Our Favorite Clothes to Wear While Working From Home

While it’s less conventional than choosing an outfit to head into the office, getting dressed to work from home can be just as exciting. Take it from me, a Wirecutter writer who has worked remotely for the past five years: Though I rarely see sunlight, my co-workers and I know exactly how to dress to sit comfortably in our houses for eight consecutive hours. For those of you who are settling in to dress and work from home in the coming weeks, you’ll see that it means more than just dressing to be as comfortable as possible—it’s dressing to put yourself in the right mental space to get down to business, whether you’re wearing a buttery-soft tank top or stretchy pants. Wake up, wash your face, brush your teeth, and then put together an outfit from the clothes we’ve outlined here—and get to work.

Shirts and sweatshirts

Brooklinen Clark Tank ($28 at the time of publication)
Brooklinen Morgan Tank ($28 at the time of publication)

I love Brooklinen’s extremely soft, sleeveless crew neck Clark Tank, made from a blend of cotton and modal, for laying in bed and letting time pass over me while I read V.E. Schwab. (Brooklinen’s Morgan Tank for women looks equally comfy.) We’ve seen no issue with shrinking or warping, even through multiple washes. Just as the freedom to leave our homes has been taken from us, so too should your sleeves be taken from your shoulders, right? But seriously: As the weather begins to warm and we look to switch out our winter wardrobe for something lighter, cooler, and easy to toss on and off, I’ll be investing in Brooklinen’s summer loungewear, starting with another tank top.

—Justin Krajeski, staff writer

Amazon Essentials Men’s Long-Sleeve Crewneck Fleece Sweatshirt ($15 at the time of publication)

The Amazon Essentials Sweatshirt is awesome. It’s comfy to wear and well-fitted, so it looks professional during video calls. One of our co-workers pointed the Amazon Basics selection out to me last fall; I’ve bought three, and they’ve been worn every single week since then.

—Allen Tingley, engineering manager

Lounge pants and shorts

Uniqlo Men’s Sweatpants ($30 at the time of publication)
Uniqlo Women’s Sweatpants ($20 at the time of publication)

Uniqlo sweatpants are what I’m wearing in 90 percent of my video calls, often in the form of the “remote work mullet” (business up top, comfy on the bottom). Available in both men’s and women’s cuts, I have two pairs that have lasted me for more than five years each, without anything worse than a bit of light scuffing around the edges and a hole in one back pocket. They’re comfy and stretchy enough to still fit well—even after you’ve eaten your entire quarantine snack stash in a single day. Thanks to their slim (but not too slim) silhouette and well-designed taper, they look sufficiently nice that if you do go for a walk to maintain your mental health, no one’s going to think you’re wandering around in your pajamas (even if you are).

—Tim Barribeau, editor

Mack Weldon Ace Sweatpant ($78 at the time of publication)

I love these pants because they don’t make me feel like a total slob in sweatpants—they’re kinda dressy, they fit nicely, and I don’t have to change if I want to go for a quick walk or workout to avoid cabin fever (as opposed to all the other fevers going around).

—Dan Koeppel, editorial skills development lead

Nice Laundry Lounge Shorts (variety three-pack) ($75 at the time of publication)
Soffe Men’s Classic Cotton Pocket Short ($13 at the time of publication)

My boyfriend is obsessed with his Nice Laundry Lounge Shorts, made from four-way stretch nylon with a satin finish, and his obsession with their fit—which is somehow both not too tight and not too loose—encouraged me to buy a pack, too. “They’re the most comfortable shorts I own,” he gushed. And I can vouch for that, having tried on every single one of his shorts (for serious Wirecutter-inspired comparison testing). The Nice Laundry shorts sport a resilient micromodal liner, which means they’re super-comfortable to lounge around in. If they cost too much for a three-pack, you can buy them individually, or pick up a pair of Soffes instead. For half the price, Soffes are pretty comfortable, too, and a great choice if you’re on a budget.

—Justin Krajeski, staff writer

Athleta Skyline Pant II ($89 at the time of publication)

Although you don’t have to worry about folks peeking at your pants through a video call, Athleta’s Skyline Pant II look professional while keeping you super-comfortable. They’re made from recycled polyester, and they’re quick-drying, breathable, and wrinkle-resistant. Just don’t keep them in a hamper, bunched up for days without folding them.

—Alejandra Matos, audience development strategist, newsletters

Outdoor Voices RecTrek Pants ($85 at the time of publication)

Forget the jeans from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. The Outdoor Voices RecTrek Pants magically flatter all types of bodies, and are made from a nylon-elastane blend that’s far more comfortable and versatile than denim. These pants are just stretchy enough to move with me through airports and bike rides, or even when I’m just sitting my butt on a chair. Like many jogger-style pants, the RecTreks are lightweight, with a relaxed waist and a tapered leg. Technically, I’d say they’re “athleisure.” But the weave on the material—which feels matte and looks smooth—seems far nicer than most workout or lounge pants I own. I’m 5-foot-2 and 115 pounds, and I wear a small pair of these. They hit right at my ankles, which is a miracle for a petite person like me. But if you want a longer inseam, you can get the men’s version. They’re exactly the same besides the length.

—Anna Perling, staff writer

Lounge sets

Felina Comfyz Two-Piece Lounge Set ($45 at the time of publication)

The Felina Comfyz Two-Piece Lounge Set, which comes with a long-sleeve top and pants, is made from polyester, rayon, and spandex, with drop shoulders that emphasize its extremely relaxed fit. I don’t typically work from home, but for someone who receives a pair of Costco pajamas from their mom literally every Christmas, these have far outdone previous years. They’re so cozy, and even better, there is no social pressure to change out of them after two full days.

—Christina Colizza, research editor

Accessories

Only NY Block Logo Beanie ($20 at the time of publication)

The Only NY Block Logo Beanie keeps my head warm and makes me feel more composed, especially if I have yet to shower. Only NY sells a range of knit hats if this one doesn’t suit you, but the 100 percent acrylic Block Logo Beanie is a simple, good-looking option for those who value a warm head and need to center their thoughts during, say, a pandemic. I’ve found wearing it helps me to focus during work hours, too.

—Sarah Witman, staff writer

Shoes

L.L. Bean Men’s Wicked Good Moccasins ($79 at the time of publication)
L.L. Bean Women’s Wicked Good Moccasins ($79 at the time of publication)

I’ve been wearing L.L. Bean’s Wicked Good Moccasins since before we started recommending them in 2017, having heard good things about the real sheepskin shearling slippers for the past five years. I keep them underneath my bedside table so I can pop them on my feet as soon as I slip out of bed; no other slipper that I’ve tried has been as comfortable or kept my toes as warm as the Wicked Goods. Plus, the stitching is durable, and its suede shearling upper means that you won’t have issues with the L.L. Bean moccasins wearing thin or splitting open on top. L.L. Bean has a one-year guarantee to back your purchase if anything happens to your slippers in that time, though we don’t expect it to.

—Justin Krajeski, staff writer

Undergarments

Hanes Get Cozy Pullover ComfortFlex Fit Wirefree Bra ($7 at the time of publication)

Our community lead, Erin Price, has been singing the praises of this “house bra” for years, and she’s recruited most of us at this point. In previous recommendations, she’s described it as “soft, stretchy, and seamless, [giving] me all the relief of being braless with just enough support to still feel comfortable being active around the house.” She’s not wrong—it is all of that, and part of working from home well is making sure you’re the most comfortable while you do it—but for me, what really sets the Hanes apart is the price and longevity compared to other “cozy” bras I’ve found. I’ve spent too much money in the past on the soft Aerie bralettes that become stretched out and slack over time, or even the Uniqlo Airism ones that start to come undone quickly if you accidentally throw them in the dryer. Meanwhile, I’ve seriously misaligned my Hanes Pullover bras (and continue to) in hot dryers and cold washes, and they remain robust yet still soft, holding me in comfortably but still being a step behind an overly restrictive sports bra. If you want something that you can go from taking a nap comfortably in to doing headstands or even running a quick errand, in terms of value and dependability, they just can’t be beat.

—Sasha VanHoven, audience development manager for content strategy