Opinion: Falkirk home workers need a different wardrobe

One of the plus points about working from home over the last nine or so weeks is that it’s not far from my bed to my desk.

Roll out of one, into the shower, washed and dressed then move downstairs to start the working day.

Forget the hour-long commute into the city – or even longer on a bad day, or when I’m in the local office the 15 minutes through the town centre if I manage to avoid the start of the school day.

I’m close to the kettle and the fridge for refreshments when needed – although on some occasions it feels too close!

I hardly seem to have finished my breakfast than I’m wondering about what to have for lunch.

So while I’m really missing my work colleagues, phone calls and video hang outs aren’t the same, there have been advantages.

But one thing I’ve really struggled with is my home working wardrobe!

For some reason it doesn’t seem right to wear my usual staples of a smart dress or skirt and top. Instead for the last two months it’s been leggings, trousers, t-shirts and comfy tops.

I do draw the line at staying in my PJs all day!

But to sit about the house and, some days, see no-one at all, it doesn’t seem worth the effort to wear a tailored outfit.

It’s weird isn’t it but so many of my friends and workmates have said the same thing.

This all came to mind the other day when I was on a video call with people from all other the country and one chap who was wearing a very smart, freshly ironed shirt was receiving a lot of comments.

The meeting organiser, resplendent in a t-shirt, which to my mind, hadn’t seen an iron, said he had long given up.

However, we did then all begin to joke that he could be wearing shorts because that’s what we couldn’t see.

Then someone else said we had to view the clip of the American broadcaster who was being interviewed and had on a smart suit jacket, shirt and tie but when the camera panned round you could see his bare legs!

Apparently the chap later insisted it wasn’t his underpants but shorts he had on as he had rushed from they gym to record the interview.

Did they not always used to say that all news broadcasters used to do that, dress smartly from the waist up with jeans or jogging bottoms.

However, the TV companies make them stand to deliver news or have taken away the desks so they have to be smartly turned out from top to toe now.

I always make sure I put on make up and do my hair each day; I wouldn’t want to inflict my ‘‘just woken up’’ look on any unsuspecting video caller!

All this meant that I quite understood where the presenters of Loose Women were coming from when, after an initial break, they began to do their programme from their homes.

Of course, they didn’t have the benefit of hair or make-up experts who would normally give them a quick makeover before appearing on our screens.

I believe the offer of a quick online make-up tutorial was readily accepted by many of them before once again appearing in front of the camera.