Under the current circumstances, both students and working professionals alike have been working from home. As a result, events like classes, meetings, and consultations are now happening over Zoom. 

While some people enjoy working from the comfort of home, others are unsure about how to dress and conduct themselves appropriately to suit their new work environment. Thankfully, ensuring that you look good over Zoom isn't too difficult if you heed these three tips:

1. Opt for Soft Lighting 

When speaking to people through Zoom, most people are unknowingly using harsh lighting. Harsh light typically comes from direct sunlight or a lamp with little to no coverage. While harsh light has its advantages in some situations, it does no favours to our appearance. That's because harsh light casts shadows that reveal the depth and definition in our skin, and that effect isn't always flattering.

To appear more youthful over Zoom, we recommend casting yourself in soft light. Soft light helps reduce shadows, making skin look much smoother while also lessening the appearance of wrinkles and blemishes. This is largely why soft light is favoured by cinematographers. 

You can create your own soft light setup without too much difficulty. There are various DIY tricks to try at home, but you can also purchase a softbox on Amazon for a reasonable price.

2. Don't Neglect Facial Hair or Skin Care

While soft lighting is sure to go a long way in making your skin look its best, now isn't the time to neglect caring for your skin or hair. Over Zoom, the majority of your body is entirely off-screen, making your face the central focus. That's all the more reason to ensure that you're shaving and washing your face daily.

Of course, if you do prefer to maintain facial hair, remember to stay on top of trimming and shaping when necessary. You can even add beard oil into your routine to keep your beard looking clean and soft. 

3. Dress to Impress

Many people are using Zoom as an excuse to not dress as formally as they normally would. While this is understandably tempting, you should still be dressing in a way that makes you feel confident while leaving a positive impression with clients, employees, and higher-ups. 

This doesn't necessarily mean you should be getting dressed up in a suit every single day. There are lots of formal clothing options out there that strike the perfect balance between comfort and professionalism (also known as business casual). Start by adding some button-ups and nicely fit polo shirts to your wardrobe. You can then dress these pieces up or down to suit each occasion. 

For example, if you're meeting over Zoom to have a conversation with co-workers, adding a knitwear casual top will keep your look appropriately casual. If you're meeting with a client or one of your superiors, pairing your button-up with a tie or coat — or both — will make your outfit more formal. You can easily add or remove pieces throughout the day to accommodate your various Zoom calls.

Melbourne's Coachman Menswear Is Here to Help

With over 50 years of experience in delivering high-quality formal menswear, you can trust the Coachman Menswear team to have you looking your best over Zoom. We specialise in helping people make the right impression, even if it's through a webcam. ‘look through our expanding inventory of sophisticated and elegant fashion coming to our web site or by visiting our store at 337 Hampton Street, Hampton, Victoria. 

If you have any questions or need any assistance in selecting the perfect outfit, please don't hesitate to reach out. You can contact us by calling (03) 9598 2089, by emailing info@coachmanmenswear.com.au, or by filling out our online form. We'd be happy to hear from you.