Clothes are just pieces of fabric, right? Far from it. According to personal and corporate stylist Lani Inlander, clothes define not only how others see you, but how you see yourself. For 15 years, the founder of Washington, D.C.-based Real Life Style has been helping people dress for success so they can focus on what they do best. “What all of our clients have in common,” says Inlander, “is that they just want to look and feel put together every day and get on with their lives – and do what they need to do without having to worry about their clothes. They want to use clothes as a tool.”

But what happens when people are working from home and social events are canceled indefinitely? How is that affecting the way we dress? Should it? Inlander joined Counselor’s Promo Insiders podcast to answer those questions. “Everybody is prioritizing comfort over style and, in my opinion, appropriateness,” says Inlander, who offers up clothing selections and other apparel ideas on her blog and on Instagram. “I’ve always believed that you can find professional-looking clothes that are comfortable, stylish and appropriate if you look in the right places.”

In this conversation, Inlander gives examples of how comfort and professionalism can meet, including naming specific fabrics and retail brands that will redefine the way you dress for work. In addition, she lists her five must-have pieces for your work wardrobe, and offers her predictions about whether dressing for the office will ever go back to the way things were before.

Podcast Chapters:
3:00 How has the pandemic altered the way people are dressing?
8:35 The changing rules for those still going to an office
11:50 The time and place for dressing formally right now
12:46 Lani’s five must-have items for your work wardrobe
18:52 Find your power color