Calling all our guy readers…Just because you’re spending all your weekdays now working from home doesn’t mean you can’t still look sharp! Of course, as any guy knows, the trick is to look good while still feeling comfortable. Your home office probably doesn’t have the same suit-and-tie requirements that your old office did, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still look put-together every day. In fact, some studies have even shown that changing out of your pajamas and putting on a more dapper outfit can have positive psychological effects that might even boost your motivations and improve your work product. For men who want to look great but feel comfy while working from home, here are some of the top clothing tips to remember.
Do you live in an area with totally unpredictable weather patterns that seem to change every fifteen minutes? If so, dressing in layers is key, especially if you like to spend part of your workday working from your balcony, patio or backyard. If the temperatures are cool in the morning but get hot by midday, for instance, a light T-shirt topped with a suave jacket could be the answer. Check out these key pieces perfect for layering:
Just about everyone at this point has had the experience of needing to hop on a video call for work in the middle of the day, and when this happens, looking professional is essential. However, your bottom half may not matter as much since it won’t be on camera! That means that even if you’re still rocking your sweatpants, you’ll want to pull on a classy dress shirt. The trick here is choosing soft, comfy materials like cotton or polyester blends, so you won’t get that stiff, starchy, scratchy feeling that all too often comes with high-end professional shirts.
You might think that having plain versus pouch underwear might not make a big difference to your comfort levels at home, but a simple trial of comfier underwear could prove you wrong. Comfortable undergarments like boxers made from stretchy materials, for instance, can actually have a big impact on your overall level of comfort. This makes sense since it’s the most basic layer of your outfit! To be cozy overall, start at the core level with a solid pair of underpants.
On days where there are no work calls to worry about, tailored hoodies could be the way to go. Hoodies are casual enough to wear while working from the couch from 9:00 to 5:00, but if you choose one made with nice materials and get it tailored, it could look snazzier on you than you realize!
Although it’s totally fine to go barefoot all day while at home, if you get chilly indoors or live in a colder climate, part of completing your outfit and staying cozy is keeping your feet warm, too. There are plenty of options for slip-on shoes that look great but feel comfortable, too – just try a pair of leather boat-style shoes that are fleece-lined on the inside, for instance.
Maybe your commute now involves moving from the bed to the couch and your pet dog is essentially your coworker, but just because you’re working from home all day doesn’t mean you have to start dressing poorly. With the right outfit planning, it’s totally possible to dress for success while still feeling comfortable. For any men interested in keeping up dapper appearances without compromising on comfort, these five clothing tips are key.
I have seen so many people on Instagram making this simple Feta & Tomato Baked Pasta recipe, featured on TikTok, all over the world. It has become so popular that Finland ran out of feta cheese. The ENTIRE COUNTRY ran out!!!! The prep time is only a few minutes and within less than an hour you have a pretty good family meal. I have not made it yet but my friend blogger, Lemon Stripes made it yesterday and totally inspired me. Plus I read that it is totally worth the hype. Here you go, let me know in the comments below if you make it.
Baked Tomato and Feta Pasta:
(adapted from www.lemonstripes.com & The Washington Post)
Ingredients:
–2 pints (17 1/2 ounces / 500 grams) cherry or grape tomatoes
4 cloves garlic
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Kosher salt
1 block Greek feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Freshly ground black pepper
12 ounces medium-length dried pasta, such as campanelle, rigatoni or rotini
Fresh basil leaves, for serving
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Place tomatoes and garlic in a baking pan and toss with 1/4 cup of olive oil and sea salt.
3. Place the block of feta in the middle of the tomatoes and top the whole thing with crushed red pepper flakes, parsley, oregano, and black pepper.
4. Bake for 40 minutes or until the feta is slightly browned and the tomatoes are totally blistered.
5. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to box instructions. Be sure to save 1 cup of the pasta water before you drain it!
6. Mix up the tomatoes, feta, and garlic with a fork (I also broke up the garlic with a garlic press) to form a sauce.
7. Stir the pasta into the sauce and add pasta water, a little at a time, as needed.
8. Top with torn basil and serve.
9. Enjoy!
I am so happy to introduce you to my newest blog sponsor, the aroma design studio, ScentFluence. ScentFluence has a library of delicious custom-designed scents for your home or business or any other space that you choose. They have cool air diffusers, room sprays, and candles that will spark your senses. There are two ways to shop with Scent Fluence. You can visit their flagship studio at 22 Harwood Court in Scarsdale or on their new website www.Scentfluence.com.
Here is their beautiful shop in Scarsdale. They have the entire scent library in-store and are happy to provide samples of any fragrance to match your own space.
Here is only one part of the scent library!!
Lavender Sage is one of the most popular scents and one that I am planning on using for my own bedroom, it is supposed to help you sleep!!!!
Here is one of the adorable plug in diffusers with the mint focus oil
ScentFluence can wrap their products for any gifting occasion…
Here are the plug in diffusers. I want one for every room.
The Sea Salt Sage fragrance has become so popular.
Here is another diffuser with some of the best-selling oils, Amber Woods, By The Fire, Moroccan Mint Tea, and Deep Blue.
There is a guide to help you choose which scent to try:
ScentFluence provides signature scents for many fabulous destinations including the Auberge Resorts, Baccarat Hotels, and the 1 Hotels:
Recently someone asked me if I knew a jeweler that could make a band ring for their anniversary. It got me thinking.. I really didn’t. I have no idea where to buy a stone or design a piece of jewelry. UNTIL…my friend Meghan partnered with Gioia’s Jewel Box. She works with Nicole, a seasoned jewelry curator, and can help you find basically find anything. They are Jewelry concierges who will create or help you choose the perfect piece, either in person (safely distanced) or over Zoom or even on a call. They specialize in custom and very unique designs for all jewelry styles. From small pendant necklaces to important statement rings, Meghan & Nicole can help you find it all. Follow their INSTAGRAM to check out some of their gorgeous pieces. I have chosen a few things below from their current inventory that I really really love!!!! PS EMAIL or DM them on Instagram with any questions about anything featured below.
adapted from Thehouseandhomestead.com
A friend gave me these Detox Bath Salts and I was amazed at how nice and relaxing they were. I was so surprised by how easy they are to make. My girls and I have been making them for a while now. I have tried a few different scents and I think I like Lavender the best but there are so many essential oil scents to choose from.
Mix the Epsom salts, sea salt, and baking soda together in a bowl. Add your essential oils. I add about 15 drops of essential oil to this recipe (per 1/2 cup of salt).
Scoop it into pretty jars. I purchased THESE. I really like that they come with scoops.
And now it’s time to take a nice long bath. Enjoy!
Every New Year, I decide to really do a good closet cleanout. I take the time to go through all the clothes that do not fit well or have not worn in a while. It’s so much easier for me to do it over a few weeks than all at once. I also keep a bag in my closet for donations. When I try something on and it’s just not right, in the bag it goes. When I have a pretty good accumulation, I contact Pick Up Please. It is so convenient. You go online and pick your date and then leave your donations outside on the morning of the pickup. I also send many things to the Real Real. I find it to be such a great resource for selling things with designer labels in good condition. I am so impressed with how fast things sell on the Real Real. Once I started getting rid of and organizing things in my closet, I start dreaming of what my perfect closet would look like. Here are some of my favorite closet/clothing storage ideas: