Mr. Conan, as we shall call him, is a Global Marketing Manager for a Fortune 500 technology company. He lives in a beautiful home in the Pacific Northwest and tele-commutes from his own home office. One of the benefits of his position is it allows him to wear whatever he wants (as seen in this photo). He enjoys being comfortable and wears shorts nearly 365 days a year (regardless of the rainy weather). His usual work at home "'uniform" consists of baggy shorts, sandals, a fleece sweater and ski cap. Perfect for hanging out with his adorable children.
I asked Mr. Conan to describe the clothing pros and cons associated with tele-commuting from home. He said while it's easy and comfortable to wear shorts and a sweater, he says he actually feels better when he gets up in the morning and dresses for work. "When I wear at least a button up shirt and slacks, I feel more confident doing business that day." He gave the example of talking on the phone and said "you should always smile during a business call because the other person can hear it in your voice." Mr. Conan pointed out the strong influence appearance has over the way we feel and are perceived by others.
Another clothing challenge Mr. Conan described was related to business travel. Since he doesn't need to wear professional clothing on a daily basis, he doesn't have a frame of reference for what business men are currently wearing. He finds himself looking at a GQ magazine or checking online at the last minute to give him ideas of what to wear and what he needs to buy to keep his business look up to date. He said "I know I should plan ahead, but as a busy man, I often find myself buying a dress shirt at the airport which I know isn't the best option."
Additionally,
as a man who works from home, Mr. Conan is not in the habit of looking in the mirror after dressing.
I've come across many men who dress solely for comfort and never look
in the mirror. If they did, they may be surprised to see how goofy
they look sometimes. Going on dates or going out means it's time to care a little
more about what you are wearing. In the case of Mr. Conan, it's not that he doesn't have or like nice clothing, he just isn't used to wearing it regularly.
According to his wife, Mr. Conan, wearing an especially "ridiculous" outfit, was heading out with some friends when she stopped him and said "Are you really going out like that?" He shrugged until his wife giggling, with a devilish grin said "Wait! Let me get the camera!" Mr. Conan ran upstairs and put on something nicer. She said "He looked so much better after he changed." I bet he felt better too.
For successful tele-commuters like Mr. Conan, lavish the luxury of working in pajamas. Enjoy the freedom to wear what you like. However, remember to respect the people around you and switch hats, so to speak, when you go out for business or pleasure. Especially at a dinner party or out on the town; if you aren't careful, your comfort can be a discomfort to others.
Next week, I will post a Business Travel Clothing Essentials List. As Mr. Conan wisely pointed out; planning ahead to make sure you have what you need is a key component to looking your best. Being prepared for an event or travel is a common reason men initially join the Trunk Club.
Thank you, to Mr. Conan and his gorgeous wife for their help and participation! They are truly lovely people inside and out.
-Lisa Bruckner Trunk Club Expert
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