Nearly six months in, perhaps it’s time to allow your tattered pandemic uniform to self-isolate in the closet. Work from home, but make it fashion—or at the very least, look better on Zoom for the duration of this strange time. A wardrobe revamp could boost your spirits or curb some of that hovering monotony.

“I’ve always said that your appearance is your calling card, and in some ways, it’s more important now than ever,” says Jason Burr, the stylist behind The So Burr Experience, which serves the Washington region. “Presentation can make or break things, especially if it’s a job interview or networking. The lighting has to be right, what you wear and how it shows up on camera has to be right, and of course, your surroundings have to be right.”

To keep their businesses alive, local stylists have had to adapt during the coronavirus pandemic, and have found steady work in turning services that are typically very tactile into remote offerings. Often, that means teaching clients how to look their best during their new Zoom-centric existences. In many cases, stylists have found, the pandemic is proving to be a reset, an opportunity to transform your space, your look, your vibe.

For the first three months of quarantine, Burr’s business stalled, but in June, demand ratcheted back up. Now, he offers all his usual services either remotely or in-person with social-distancing protocols in place—whatever the client is most comfortable with, he says. In the before times, he would meet someone at a store, ushering him or her into a dressing room stuffed with garments he had chosen ahead of time. That’s evolved into curating a detailed online shopping list that clients can scroll through, ordering each piece directly. Once the clothing arrives, Burr sets up a styling session to explain how to wear the pieces, and how to mix and match to produce the maximum number of outfits.

During in-person sessions, Burr wears a mask, carries hand sanitizer, and, if the client prefers, wears gloves. “If you want me to show up in a hazmat suit, I will,” he says. “I could totally turn that into a fashion moment.”

In addition to pivoting to remote offerings, Burr has used the extra time at home to beef up his online presence. He’s produced several Instagram tutorials—one on the power of pink, for example, a subject he feels passionately about.

Stylist Ting Lin gets to know new clients through an introductory phone call—and that’s one constant of both her pre- and post-pandemic work style. “Fashion is so personal,” she says. “A lot of times, they’ll tell me about their body image issues, their confidence level, their life events that led to this need to transform themselves. I try to understand what it is they need, and then customize my process accordingly.”

These days, that includes virtual wardrobe audits and organization services. Lin connects with clients via FaceTime or Zoom, and as they pull pieces out of their closet and hold them up to the camera, she determines what stays and what goes—and explains why. “It’s not just, ‘Ting said so,’” she notes. Sometimes she asks clients to try things on, changing off-camera, so she can examine fit.

She guides her clients on how to create outfits that match the aesthetic they’re striving for, coaching them to “keep this blouse so we can outfit it with those new outfits we’re going to shop for, or to wear with this existing pair of pants.” A client might reveal that he’d been waiting for permission to finally part with a certain garment, or that she didn’t have the confidence to wear something until Lin assured her it looked good.

Many find the experience transformative. Fashion is part of mental health, Lin says: “As much as it’s outward, it’s also inward. It can be a starting point, where you’re like, ‘I’m dressing well, I’m feeling good.’”

Prior to the pandemic, about 80% of Rosana Vollmerhausen’s business was in-person. She’s the founder and chief stylist of DC Style Factory and has long offered virtual options to clients not located in the Washington region. On March 13, the company went completely remote. “We had to do a lot of work educating our local clients that the remote process is just as comprehensive, effective, and personal as the in-person,” she says.

Shortly after stay-at-home orders went into place, DC Style Factory launched its Zoom style consult—because presenting yourself on camera is uniquely different from presenting yourself in person, Vollmerhausen says. During an hour-long session, stylists help clients decide on the best location, backdrop, lighting, camera angle and outfit choices for virtual meetings.

Vollmerhausen recently worked with a professor who will be teaching via Zoom this fall. The pair focused on figuring out the logistics for each session, such as where to sit and which lamp to use. In some ways, Vollmerhausen says, this strange interlude is an ideal opportunity to make a change.

“There’s little you can control about the situation we’re in,” she says. “Wardrobe and style always feel like such a luxury, but think about it: We all have to put clothes on every day. We all have to go through our closets to be able to do that. Why not make that experience easier and more joyful for yourself?”

Pricing for such consults vary by location, the services desired, and how many sessions, but typically run anywhere from $70 to $325. Those who aren’t in the market for a personal stylist can still benefit from the experts’ insight. They shared a scattering of their best tips for your next Zoom appearance:

Pay attention to your background. As Burr puts it, “People are getting a taste of who you are,” along with an opportunity to examine both your physical appearance and your environment—from afar. Stand in the area where you take your calls, and spin around, getting a 360-degree feel for the space. Consider painting the walls blue or some other pleasing color, which can make your area more vibrant.

Perfect the camera angle. Set up your camera so it’s straight on, or angled slightly above you and tilted down. “You don’t want the camera angle to be low and shooting up toward your face,” Vollmerhausen says—people don’t look their best at that perspective.

Fix the lighting. Don’t be that one colleague on the Zoom call who’s concealed by shadows, an amorphous figure you vaguely recognize from your past life in the office. Both Burr and Vollmerhausen recommend mini ring lights, which illuminate smartphone cameras; YouTubers often use them to enhance their videos. They’re typically under $20 online. Or, if you’re relying on the lamp on your desk, make sure the light bulbs are the correct wattage to optimize your appearance.

Stick to solid colors. Vollmerhausen suggests wearing a high V-neck blouse in a rich color or jewel tone. Avoid busy, distracting patterns that might not translate well over the internet.

Be smart about accessories. A statement necklace or funky pair of earrings could spice up that solid-color shirt, Lin says, and headbands and scarves also lend a pop of color. Just don’t overdo it: One exciting addition is typically sufficient.