ong before WFH
(work from home)
was a thing, my
father had a home office and conducted much of his work as a salesman from a large desk that dominated my brother’s converted bedroom in our family home. He traveled several weeks a month around the Southeast US, and he dressed the part when he made sales calls, wearing crisp button-down shirts and jackets, pressed pants, and always brightly shined leather shoes.
As times changed and business attire (and warmer climates) demanded more casual attire, he switched to bright polo shirts and khakis, with the occasional blazer,
for those in-person business
visits. But even when he’d
return home and set up
shop in his home office,
he’d still rise early to
shower and dress the
part. Getting ready
for work, he said,
was a mindset.
He told me that
he always felt
more
confident
when he
looked the
part, even
though
these were
pre-Zoom
days and
some of
his contacts only knew him by his voice on the phone.
Dad was very handy and handled home repairs, landscaping, and pool maintenance, even in the Florida heat. But when his chores were done, he’d clean up and arrive at dinner in a fresh golf shirt and clean pleated shorts, hair brushed, and wearing cologne. Again, his outfit selections indicated he was done with work and ready for family time and food, two of his favorite things.
My younger son is named after my father, David, and I see so much of Dad in him. My David is gregarious and funny and has a knack for knowing everyone’s name and very specific details about their lives and family. Plus, like his grandfather, even at 10, David is a sharp-dressed guy. This started a few years ago when he was more interested in picking out his outfits than his older brother. Even after his Batman phase had passed, he still had strong opinions about what he wore daily, from socks up. Now, as a fourth grader, avid sports fan and baseball player, the outfit is more important than ever.
He carefully selects which shirts best complement his combinations: an orange long-sleeved T-shirt goes best with his Mahomes jersey, a monochromatic ensemble sets off his black and white Jordan hoodie, and black Adidas sweats
are perfect with his
favorite Lugnuts
hat, worn with
blue-tinted
sunglasses
resting on the
brim.
His latest obsession is sneakers, and I know we are in trouble. He saved his birthday and Christmas money and splurged on what he refers to as ‘his first’ Air Jordan Nike high-tops. First? I ask. Yeah, he says, I’m a sneakerhead now, you know.
Uh oh.
Like so many professionals these days, I also work remotely, part of a company team spread across the country. It wasn’t a conscious decision, but I’ve also taken Dad’s words to heart. Each day, I rise early to exercise, shower, and dress to greet the day as if I’d actually see my professional colleagues in person instead of just via Zoom or email from my home office. On Fridays, I try to get outside for a long walk if the weather cooperates, but I try to select an outfit that easily converts ‘up’ with a jacket and necklace so that even my disembodied head on screen doesn’t betray my casual Friday vibe. Something about being dressed and ready to go puts me in the right mindset for my day, just like it did for Dad.
Baseball season is starting soon, and my David has begun practicing his hitting and pitching and also making some baseball fashion investments, such as dark gray pants and patterned sleeves for his batting arm. He even has his eye on a necklace that he can customize with his uniform number (once it’s issued). We try to remind him that even if he’s naturally a pretty good athlete, nothing, not even a great uniform, replaces the value of hard work and training. Sure, he shrugs, but look good, play good, right? he says.
I know his grandfather would agree.
L