You Need to Be Wearing These Outfits in Your Remote Video Calls

• Author: Mary Singleton
• Posted: 2024-02-07

With thousands of people working from home, video conference calls have become the new norm. People often joke about showing up in PJ's and exercise gear, but is this really the best option if you want to get ahead in your career? A new study by the Harvard Business Review reveals the truth.

Does Clothing Even Matter?

Your first instinct might be to think that dressing up for a video call is pointless. After all, everyone else is dressed down and who can even see well with grainy video quality? The study reveals that people actually pay more attention than you think. 47 percent of participants had a clear preference for the type of attire worn by others in calls, and 39 percent even had specific opinions about what colors looked best.

Ultimately, men between the ages of 18 to 29 were most likely to have strong opinions on the outfits of others. If a lot of people in your office fit this demographic, then what you wear has a huge effect on your relationships with others. Younger workers are often stereotyped as being more casual, but the study found that they were more likely to prefer people who put on real outfits instead of loungewear.

Research has found that dressing in clothes your audience likes is a good way to get them to like you. By creating a strong impression at work, you can appear trustworthy, reliable, and intelligent. This can be very useful when you want to impress employers, land clients, or simply appear more likable to coworkers.

This Type of Clothing Gets the Best Response

So should you be wearing sweatshirts, button downs, or suit jackets? Overall, business casual is the safest choice of outfit to wear. The majority of study participants ranked business casual as the best option. They felt that it made video call members look authentic, innovative, and trustworthy. The only outlier was that the majority of participants did feel business formal attire made a person look like an expert in their field.

Keep in mind that the definition of business casual varies depending on what your job is and who you work with. In a more traditional field, business casual might mean a nice blouse or sports coat. Meanwhile, if you are trying to gain ground in a casual industry, you might just need to wear something one step above a PJ shirt. For both genders, a simple button down can do well in casual talks with colleagues. When pitching to a new client or holding a presentation, go up one level in formality.

The old saying about dressing for the job you want holds true in video calls. By wearing a business casual outfit, you can signal that you are professional, smart, and dependable. When it comes time to select team leaders or submit recommendations for a promotion, this good impression can be very useful.

The Right Colors to Wear on Video Calls

Color is actually even more important than style, but the best option isn't quite as clear cut. Colors can evoke very strong reactions, and not everyone likes the same colors for the same reasons. Instead, the best color will depend entirely on how you want people to perceive you.

If you want to appear like an expert on your subject, the overwhelming consensus is that neutrals are the best choice. Shades of brown, black, grey, or navy are almost always tasteful and appropriate. Neutrals are also a good option if you want your audience to see you as honest and authentic.

Bright colors also have their place in business attire though. The study participants felt that bright hues could make a person seem trustworthy, reliable, and creative. When you want to really connect with your audience, bright shades can work well. Almost all participants agreed that solid colors looked better than patterns. When your outfit is shrunk on a tiny screen, patterns can look strange and unappealing.

However, there is one exception to this rule. If you want to seem innovative and inventive, patterns can actually be a good choice according to the Harvard study. Options like florals, polka dots, stripes, and plaids help a person look free-spirited and creative. Remember that a little goes a long way though, so stick to less busy patterns or more neutral shades.