You've been in a hoodie since morning. Small wonder: the only free desk in the open-plan area is right where the air-con blows. At ten, you head into a soundproof phone booth for a video call with a client. Ten minutes in, the cramped booth has turned stuffy.
Sweat starts creeping down your back. The trouble is, getting the hoodie off means pulling it over your head, on camera. Your hair is bound to end up a mess, and your T-shirt could ride up with it and bare your stomach. So you sweat it out until the call ends, then walk back out into the cold in a damp T-shirt.
In a coworking space, the temperature shifts every time you switch rooms. The open-plan area can be cold, and each meeting room is set to the taste of whoever last held the air-con remote. Your outer layer will come off and go back on again and again. So pick one you can take off sitting down.
Cold Office, Stuffy Booth: A Cardigan or Flannel Shirt Beats a Hoodie
A layer that opens at the front, like a flannel shirt, a cardigan or a light zip-up jacket, comes off without you having to stand up or lift your arms over your head. Ease it off your shoulders, pull your arms out one at a time, then drape it over the back of your chair. Your hair stays put, and so does the T-shirt underneath.
At home, try taking off your outer layer while sitting on a dining chair. If your elbows end up flying out in every direction, imagine doing the same in a booth about as roomy as a wardrobe.
Take it off before the booth door closes, not after your back is already wet. Put it back on before you walk into a meeting room, because you can't excuse yourself halfway through a meeting just to fetch a cardigan. Hoodies and sweaters are still fine on days you spend at a single desk.
Pick a T-Shirt That Stays Comfortable in the Stuffiest Room
Your outer layer is for the cold rooms. In the stuffy ones, all you have left is your T-shirt. A plain cotton crew-neck tee is the easiest to rely on. The navy Crew Tee, for example, is made from cotton that stays cool in hot, humid weather, and its neckline is designed to stay neat even after frequent washing. On your next video call, that neckline is what the camera sees.
A dark colour like navy also does a better job of hiding sweat marks.
Keep Your Access Card and Phone in Your Trouser Pockets
A layer that's often left hanging on a chair is no place for your access card. In many buildings, you tap that card in the lobby, in the lift and at the coworking space door, and sometimes again on your way back from the toilets down the corridor. Leave it on your chair just once and you'll be standing outside the glass door, waving at people who never take their eyes off their screens.
Put the card and your phone in the front pockets of your trousers. If your access card still scans through your phone case, tuck it inside the case. One thing is easier to remember than two.
Your trousers should have some give, since you'll keep moving between desk chairs and low sofas. Take the dark grey Chino Workpant, cut from cotton twill with a little stretch fibre blended in. The legs run all the way down to your shoes, so your ankles stay covered when the meeting room air-con is set too cold. The dark grey also pairs easily with plain T-shirts, from navy to military green.
On your next call in the phone booth, you walk in wearing just your T-shirt. The cardigan waits on the back of your chair, its pockets empty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the office air-con is too cold and I've left my outer layer at home?
Move to a desk that isn't directly under or in front of an air-con vent. Around midday, desks near the windows are usually warmer. A hot drink from the coffee corner helps a fair bit, too.
Should I wear my access card on a lanyard or keep it in my pocket?
If your space doesn't require the card to be visible, a pocket is more practical. A card on a lanyard swings and bumps into your laptop every time you lean forward.
If I use the same coworking space almost every day, do I have to bring a layer every time?
If you rent a locker, leave a cardigan or flannel shirt in it. Then you no longer have to decide every morning whether to bring one. Just take it home once a week for a wash.
Do I need to get changed if a client is coming in?
No need. Put your outer layer back on before they arrive. A plain T-shirt with a cardigan or flannel shirt over it is usually smart enough to greet guests at a coworking space.
Can I wear sandals to a coworking space?
It depends on the place. At a laid-back coworking space, sandals are rarely a problem. If it's in an office building, or you have guests that day, sneakers are the safer choice. Bare toes also get cold quickly in a meeting room.
How do I stop my access card going through the wash with my trousers?
Empty all your pockets as soon as you get home, then put the card in the same spot every day, like a small bowl by the door. It'll be easier to find the next morning, too.