Walking into a new internship can be intimidating to say the least. You don’t know what to expect from your new coworkers, you’re unfamiliar with the office culture and your boss might be the most terrifying person on the planet. In my opinion, picking out an outfit is the trickiest part because you only have one chance to make a first impression. A rule of thumb I like to follow is: Keep the casual out of “business casual” for the first day. After you feel out the office vibe, start to plan accordingly. Don’t be the girl wearing a pencil skirt and blazer when everyone else is wearing skinny jeans and flannels.
Luckily for me, my office keeps it very casual. However it’s always important to make sure I don’t take advantage of their leniency. Whenever I’m lacking style inspiration, I look to my seriously stylish coworker who always seems to find the perfect balance between professional and fashion-forward. This Fashionista capitalizes on the popular military trend with a jacket from Forever 21. She layers it on top of a flowy white dress, purchased from a local boutique. To whoever said you can’t wear white after Labor Day, I must disagree.
This outfit is ideal for an internship because it is modest enough to remain professional, but also shows off her personal style. By adding in a classy watch, this Fashionista dresses up casual pieces in a more professional way. When interning, it’s important to give the company a real feel for who you are as a person, and what better way to do that than through your clothing?
One Simple Change: Had a long day in the office and ready to blow off some steam for the weekend? Switch out the stacked heels for sneakers and throw on a cardigan. You’ll be ready to romp around town with your best buds.
