Intern & Face the Strange

So, you perfected your resume, slayed your interview, and landed the job of your dreams-- we knew you could do it! After you've figured out your living situation and arranged the whole "credit" thing for school, you are good to go. Well, almost. There's still the time-old question of WHAT THE HELL TO WEAR. The rules for dressing at the office are shifting, making it increasingly difficult to pick out that winning outfit. You want to be taken seriously enough that you strive to be professional and put-together, but you're on a college student budget, and it's summer! You're used to wearing shorts, hats, t-shirts and bathing suits. Your internship look, however, is going to carry you from meetings, to coffee runs, to after-dinner drinks instead of from the beach to the pool.

It sounds tricky, but don't you fret! We've got (almost) every situation and internship possible on lockdown below:

Corporate

While a lot of businesses are shifting into more casual attire for their 9-5 looks, you'll still find corporate situations tend to be pretty stuffily dressed. I don't think you necessarily need to come into work every day in a three-piece suit but it's important to "blend". Our best advice is to mix and match polished separates and keep your accessories simple and professional.

Finance

Have you ever spent an entire day in an office? It's freezing, you guys. Show a bit of personality, but keep it simple in monochrome to prove you like to get down to business. That is some powerful clothing.

HR

I think the key to a really great HR internship look is to keep it simple. You'll likely wear a suit to your interview, but as far as the job goes you'll probably want to stick with a few basics you can swap in and out and jazz up if you're headed out after work.

Law

We're loving this white look and think it's something Elle Woods would have been proud to rock. If you're opting for a skirt and you're anywhere near the law, just make sure it's a good length. You've got the unfortunate task of communicating that you are strong, smart, and reliable through more than just your award winning resume. Your clothing can communicate that for you if you do it well.

When you're interviewing, they'll tell you to dress in solid colors because it indicates your "solid" character. Law is black and white, so I thought it would be fun to split the difference and go monochromatic gray.

Government

Leslie Knope would look fantastic in this and therefore, you will, too. Professional but approachable is the secret here.

Politics

You don't need to dress like Hillary every day just to prove that you're a nasty woman! This gorgeous jacket and pants set will set you out from the crowd and help you get noticed, in the right way.

Business Casual

Business casual means many things to many people. When you're straying from corporate life, you can afford to live on the edge, sartorially speaking. This isn't your parent's "business casual".

Marketing

Marketing is all about big ideas! We love this cool-casual outfit. A linen skirt, and white top are essential pieces and the belt adds a nice touch. It's internship perfection.

You definitely don't need to feel the pressure to wear a suit to your marketing internship. Sometimes dressing for the job you want will get you pretty far, though. Go shirt/tie if you feel like it'll make a difference, but you can probably lose the tie.

PR

Trend on trend on trend is working for me here, though that's not always the case. The pants are a classic color but wild shape. The bag and the shirt, both and same. You'll slay if you walk in wearing this.

Management

Some people might take this role incredibly seriously. We love to add a bit of trend in there. Ripped jeans might be a no-no of years passed, but with a neat white shirt and classic jacket-- this is undoubtedly a power look.

Nonprofit

Business casual really gives us the chance to showcase our personal style, but just keep in mind that a non-profit atmosphere doesn't mean you can dress like a schlub!

Apparently when I think "non-profit" I think vertical stripes. Short sleeved button-ups are perfect for the summer, so stock up, boys!

Education

We love a bit of quirk in our future teachers! Don't be afraid to mix your patterns you guys. Power clashing is REAL (hater's gonna hate! you know who you are!), and we're loving the bold choices here.

Sales

I'll just preface this by saying that there are LOTS of different kinds of sales you can be in. Some might warrant a suit. Some just require looking fierce. We are obsessed with all these colors. Tuck in that shirt, strap on a pair of heels and you'll be ready to sell ice to an Eskimo.

Hospitality

In some hospitality realms, you might have a uniform. In others, you get to dress yourself! We love this look because who doesn’t look good in a wrap dress. No one is the correct answer! Comfortable shoes are going to be important here, for sure!

Creative

An internship in TV, news, magazines, web, design, or fashion calls for a creative dress code! This isn't the place to flaunt shapeless jackets and boring anything else you can think of. The point is to look like you've got the confidence to do any task before you, but to look cool while you're doing it. Our biggest piece of advice? wedges. You're going to be on your feet a lot more than you imagine you will be.

Fashion

There's a lot of pressure when you're working in fashion to always wear labels and to be outrageous. The best advice I can give it to remain true to your style, to invest in classic pieces, and be smart about which trendy pieces you buy. Is it worth it? Let me work it.

This. is. fashion.

Media / TV

There's a good chance you're going to be running around like a chicken with your head cut off for the larger part of this internship. There are also a hundred different jobs associated with media and tv production. We're into this street-style look and are personally thrilled that sweatshirts are "in" and acceptable to wear to work. It gets awfully cold in those studios!

Editorial / Magazine

You're writing so you probably won't be facing too many clients on a day-to-day basis. That's pretty exciting. Canadian tuxedos aren't going anywhere this season, so go HAM.

Design

If you're into design, you definitely have a point of view. Share your gift with the world!

Other

Casual Friday

This is where you can really show off your personality! Go wild (but not messy and not inappropriate). This look might distract from our brilliant ideas in meetings if we were to go for it every day, but it sure is fun.

Shorts in the workplace are debatable, but I think they're perfect for casual Friday. Go for it, guys. It's summer!

Working w/ Kids

Super important when you're doing anything with children that you're ready to chase after children.

Research

Maybe you're helping out a professor for the summer or working in a lab. When in doubt, keep it comfy and casual and throw on a leather jacket.

Web Startup

If you've ever set foot in a place like WeWork (shared office space), you'll have seen the true inner workings of #startuplife. Some people there are dressed to the nines, some people are dressed in their pajamas, and some people find a happy medium. Feel out the vibes of your office but always keep in mind that how you dress can be a reflection of the company and you'll want the first time people hear about it to leave a favorable impression.