Your Guide to Summer Intern Fashion
Sorry, those Shein crop tops aren’t going to cut it.
by LINDSEY LU ★ JUNE 30, 2022
Gone are the days of scooping ice cream at the local shop that you’ve been working at since your sophomore year of high school. You’ve finally landed your first big girl summer job where it is not acceptable to wear Lululemon shorts and a baggy t-shirt or dress like you’re going to a darty. And you definitely do not want to hear the painfully corny jokes from your forty-year-old coworkers about how you should go to a seamstress to fix your ripped jeans (Good one Bill!) So let’s talk about it: how to dress appropriately for your summer internship.
Business attire is classic
Whether you’re working at an office or wherever, you want to dress accordingly since your outfit is the first thing people see from you. Even if you are the most qualified employee for the job or are super friendly, if you’re wearing the crop top that frequented Thirsty Thursday, you’re giving yourself a bad first impression without the person even talking to you first.
Business attire is timeless and simple, it can essentially be the same outfit in different colors and variations. You cannot go wrong with a matching skirt and blazer set, or maybe even straight-leg pants. These sets are easy to buy since you don’t have to find a counterpart that matches because they already came together. Tuck in your favorite tank top since it is summer and humid out, a thicker layer would be too much. You can even mix and match your sets or wear it with a colorful tank top underneath as a statement. Wear it with a pair of neutral flats or kitten heels.
Of course, you cannot have your buttcheeks nearly hanging out in your place of work, so find a skirt that is knee-length or longer than the typical mini skirt. The typical rule of thumb for skirts is to make sure it goes past your fingertips when you put your arms down.
You could also get away with this only in the summer: white jeans. White jeans with no rips and a nice blouse make a perfect business casual outfit, and you can dress it up with gold jewelry and heels.
Bodysuits are the new crop tops
Crop tops are playful and allow us to show off our figures and feel confident. But as much as we all love a crop top moment, it is not appropriate for the work environment as it is deemed unprofessional (for some reason). A loophole to this rule: bodysuits! Bodysuits are the new crop tops. Because whoever said that business attire couldn’t be flattering was completely misled.
Bodysuits are a magical piece of clothing that’s both an acceptable going-out top and flattering workplace attire. They hug your body so tightly yet comfortably and of course, it covers the stomach. They are super versatile to wear since you can wear them with a skirt or straight-leg pants.
Sustainable business wear
If you’re not already a business school baddie, buying a whole new wardrobe is expensive and difficult since it is such a strict style. If you are looking for affordable business attire, thrifting is the way to go.
Not only is thrifting sustainable and helps save the environment one pair of pants at a time, but it also allows you to be creative and see what you can make out of nothing. Platforms such as Tiktok and Pinterest make it so easy for us to follow tutorials on how to upcycle clothes. More often than not, you can find hidden gems. Luckily for us, business attire is something that people often donate to Goodwill and thrift stores since people are always getting new jobs or retiring so they no longer need their clothes.
You can also make money out of buying clothes, which sounds wrong but you can trade in your old clothes for cash at many thrift stores. And you already have to make room in your closet for your new wardrobe so why not make the money back?
Business wear does not have to be expensive or unflattering unless you let it be.