The New Power Pieces: How Fashion Is Taking Over the Zoom Meeting

The boardroom has gone virtual, but the fashion stakes have never been higher.

From tailored jackets and statement jewellery to carefully chosen colours and camera-ready necklines, professionals are discovering that what they wear on screen can be just as influential as what they say. The traditional “tailored piece” has not disappeared—it has simply been redesigned for the rectangle at the centre of the laptop.

For years, remote workers treated video meetings as an opportunity to dress down. Sweatpants became the unofficial uniform of working from home, while business shirts were sometimes paired with decidedly unprofessional trousers hidden below the desk.

But the era of the invisible bottom half may be fading.

As Zoom meetings have become a permanent feature of corporate life, fashion is moving into the digital workplace with renewed confidence. Executives, entrepreneurs and creative professionals are increasingly using clothing to communicate authority, personality and attention to detail before a meeting has even begun.

The Rise of the “Camera Outfit”

With leading the forefront of costume cutting, we work with Costume Designers to bring their fashion vision to life on camera and direct to your screen. Digital platforms are no different. On a video call, clothing behaves differently than it does in person. Subtle textures can disappear. Small patterns may look distorted. Dark colours can merge into a dim background, while bright colours can dominate the screen. 

That has created a new category of dressing: the camera outfit.

The most effective looks often focus on the upper half of the body. A sharply structured blazer, a distinctive collar, a silk scarf or a striking necklace can provide visual definition without overwhelming the frame. Even a simple shirt can become more impactful when paired with good lighting and a clean background. And lets not forget the hidden importance of the choice of fabrication. Classic cottons, wools, silks and even hints of velvets shine beautifully on screen and camera.

In other words, dressing for Zoom is not simply about looking professional. It is about understanding how fashion performs through a camera.

From Boardroom Authority to Digital Presence

The psychology of professional clothing has also changed.

In a physical office, an executive's outfit might be noticed while walking into a meeting, shaking hands or moving around the room. On Zoom, participants may spend an hour looking at a small image of someone's face and shoulders.

That makes details matter.

A well-fitted jacket can create a stronger silhouette. A distinctive colour can make someone easier to remember. Glasses, earrings, ties and collars can become part of a professional visual identity.

The result is a new form of workplace branding: personal style as executive presence.

The Death of the “Business on Top, Pyjamas Below” Era?

Perhaps the biggest fashion myth of remote work is that nobody cares what happens below the desk.

They might—especially when someone suddenly needs to stand up.

The infamous combination of formal shirt and casual trousers was born from convenience, but as offices have adopted hybrid working, employees are increasingly looking for clothing that can move between environments.

A blazer over a T-shirt, smart knitwear with tailored trousers or a polished dress with comfortable shoes can work equally well in the home office, the coffee shop and the corporate headquarters.

Comfort has not disappeared. It has simply become more sophisticated.

Fashion's New Meeting Room

The Zoom screen may have reduced the physical space in which professional fashion operates, but it has expanded the importance of visual presentation.

In a world where first impressions increasingly happen through webcams, fashion has become part of the meeting itself. The right outfit cannot replace expertise, preparation or good ideas—but it can influence how those qualities are perceived.

The modern professional no longer dresses only for the office.

They dress for the frame.

And as the workplace continues to evolve, that little rectangle on the screen may become one of fashion's most important new runways.