Step out of those PJs and into morale-boosting #WFH style

Back in the 1930s, popular holiday resorts such as Antibes and Venice Lido beach were dubbed Pyjamaland, because fashion designers including Coco Chanel and Jean Patou had created day-to-evening silky PJs and the trend-setting women of the day loved them so much they began to wear them all the time, indoors and out.

The coronavirus crisis may well see the world turn into Pyjamaland, for good or evil. Having spent a significant amount of time working from home in recent years, I have learned the hard way that nightwear all day is not the answer. Yes, I’ve often found myself at 7am in my PJs, cross-legged on my bed, tapping away at a laptop. Soon 7am becomes 11am, I still look like Worzel Gummidge, and then the postie arrives with a signed-for delivery. Not any more. Now I’m up at 7am, then bathed, dressed and sorted (hair and make-up), ready to start tapping away – at my desk – by 8am.

Fellow homeworker, Huddersfield-based fashion designer Georgia Boniface, of Boniface Clothing, agrees. “I’d say it’s definitely worth getting dressed for work. It is important for me to feel ready for what I’m doing. It helps me to distinguish between working from home and housework.”

She has more advice too for successful and productive homeworking. “A routine has evolved over time,” she says. “I make the most of the mornings, in particular – the light is better for making things. I tend to do my research, planning and emailing later in the day and in the evenings.

“I keep a work journal/diary/sketchbook where I jot down notes and ideas each day and it helps me to keep track of what I’m doing or even just thought of doing. I can look back and see how my time has been productive even if it sometimes feels like it hasn’t.

“You get used to your own rhythm, I think, especially when you have to work around the school day or children at home. But the fact that you have everything to hand means it can be possible to snatch a bit of extra working time here and there. It’s the flexibility of working from home that I value the most, helping me to get the balance of home, family and work life. It’s the flexibility that enabled me to keep working while my daughters were young.

“But I think the thing that is going to be really useful right now is taking some time for planning and research and looking for inspiration. It’s an aspect of work that I really enjoy but often I don’t give it high enough priority as it often doesn’t seem like work. It mostly involves searching for interesting stuff online, watching films, reading books and magazines etc.”

As with many other Yorkshire independent fashion designers and retailers (whose work and businesses we will be focusing on over the coming weeks), Georgia reaches her customers mainly over the internet.

“My website and social media are invaluable and this is what I’m going to be working on to continue to communicate with my customers,” she says. “It’s such a good platform for sharing images and ideas. I’m going to try to teach myself how to make an even better online shop experience which will be an inspiring place to visit. Even though most garments are made to order, I’m still able to offer that service right now via my web shop and consultations can be carried out via email, as they quite often are anyway.”

Boniface Clothing features dresses, smocks, tunic tops and jumpsuits in easy fabrics with pockets – ideal for the homeworker.

Here are more morale-boosting #WFH wardrobe essentials.