You’ve got the job and you’re ready to take on your new role as a summer intern at a cool company. Although proving your ability to learn and highlight your skills while achieving your goals will be the most important part of your time there, what you wear will also leave a lasting impression of you that can be hard to shake.
Fortunately, dressing for a summer internship can be easy and fun if you stick to a few guidelines for appropriate office attire while also expressing your personal style with accessories and cool summer styles. Check out these five tips to rock your summer internship in style.
1. Know your industry
One of the most important workplace fashion tips available is to get a feel for how your industry dresses before your first day. If you’re working for a law firm, clearly, you’ll need to dress more formally and conservatively. If you’re working for a digital agency or an arts space, you’ll have a little more wiggle room. Just remember to always dress for the job you want.
After a few days, you might notice that other employees are wearing t-shirts and hoodies, but that doesn’t mean you should. Keep it classy with a pair of nice jeans and a button up or blazer. This will set you apart from others in a positive way by establishing you as someone who is fresh on the scene and full of enthusiasm for your new role.
2. Choose fashionable yet functional shoes
Dress shoes can be tricky. Sure, you want to wear the pair that will match best with your professional clothing, but you’ll also need to keep in mind that you will need to walk and stand in them all day. In other words, leave the clubbing shoes and church/wedding shoes at home. Invest in a nice pair of flats or lower heels or opt for dressier shoes that would still look good with slacks but won’t leave your feet with blisters for the next three months.
Pop Sugar offers up a guide with examples of shoes every woman should own for work. You can check it out here. Men’s Health Magazine has also created an excellent list of examples of shoes that every man should have for work.
Naturally, if your style tends to be more masculine or feminine, don’t let the genders mentioned limit your options! Check out both guides to see what fits best with your personal style.
3. Invest in statement accessories
Professional dress can get a bit boring if you don’t spice it up here and there. Rather than opting to spice up your attire with an obnoxiously glittery shirt or Hawaiian print shorts, why not invest in a few nice statement accessories? Anything from a beautiful necklace to earrings, bags, watches, and bracelets can be used to add some oomph to your outfit without making you cross the line of professionalism.
If you’re investing in a fun watch, maybe take some time to pick one that really speaks to your personality. Chrono24 has created a fun infographic to help readers select the best watch for their intended use and personality. If you’d rather wear earrings, a bracelet, or a statement necklace, Business Insider has created a solid guide to help you choose what pieces you should wear and when.
4. Don’t be afraid to wear summer clothing
Although it may seem like the chances of wearing a fun summer wardrobe are out the window, that’s not necessarily true. Sure, old cut offs and tanks might not be in the picture, but there are plenty of other summer clothing items made to fit a professional wardrobe.
Teen Vogue editors say your hemline should run according to the weight of your fabric. If you plan to wear a pair of shorts, be sure that they are made of quality, heavy fabrics that portray professionalism even with a shorter hemline. They also provided some additional tips and examples here. If you’re looking for a more masculine take on appropriate summer office attire, check out AskMen’s guide.
When in doubt of whether or not a pair of shorts or a skirt is too short or simply not professional enough, opt for another outfit. It’s always better to over dress for a day at the office than to undress when you’re new.
Hopefully these tips will help you as you complete your shopping for the best dress clothes to accompany you as you embark on a new chapter in your life. If you’re still looking for ideas, I recommend checking out Pinterest for men’s and women’s internship fashion.
Featured photo credit: iStock via i.istockimg.com
