Ahhh…the future is here. You’ve done the classes, rocked the interview, and now you need to know what to wear for the next 10 weeks while interning your little heart out. Here are a few suggestions.
1. Start shopping early! Stock up on business clothes months in advance. You will probably not be making very much money (if any at all) while interning, so it's best to stock up now with whatever extra cash you have. Look for sales, and start buying a couple basics one paycheck at a time.
2. If you aren’t sure what the dress code will be, just ask! This is your time to put your best foot forward--show them you plan ahead! Hint: If you’re interviewing at corporate offices, the dress code is more than likely going to be business casual. See business casual dress code here.
3. Dress up! Do not take your casual clothes and try to dress them up by adding a pair of heels. It doesn’t work. It makes you look lazy and unprepared. If you’re dressing better than your new boss, keep it up. Your look represents your attitude. A professional look will help your new co-workers take you seriously.
4. Plan ahead! I once read some advice (forgive me for not remembering where!) that said to plan your entire wardrobe ahead. You don’t want to start off wearing dress shoes and dress pants and slowly move into sandals and sundresses because you ran out of clothes.
5. Buy interchangeable pieces! Buy items that you can mix and match to create multiple outfits. I recommend buying neutral bottoms. Black and gray are so easy to mix with different tops/sweaters/jackets. You can wear the same black dress pants a couple times a week. If you pair them with different looks on top, no one will ever know you are wearing the same bottoms so frequently.
6. Do not take Casual Friday too literally. If you are allowed to wear jeans, wear jeans, but still pair them with a nice shirt, blazer, and heels or flats. Do not take this opportunity to wear your favorite ripped jeans, flip flops, and your most comfy tee shirt from 3 years ago. Always dress to impress!
My list of your must have basics:
Black, full length dress pants
Capri or ankle length black, gray, or camel colored dress pants
Black or gray (or both!) skirt(s)
2-3 sweaters (just throw them on when the office gets chilly, you can throw on the same sweater more than once a week)
2-3 blazers
2 pairs of comfortable heels (at least one black)
2 pairs of flats
5 dress shirts in all different colors/styles (Remember that sleeveless may not be allowed!)
Once you have all of these, you can start adding in some more personality -- a patterned skirt, a dress, pin-stripe pants, colorful heels, etc. If you are lucky enough to get a paid internship, I would recommend buying something new with each or every other paycheck. This will keep your wardrobe feeling fresh.
Don’t forget a firm handshake, eye contact, and a smile! Good Luck!
Heather Kilpatrick
