you missed it.
What about standing out, while not doing too much?
How do you create some excitement in your wardrobe without looking like you have put way too much effort?
By wearing something that is unique and in line with our personal style to add some drama to your look. If you need some help figuring out what your style is…. Check out this post.
Let’s think about it for a moment… you’re in a room and don’t know anyone… you look around the sea of black wrap dresses and you spot a women across the room in leopard pumps and a leather blazer. Even if you don’t particularly like animal print, she stands out and has given you a reason to go and speak with her… “wow those are some great shoes!”
So how do you add some pizzazz into your outfits, still feel like yourself, not feel like you are wearing a one-hit wonder, and avoid being known around the office as the lady with the hot pink polka dot top?
5 ways to add some excitement into your wardrobe
1. Bored with your clothes? Add excitement to your wardrobe with leather
Leather is one of those items that feels like a trend, but it’s definitely more than that. To me, leather is a way to make an outfit feel contemporary and modern, which is a great way to show that you are an innovator and a forward thinker. Of course, you don’t want to look like we’re carpooling on your Harley Davidson to the next networking lunch.
A sophisticated way to wear leather is when it’s a detail in with a formal piece like a blazer, a dress, or a cardigan. It is also appropriate to wear a leather pencil skirt or sheath dress, when the rest of your outfit is on the conservative side.
2. Bored with your clothes? Add excitement to your wardrobe with Texture
Texture is sometimes confused with pattern, but texture has more to do with the actual make up of the fabric of the garment., even though there is sometimes a pattern within the texture. Some examples of different textures are tweed, velvet, suede, and sateen.
Tweed is one of those love it or hate textures. I have some clients that stay away from it, because they feel that it is dowdy and too rigid. I have found that there are quite a few more relaxed tweed pieces available and incorporating them is a great way to polish an outfit.
One of my go-to ways to style texture is by mixing a variety of textures within a monochromatic outfit It is a great way to add dimension to what could be a boring outfit.
3. Bored with your clothes? Add excitement to your wardrobe with prints
Some women are overwhelmed by prints, while others have a safe one or two they will wear. I would say that clients are usually the most decisive when it comes to which print they like or disliker. They typically have a list of reasons why like don’t like the print (i.e. too whimsical, too girly, it makes me dizzy).
A go-to way to add some drama to a boring all black outfit is to pair it with a printed blazer… an instant outfit upgrade!
Have a printed top that maybe too busy for the office? The easiest way to tone done a pattern is to put a solid on top of it… this can take a top from overwhelming to just right.
4. Bored with your clothes? Add excitement to your wardrobe with color
There is a whole lot of information out there about color… which colors look good on you…. which colors you should wear when you want to look friendly vs. authoritative,… we will pause on that for now and you can contact me if you’d like to know more.
Most women’s closets are filled with neutral shades like black, grey, and navy… but there’s a place in every wardrobe for something a bit bolder—or a lot. The daily grind doesn’t have to be dull!
Try colors that you actually like. The beautiful thing about color is that it’s so individual and there are so many options. I like rich intense colors within that, I lean toward blues, purples, reds and pinks for no other reason than that I like them. I stay away from pastels, yellows, and orange because I don’t. And that’s okay! Many people love those shades.
If you only wears black but want to branch out, start small. Pick one color you like and buy something in that. How do you feel when you’re wearing an emerald green dress? Do you like the comments you get? Yes? Then buy something else!
5. Bored with your clothes… Add excitement to your wardrobe with fabulous shoes
The great thing about shoes is that they always fit and they are the perfect way to showcase your personal style. They are the a great way to dip your toes in the dramatic wardrobe pool… because you may be able to use a pair that you would typically wear on the weekend to the office.
There are so many directions you can go in when experimenting with unique shoes: you can wear a beautiful color, fun print, funky heel shape, or gorgeous embellishment.
The one thing I always say is.. be sure to bring whatever excitement you have on your shoes, back up to your face, so people are paying attention to what you have to say not staring at your feet while you’re speaking. This can easily be done with an necklace, earring, scarf, shirt, or lipstick.
Hopefully with these tips you’re able to create outfits that are polished, but don’t look like you’re trying to hard!
Which of the 5 ideas are you most exciting about experimenting with and how do you plan on incorporating them into your wardrobe! I can’t wait to hear from you… send me a message here.
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:
