Styles and design · 5 October 2026 · 3 min read
What to wear when working from home
What to wear working from home: comfortable sets with soft waistbands and breathable fabrics, a tidy top half for video calls, and details worth asking for.
InspirationA soft set with a tidy top half
For working from home, wear a matching or coordinated set in a breathable fabric with a soft waistband, and make the top half neat enough for a video call. That combination is comfortable through a full day in a chair and still feels like getting dressed, which is the line between work clothes and whatever you slept in.
Office and campus dressing are covered in modest workwear and on our work and campus page. Home working makes different demands: more sitting, no commute, and a camera that sees you from the chest up.
What a day at a desk asks of clothes
Five things separate clothes you forget you are wearing from clothes you keep tugging at.
- A waistband that gives. Elastic, part-elastic or a drawstring is kinder than a fixed band when you sit for hours.
- Enough rise and seat room. Trousers that feel fine standing can pull at the back when you sit. A slightly higher rise and more ease across the seat fix it; our trouser fit guide explains rise.
- Fabric that breathes. Cotton, lawn, cambric, linen and viscose stay comfortable in a warm room. A heavier weave such as khaddar suits a cold one.
- Sleeves that push up. For typing, making lunch and washing up between calls.
- Nothing to adjust. No wrap that loosens, no neckline that needs checking, no dupatta sliding off the chair.
Sets that work
Kurta and trousers. A straight, knee-length kurta with side slits over straight or slightly wide trousers with an elasticated back. The slits matter when you sit: they let the kurta fall to either side instead of bunching in your lap. See kurta and trouser sets.
A co-ord. A hip-length shirt or tunic with matching trousers in the same fabric looks deliberate with no effort. Our co-ord guide covers the options.
A loose dress. A shirt dress or an easy A-line dress is one piece with no waistband at all. Add leggings or trousers beneath if you like.
A top layer. A cardigan, shawl or light waistcoat kept on the back of the chair deals with a cold afternoon and smartens the picture on camera.
The top half on camera
On a video call people see your neckline, your shoulders and your colour, and very little else.
- Neckline. A collar, a band collar or a neat round neck frames the face.
- Colour. Mid-tone solids such as blue, green, maroon or teal look clear on screen. Pure white can glare and black can lose its detail, depending on your lighting.
- Pattern. Fine stripes and very small checks can shimmer on camera. Plain fabric or a larger print is safer.
- Shoulders. A seam that sits on the shoulder looks tidy, while a dropped, slouchy shoulder looks like loungewear.
Why made to measure suits home working
Comfort over a long seated day comes down to small measurements: the rise of the trousers, the width of the sleeve, the ease at the waist and hip. Those are exactly what a made-to-measure order lets you set. You can ask for an elasticated back waistband, deeper side slits, pockets for a phone or a sleeve wide enough to push up, and we confirm what is possible on your fabric and design in the written quote.
A single set is enough to order. Start a Fabric + Stitching quote if you want us to supply the fabric, or read about custom stitching to compare the two routes.
Common questions
Is it fine to wear pyjamas when working from home?
Nobody will stop you, but many people find that changing into day clothes helps to mark the start of work. A soft set gives much the same comfort with a clearer line between work and rest.
What should I wear for a video interview at home?
Dress the top half as you would for the office: a neat collar or neckline, a solid mid-tone colour and sleeves that sit well at the shoulder. Wear proper trousers or a skirt too, in case you need to stand up.
Which fabrics are comfortable for sitting all day?
Breathable woven fabrics with a soft feel, such as cotton, cambric, lawn and viscose, are comfortable in most homes. In a cold room, a heavier weave such as khaddar or karandi adds warmth without many layers.