What should you wear to a summer internship?

You finally did it! You landed a summer internship with the company of your dreams and you’re all set to begin working. Now, the only thing to worry about before starting your first day at the office is what to wear. While a typical day of school never demands more than a pair of leggings and a t-shirt, your new job comes with a dress code: business casual.

Business casual basics

Business casual attire means different things to different people. When I started my first internship, I showed up in dress pants and a black blazer. As my first internship was with a women’s lifestyle publication, it is sufficient to say to I was very overdressed for my debut in the office.

Throughout the summer, I experimented with what it meant to dress in business casual. I learned that jeans were a definite no, showing off a little shoulder was perfectly acceptable in the summer and a pair of statement heels could really dress up a more casual outfit.

Depending on the company you work for or your new boss’s preference, business casual can vary quite a bit. My friend who’s interning for J.P. Morgan this summer is expected to dress more formal, while my roommate working for a PR firm can show off her personal style more. The most important things to remember when dressing for work is to avoid clothing with holes in them, make sure to wear modest clothing and keep good personal hygiene.

Accessorizing your look

When dressing for your internship, you’ll find that often times business casual attire is more plain than what you’d normally wear. Spice up your look by adding some subtle accessories. My favorite thing to add to my work look is a pair of statement heels and a polished looking tote.

Often times, adding a piece of statement jewelry can help bring color into your outfit. For example, layering a brightly colored, jeweled necklace over a white top can help bring out your personal style and will make you stand out from the other interns.

One accessory that both men and women can use to add something to their look is a watch. My Kate Spade watch is my favorite accessory for work because it not only adds a little flair, it also helps me keep track of the time when I’m prepping for a meeting.

What is business casual?

While I’ve already told you what my idea of business casual is, I asked a few other interns to weigh-in on what work style is.

Rebecca Golden is spending the summer interning for Ideas That Evoke, a PR company that specializes in managing brands’ social communities.

“To me business casual is stylish tops or dresses paired with cute accessories,” she said. “No jeans or shorts is the only dress code I follow.”

Another intern, Calvin Carlson, works for a construction company called Findorff. He says he prefers to wear khakis over black pants and generally doesn’t wear a tie.

“Depending on what’s scheduled for the day, I prefer to dress a little more casually,” Calvin said. “Findorff also gave me a few different dress shirts to wear at work.”

Find your style

While dressing up for a new job can be intimidating, most employers will let you know their expectations so you can be prepared to blend in at the office. Based on my personal experience, as well as the input from other interns, it seems like business casual is leaning more towards the casual side. Test out what looks do and don’t work for you at the office. Once you discover your personal style, getting ready for work will be a piece of cake.