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As we continue our social-distancing pledge, the Vogue staff is working from home for the foreseeable future. This article is part of our This Week on Zoom column, where one Vogue editor shares their WFH outfits from the previous workweek—from the waist up, of course.
My methodology for dressing is certainly different than it was when I went into an office every day. Appearing polished for Zoom meetings, FaceTime calls, and Instagram selfies while simultaneously embracing the comfort that this strange time calls for can be a tricky balancing act. But what I have found after seven weeks of remote work is that there is still power in details. While no one will notice or care if you’re not wearing a special drop earring or a new pair of blue light glasses, they certainly notice when you do.
I am embracing the small accessory more than ever in the time of COVID-19, simply for its morale-boosting power. Putting on my rings each morning just as I would if I were waking up in my East Village apartment, experimenting with fancy scarf knots, matching my socks to my turtleneck, and decorating my head with hair pins and butterfly clips makes me feel a little more sane.
Below, a glimpse at how I added panache to my Zoom appearances this week, with the help of a few small (but mighty) accessories.
Monday
I eased into the work week with a sweet yellow Dries Van Noten jumper circa 1988––a hand-me-down from my 93-year-old grandmother who claims it is now “too big” for her. Just as well, because I love an oversized sweater. My workload was light, and I spent much of my day clomping through the house in a pair of cow-print clogs (much to the chagrin of my sister, who was hard at work in an adjacent room) and playing around with new ways to style my favorite Dôen bandana.
Tuesday
With several Zoom calls on Tuesday (including our weekly fashion meeting with Anna), I wanted to look like I meant business––at least from the waist up. Blue light-blocking glasses and a matching gold glasses chain, paired with a starchy Charvet dress shirt I stole from my dad’s closet (shh!) certainly looked professional. What my fellow colleagues didn’t know was that I was sporting Sleepy Jones pajama pants and terry cloth slides outside the webcam frame.
Wednesday
I tried to stay active on Wednesday with some dynamic stretching and light reading––and finally caught up on Vogue’s May issue. Weather was gloomy, but a striped grosgrain ribbon belt cinched over an orange turtleneck and tie-dyed biker shorts helped to brighten things up. I tapped into my dad’s impressive collection of pocket squares (which are the perfect head-scarf size, in my opinion) to cover up my unkempt locks.
Thursday
On Thursday, I was able to get out and enjoy nature from the shaded comfort of my parents’ screened-in porch. The Minnesota vibes were strong, with an outfit that was two parts Eagle Scout and one part handicraft expert. A rugged workwear shirt in buffalo check met its unlikely match in a pair of beachy shell necklaces, which I fastened to my belt loops for a makeshift drop chain effect. And, as usual, my mom’s binoculars came in handy for spotting a treasure trove of backyard birds.
Friday
To kick off the weekend, we ordered DIY cocktail kits that come complete with paper umbrellas and palm frond garnishes. Naturally, I took it upon myself to dress for the occasion––in fact, I wore my island-inspired getup for the entirety of Friday in anticipation for the happy hour fun. This zesty look was tied together with a string of Hermès scarves worn as a belt, and topped off with a colorful cowrie shell barrette. It was all I needed to make up for the (indefinitely postponed) spring getaway I’ve been dreaming of.
