Just in case you’re not sure what Baby Dolls are…they are sheer, frilly pajamas that come down to below the navel to somewhere around the hips and have matching underwear. I’ve also seen them in cotton. They are like a loose, long t-shirt worn to bed, but with a sexy twist.
So why don’t I wear them to work? It’s a funny question, isn’t it? But I get this question often. It’s in the form of: “You’re dressed up nice. You work from home don’t you? Why do you get dressed up?” And this question is really beginning to annoy me.
Is there a law against getting dressed up nice every day if you work from home? Should I stay in my pajamas all day? I’ve been working from home since 1999, with the exception of a few full-time “office” jobs here and there. Over those years, I’ve learned it is best for my productivity and sanity to dress up every day for work. Mostly from some of the blunders I made.
#1 Salesmen Don’t Like To Wait At The Door
One morning, about six years ago, I found myself answering the door at about 9:00 a.m. Two salesmen were at the door. They had driven from a neighbouring city over two hours for our 9:00 a.m. appointment to discuss email marketing. They had confirmed with me the day before, but I had forgotten. My hair was wild, my breath was horrible, my Baby Dolls were red and my face was redder. I invited them in and asked them to wait for me.
It took me fifteen minutes to compose myself, get dressed, brush my teeth and put a little makeup on, while they waited. Then, we sat down in my home office for our meeting, but I felt like all of my credibility and dignity had gone out that front door. I vowed from that day on that I would always get dressed up in the morning for work.
#2 The Purolator Man Cometh Unexpectedly
#3 Dogma-Pushing Door Knockers Go Away
I went to church for two hours every Saturday (yes, Saturday not Sunday) from when I was five years old until I rebelled at age seventeen. (Stay with me, there is a clothing point here.)
You see, when I was seventeen my family and I were driving home from church one Saturday, and my dad was cut off by another driver. Well, my dad fingered him (a.k.a. flipped him the bird) and the next thing I know, my five foot eight inch father is on the side of the road, blocking traffic, and fighting with a six foot five inch man. They’re taking swings at each other (my dad was swinging up), my brother is standing on top of the car cheering them on and some Italian man with a mustache is pumping his fists in the air and saying “Yah, Yah” in rotation with a waxing-his-mustache gesture. (My father had a very big mustache, so this was a sign of support for the little Englishman fighting Goliath.)
That day, I was so embarrassed that a good “Christian” could be fighting on the side of the road with a stranger, that I vowed it would be the last time I attended church.
So, when people come to my door with bibles in hand looking to preach at me, I’m not too receptive. When I’m in a business suit, they seem to leave with no question at all when I say, “I’m sorry, I’m working.”
#4 Dressing up allows for versatility
I’ve learned that working from home doesn’t mean that I’m here all day. Quite often, my kids will forget their lunch and I’ll have to drive it to them or something unexpected will come up. A potential client will want to meet with me, I have to send a parcel at the post office, my husband will ask me to go out to have coffee with him, a neighbour will drop in and deliver fresh cherries from their tree, or whatever. When I’m dressed up, I can dash out of the house easily and look great. It allows me to be versatile and quick acting and take advantage of business opportunities that pop up.
#5 Having A Routine Allows For Productivity
If I am dressed up and ready to go out the door by 8:15 a.m., my kids take me seriously. They grab their backpacks and get into the car much easier. They are less likely to whine about staying home from school if they see me in a skirt and with my makeup on and hair coiffed. When I get back to my home office, I get right down to work. No dilly dally. No dishes. No house cleaning. When I’m in a nice outfit, my posture is better and I work more diligently on my computer without getting sidetracked with laundry, taking out the garbage, or other chores. Bottom line, I’m more productive.
#6 Looking professional is a sign of respect
I went to a meeting at a lovely restaurant in Kelowna once called the Manteo Grill. The Salesman who took me there was trying to sell me internet advertising. His shoes weren’t shined, his pants were loose (no belt), his shirt wasn’t ironed, he wore white socks with his scuffed shoes and the bottom of his pants were quite ragged, like they had been dragging on the ground. I was embarrassed to be seen in that nice restaurant with him.
I felt like he disrespected me by not making more of an effort to look nice. Needless to say, I didn’t buy advertising from him. But I did him a favour and told his boss that he needed to invest in training his people on how to dress with respect. A dark suit, tie, white pressed shirt, black socks and shiny shoes would have been more appropriate for that salesman.
Looking professional is a signal to everyone that my time is limited. This allows me to keep chit chat to a minimum and really focus on my time to work.I always feel better and have more confidence when I’m dressed up. Dressing up is a sign of respect. It shows that you respect others and yourself.
What do you think about dressing up for working at home?
Courtenay Pitcher
