Working from the home office has become a way of life for plenty of Aussies, whether you're based in a Sydney apartment, a Melbourne terrace, or somewhere a bit more regional like Byron Bay. The blazer-over-activewear combo has its place, yet there are days when you want to look genuinely pulled together on camera. A video call wardrobe is its own little puzzle, and what reads as smart in the mirror can look quite different under the unflattering glow of a laptop camera.
Most of us spend more hours than we'd care to admit staring at our own faces during these meetings. Getting dressed with the lens in mind, rather than the mirror, can shift how confident you feel and how colleagues read your presence. A few thoughtful tweaks to colour, texture, and silhouette can turn a frazzled morning into a composed first impression, and you don't need a stylist budget to get it right.
Camera sensors tend to flatten things, so the colour palette you choose matters more than usual. Soft, solid shades close to your skin tone can wash you out, while very dark colours can swallow light and make you look weary. Warm mid-tones like camel, dusty rose, soft navy, or olive tend to translate beautifully, adding a healthy wash without overwhelming the frame.
In Australian homes, where the afternoon light can swing from harsh to honey-coloured, neutrals with a bit of warmth photograph especially well. If you're dialling in from a beachside rental in Noosa with windows behind you, you'll want to avoid being backlit. A muted terracotta knit or a soft sage blouse tends to hold detail without competing with whatever coastal scenery is creeping in around you.
When in doubt, hold a few options up to your laptop camera and snap a quick photo. The screen preview is a rougher version of what your colleagues will see, but it gives you a fair sense of contrast and undertone. This trick is something stylists across Brisbane and Adelaide swear by, and it costs nothing to try.
Bold prints and busy patterns can play havoc with webcams, creating a strange shimmer or moiré effect that distracts whoever's listening to your quarterly update. Fine pinstripes, tight checks, and small repeating motifs are the usual culprits. Solid fabrics or very subtle textures, on the other hand, tend to stay calm and quiet on camera.
A soft knit, a fine-gauge merino, or a lightly textured linen all hold up well under the lens. If you love a print, scale matters: a single oversized floral on a dress reads cleaner than a tiny all-over ditsy pattern. When you're reviewing how to layer a collared shirt for a cooler autumn morning in Hobart, choose a solid base layer to keep the overall look uncluttered.
Jewellery and texture can do some of the heavy lifting if you're committed to a neutral palette. A pearl strand, a brushed gold chain, or a textured wool vest adds visual interest without the distracting movement of a busy print. The goal is to look like yourself, just gently elevated, so the conversation stays on what you're saying rather than what's on your shoulders.
Necklines make a bigger difference on video than they do in person. A high crew neck can feel a bit close under the chin, especially if the laptop is sitting low and creating an unflattering angle. A soft V-neck, a notched collar, or a gentle scoop tends to elongate the neck and frame the face more flatteringly.
The classic trick is to think about where the eye lands. You want it to land on your face, not on your hemline. A top that ends neatly at the waist or is tucked in keeps the silhouette tidy and prevents you from fidgeting mid-meeting. A polished blazer, even an unstructured one, gives shoulders a tailored shape that reads authoritative without feeling stiff.
Australian workwear has leaned more relaxed over the past few years, and a softly draped shirt or a fine knit layered under a cardigan can absolutely pass for professional on camera. If you're chatting with colleagues from Perth or Canberra, the vibe is generally smart-casual, so lean into pieces that feel like you, just slightly more considered than your Saturday morning self.
Accessories are where many of us overdo it without realising. Long swinging earrings can catch the light and swing into frame, drawing the eye away from your face. Chunky necklaces can create odd shadows under the webcam, and very shiny metals can blow out and look harsh.
Smaller, more considered pieces work best. Studs, a short delicate chain, or a watch are usually safe. If you love a statement piece, keep it for the in-person catch-up rather than the screen meeting. Glasses themselves are fine, but anti-reflective lenses save you from that occasional flicker of glare that can pull focus from both you and the people you're speaking with.
Scarves, brooches, and lapel pins are lovely additions but should sit still. Anything that swings or catches air will move with every breath and create unnecessary visual noise. A small silk scarf tied neatly, a simple lapel pin, or a classic watch tends to read as intentional rather than busy. Keep the rest of the look minimal and let one piece do the talking.
Even the best outfit can be let down by what's behind you. A cluttered wall, a pile of unfolded washing, or a row of half-finished house plants can pull focus from what you're wearing. A plain wall, a tidy bookshelf, or a single piece of artwork tends to work better than a busy scene, and if you're chatting from a share house in Surry Hills, a corner with a simple plant can do wonders.
Lighting is the silent partner to your outfit choices. Natural light from a window facing you tends to be most flattering, though harsh midday beams can wash you out. A ring light or a simple desk lamp angled from the side can fill in shadows and add a soft glow. In Aussie summers, the late afternoon sun is softer, and scheduling calls around that golden window is a small luxury worth considering.
Hair and makeup, finally, deserve a quick thought. A pulled-back style keeps the focus on your face and your outfit, and a little concealer under the eyes can counter the slightly grey cast that webcams tend to create. There's a quiet reason many of us are paying closer attention to our routines during busy stretches at work, with some even boosting lysine intake to keep cold sores at bay when the stress piles up. A touch of lip colour or a light bronzer can warm the whole frame without looking overdone, and the calmer you feel, the more that quiet confidence shows on screen.
The best part about dressing for video is that you only need to consider what shows from the chest up, which makes a polished wardrobe far more affordable than a full corporate overhaul. A few solid tops in flattering colours, a couple of blazers you actually enjoy wearing, and a small edit of considered accessories will take you through every kind of meeting, from a quick catch-up with your team to a presentation for the board. Try a few combinations this week, snap a quick test photo, and see what feels most like you on screen.