While we firmly believe there’s no work-from-home style during a pandemic, over the past two and a half months, we've found that there are items we've worn on repeat here at Refinery29 — and by at, we mean remotely.
A uniform of sorts, for some it’s nightgowns disguised as maxi dresses and actual pajamas; for others, it’s trendy items like bike shorts, and continuing to rent clothes despite having nowhere to go. For us, these are the items of clothing that made us feel our best while working from home, added a sense of order to the day, and maybe got us out of a style rut on a bad day.
Ahead, what we’ve been wearing nonstop and are buying in several colors.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Gabrielle Korn, Director of Fashion & Culture
I have pretty much worn only soft, loose maxi dresses since March, and this is one of my favorites. The flutter sleeves make it look like almost an outfit on Zoom, but I know the truth: it is basically a nightgown.
& Other Stories Gathered Flutter Sleeve Maxi Dress, $, available at & Other Stories
Marissa Rosenblum, Senior Shopping Director
I bought this shirt from Free People while I was top-editing this story (shopping is an occupational hazard), and it's the most comfortable fashion purchase I've made this year. The double-faced gauzy 100% cotton fabric and oversized silhouette makes me feel like I'm wrapped in a luxurious Turkish towel. And as you can see from my *pro* selfie modeling, she's got pockets! I love it so much, I bought it in cream and am tempted to get one more in lilac.
We The Free We The Free Summer Daydream Buttondown, $, available at Free People
Irina Grechko, Senior Fashion & Culture Editor
I have been in love with separates from The Range ever since I've been introduced to this luxe basics brand. Especially now when all interaction is on Zoom, I have taken to wearing its tops (sometimes with no pants), that are more interesting-looking than a plain tee but still comfortable enough to wear all day. When it was cooler, I switched between the brand's ribbed scarf turtleneck and its cropped terry one. Once temperatures went up, I have been wearing this ribbed tank with buttons (that's no longer available) nonstop. Next, my eye is on a marigold style.
Unfortunately, my go-to slouchy & Other Stories trousers are now sold out (probably because I bought three pairs of them), but these nylon alternatives (next slide) are equally as perfect. I have this thing about pants that feel like pajama pants, but look like real trousers — they give off the allusion that I actually got dressed when, in reality, I could very easily have just rolled out of bed and onto a Zoom call.
& Other Stories Nylon Wide Leg Drawstring Trousers, $, available at & Other Stories
Amanda Randone, Contributing Fashion Writer
While I may never wear bike shorts for their intended purpose, I have definitely cycled them into my stay-at-home outfit lineup. This high-waisted pair has just the right amount of stretch to fit me like a hug throughout each day of Zooming, writing, and coffee-breaking. I love them when paired with an oversized t-shirt for off-duty activities, but I love them even more when styled under a boxy button-down (mine is from my favorite thrift store, AuH2O) that’ll keep the look comfy but sharp in case an unexpected video call arises.
I have a wool allergy (even cashmere makes me break out in hives), so I've forever been on the lookout for a vegan cashmere sweat set, only made more urgent now that I'm always at home, pregnant, and desperate for comfort. And — I think I've found it. Oriane is a maternity label based in Minnesota (I actually went to high school with the founder's daughter!), and they make a two-piece pajama set that's confoundingly soft, slouchy, and slim in just the right places, and in the perfect shade of heather gray. It's also just $30 for the entire set. They're also somehow temperature regulating — alternatingly warm and cool (??? this brand is witchcraft) — which means that, no, I haven't taken them off since the package arrived at my house, even though it's been 80 degrees all week.
As the weather gets warmer and sweatsuits seem less appealing, I’ve been loving comfy shorts in bold prints, like this pair from R13 via Rent the Runway. They’re cut big and long, kind of like basketball shorts, but they’re made of this really luxe velvety material. And, of course, they’re also blue zebra print, so what more is there to want? (The robe is Bernadette, obtained on deep discount from Net-a-Porter, and the sports bra is from BRANWYN — I’ve started working out a lot more during quarantine, and I’ve decided that gives me full jurisdiction to wear sports bras as shirts whenever I desire.)
This dress is lightweight, flattering, and makes me feel like a princess trapped in a castle, and not a social media editor quarantined in Brooklyn. I bought it knowing it would be a barely there throw on dress for when it’s unbearably hot in my apartment during the NYC summer. I plan on living exclusively in “nap dresses” this summer.
Hill House Home The Ellie Nap Dress, $, available at Hill House Home
Hannah Rimm, Money Diaries Editorial Assitant
These pants are perfectly high-waisted for my curves, incredibly comfy, and stylish enough that I don't feel like I'm wearing pajamas all day. I love an Adidas pant and always buy from the men's section because it's a much better high-waist.
Adidas Originals 3 stripe pants, $, available at Adidas
Lizzy Gulino, Health + Wellness Writer
I have this oversized t-shirt/t-shirt dress in two styles and JUST bought a third one because I wear both of them so often. The material is super soft, and it works as a house shirt/dress, but can also be worn with jeans or leggings if I’m heading out for any reason and don’t want to look like a complete mess.
Urban Outfitters Def Leppard Love Bites T-Shirt Dress, $, available at Urban Outfitters
Morgan Baila, Supervising Entertainment Editor
Going into month three of working from home, I have basically lived in these white OV sweatpants. I bought the full set on a whim in early spring, pre-COVID shutdown, because I thought it would be a cute all-white outfit to wear while traveling for a big trip I had planned. The trip isn't happening anymore, but this set has come in handy, specifically the sweatpants which I plan to transition into a summer and fall staple. At this point, they're perfectly worn in and I feel like a dancer in between recitals when I wear them — something I never was and never did, but still. I plan to start pairing the pants with a thin bodysuit, like this one from Richer Poorer now that it's hotter outside. I think my dog likes them, too.
Outdoor Voices Nimbus Cotton Sweatpants, $, available at Outdoor Voices
Eliza Dumais, Branded Lifestyle Editor
Even when I feel the need to *get dressed* in quarantine, it feels most practical to clothe the top half of my body with intention, and, well, never remove these shorts on the bottom. I don't have a desk so most of my work is done lying on the floor or sitting cross-legged on my fire escape, and maximum mobility makes all of the above a bit more comfortable. Plus, these shorts are so light, they feel like a more socially cognizant way of ...not wearing pants at all.
EttelLut Booty Fold Over Shorts, $, available at Amazon
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