How I Really Dressed for My Day – Social Distancing Edition

Welcome to Dressed for My Day! Today I’m sharing with you the line-up of my most recent real life outfits. This is how I really dressed for my day…recently…while social distancing! You may notice these outfits are a bit different from my usual “how I really dressed for my day” looks.

While I always work from home, I know that the COVID-19 crisis has brought many of my readers home to work for the first time. Add to that the fact that we truly are pretty much confined to our homes these days, and you’ll have the basis for the little challenge I recently gave myself. I wanted to create outfits that are comfortable enough to wear when you really have absolutely nowhere else to be, but that would also motivate me (us) to be a little more energetic, joyful, productive and engaged, despite the prevailing temptation to fall into the doldrums these days. But these outfits also had to pass the test of real-time wear while working in my home office, doing things around the house, getting out for the occasional walk and maybe dashing out to the post office.

So you’ll notice that I only wore jeans a couple of times in the past two weeks. And my shoes are pretty much limited to slip-ons, sneakers and even bedroom slippers. But you’ll also see that I created complete outfits, including third pieces, in most instances, and jewelry. I’ve found that I just feel better and respond to our circumstances better if I’m dressed for my day.

Finally, much of what I’m showing you is old and from my closet. I mainly want to provide you with inspiration, but I will give you information on items that are fairly new and still available.

Here’s how I really dressed for my day recently.

Melange joggers + favorite tee + long cardigan

First up, a look I really like and have to keep myself from wearing every day. These Zella joggers are my all-time favorites. I’d lost them in the move from Arizona, but when my daughter was going through boxes in our basement recently she found them. Yay! I’m wearing a medium and they’re plenty long enough, too. I’m linking to the updated version of these same joggers.

By the way, I also recently decided I was tired of wearing a bra during this stay-at-home mandate. Ha! But I also don’t like going without, except for with pjs. So I ordered two of these Soma Enbliss wireless bralettes, and I love them. I got a medium, and when you first go to put it on, you think, no way! You have to pull it on overhead. But it does fit nicely once you get it on. It’s snug enough to make you feel supported and clothed, but the absence of the underwire is so appreciated. I had a credit to use toward mine, but last I checked they were still buy one get one 50% off.

oversized white shirt + leggings + leopard print flats

I love this look! And it’s so comfy, but classy. Perfect when you need to be on a Zoom conference or other video format, but still want to feel comfortable. My leggings are Talbots’ tech stretch leggings and the comparable ones are 50% off. I really love these leggings and wear them frequently for walks around the neighborhood. My poplin popover is also from Talbots and currently 30% off.

I resisted the urge to just wear my bedroom slippers with this chic but comfy outfit (you’ll see those shortly!), and opted for my leopard print flats from Target instead. It’s amazing what a little animal print can do to lift your spirits!

Green Cargo Crop Joggers + Chambray Shirt + Camo Flats

I recently got these cotton cargo crop joggers from Athleta when they had everything 30% off. They run a little big. I’m wearing an 8, but they’re extremely roomy. I decided to keep them though, simply because I couldn’t resist wearing them immediately. Soooo comfortable!

My Caslon camo flats are no longer available in this print, but they do come in other colors and prints. They run true to size for me.

Side Stripe Track Pants + Solid Tee + Yoga Jacket

My side stripe track pants are sold out at this point, but this sweet yoga jacket is still available at Talbots in several pretty colors and this white. I’m wearing a medium, but might would prefer a small for a snugger fit.

Green Tee + Wide Leg Crop Jeans + Mules

When I went to the grocery store last week I intentionally dressed up a little. Ha! I mean, it’s the only thing I’ve had to dress up for in weeks! I did also go to the post office and by my husband’s office that day. Woohoo! Big outing!

So I wore my wide leg crop jeans, which run true to size. I’m wearing an 8. They’re currently 30% off. I’m also really enjoying my leather mules. Be sure to size up at least a half size on these.

Leggings + Hiking Shirt + Bedroom Slippers

On this day I put on my tech stretch leggings again, this time with a so-soft-and-silky favorite hiking shirt from Columbia. Here’s a similar one. Unfortunately it’s only available in a small, but at a greatly discounted price. Still, I’m so glad I took this little challenge on because I never would have thought to pair this hiking shirt with my leggings. But really it’s a perfect option again for video conferencing in comfort.

I ordered these “waffle” spa slippers when they were marked down in one of Nordstrom’s recent sales. They are extremely soft and very comfortable to wear and walk in. I wanted something pretty but also a little warming for spring and summer mornings, and these fit the bill perfectly. They come in black, grey, natural (beige), this pink and powder blue. Perfection.

Joggers + White Tee + Black Blazer

No, I didn’t walk around my house all day with my black blazer. But I did slip it on that day for a video conference I had with my FASTer Way to Fat Loss trainer. That wasn’t necessary, of course. But I know that many of my readers are teaching or working from home right now and do in fact need occasionally to look a little more professional. So I wanted to be able to show you this look. Plus, I’ve actually worn this exact outfit before out and about. I love it.

By the way, this is my all time favorite white tee (so far – I’m testing others right now for a future post), and it’s 40% off today only. This one and the black one above are so soft and polished looking, but still comfortable and casual. The white one is available only in a few sizes, but the black seems to have been restocked recently.

I love joggers, a tee, sneakers and a blazer for a fun date night look, by the way.

Cargo Cropped Joggers + Navy & White Striped Tee + Denim Jacket

Saturday evening I wore my green cargo joggers again, this time with a simple navy and white striped tee. I added my denim jacket when I stepped out for a little stroll after dinner.

Easter Outfit

Here’s what I ended up wearing on Easter. It was cold. I wanted to look pretty and spring-like, and I also wanted to be comfortable for cooking and watching our worship service online. I opted for these cropped black pants from last year and a favorite floral print top from Boden. Very little, if any, of this is available any more.

Black lightweight crops + Solid tee + Yoga jacket

I put this on Monday after my workout so I could be motivated to get out again later in the day for a walk. My lightweight crop pants are only available in green now, but I expect Talbots to come out with similar pants this summer.

Striped Tee + Skinny Jeans + Sneakers + Yoga Jacket

After eating a little too much over the Easter weekend I decided it was time to wear jeans for a day. Ha! These are my favorite jeans of all, and Nordstrom has several comparable styles on sale for significant reductions right now. These with a chewed hem are 40% off. But you can find a full assortment of AG jeans on sale here.

What I wore just yesterday!

This is my final look in this personal work-from-home challenge. Again, I just wore my tech stretch leggings with my favorite white t-shirt and this long cardigan I’d picked up in last summer’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

Well hopefully the outfits I put together in this two-week personal WFH style challenge provided a little inspiration for you. My goal was to create comfortable looks that were perfectly suited for staying home all day but that also felt a little more put together and professional. I’m finding that even though I’m used to working from home all the time, the stay-home restrictions are making me feel less motivated and enthusiastic. I guess that just shows that we all crave a little balance in our lives. And outings and socialization really feed my creativity and passions. So while we wait this thing out, I’ll continue to put on full outfits like this with hopes of sparking a little professionalism and joy.

Thanks so much for spending a few minutes with me today. I hope you enjoyed the post. Let me know if you have any questions about the things I’ve shared today. Have a good one!

Save + Share

If you enjoyed today’s post, I hope you’ll save it to one of your Pinterest boards. Oh, and share it with your friends on Facebook, too. I love it when new readers find Dressed for My Day because you’ve shared what you found! You’ll find share buttons just below the scripture in the Blessed for My Day portion of the post. And Pinterest buttons should appear when you hover over the following graphic (or any of the graphics in this post).

If you need more motivation for coping during the COVID-19 Crisis or work-from-home tips or outfits, you might enjoy one or more of the following posts:

• How to Feel More Like Yourself…while social distancing

• Date Night Ideas While Social Distancing

• My Revised Spring Bucket List

• Worthwhile Ways to Use Your Time at Home

• Work from Home Tips & Outfits

• Living in Community…even from a distance

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Blessed for My Day

You would think that since I usually work from home that this time of social distancing wouldn’t affect me much. I’ve been fairly surprised at how unmotivated I’ve felt some days. But it turns out that even those of us who normally work from or at home need times of socialization, outings and events to look forward to. Those are the ingredients in life that build enthusiasm, give us a sense of purpose and community, and help us to schedule our days and weeks. Without them we start feeling fruitless and a little aimless.

But during this time we’re challenged to find our motivation from a deeper and more consistent source. Let’s remember that even when we don’t know what tomorrow brings, we still have holy assignments to carry out. And let’s acknowledge that even if we’re not going to see anyone else or go anywhere, our lives have purpose and meaning each day. God gives us meaning, purpose, significance and responsibility. Let’s roll up our sleeves and fulfill the assignments He gives us for this day.

Go to the ant, O sluggard;
    consider her ways, and be wise.
Without having any chief,
    officer, or ruler,
she prepares her bread in summer
    and gathers her food in harvest. ~ Proverbs 6:6-8