Summer Internship Style

Today I am sharing some style from my gorgeous younger sister Kaitlyn, who has a marketing internship this summer. Her dress code requires skirts and dresses below the knees, so she had to go shopping to find some new pieces to wear to work. She has had a great experience so far, and I thought it would be fun to share her style and little bit about what she does. I’ll let Kaitlyn take it from here….!

As a younger sister to Rachel, I have been exposed to her love of fashion since she was in junior high and I was just a young elementary school girl. As the years have gone on, we have both grown up quite a bit in our styles and passion for expressing ourselves through our wardrobes.

Working as a marketing intern this summer for an agricultural and industrial manufacturing firm, I have learned so much about marketing, the different industries, and also how much you can express yourself through your wardrobe. I was told by one of my coworkers that she wishes she still had the energy and motivation to wear cute skirts and dresses to work. For me, it’s simply more comfortable than dress slacks! Something that’s really important to consider when shopping and selecting outfits for an internship is that you are basically being “interviewed” every day to see if you have potential as a full-time employee of the company. Make sure you dress for success! It might be a pain, but professional, well-fitted and chic outfits will help your credibility both as an employee and as a person who knows how to present herself as professional and poised. My company has a business casual dress code, but also added the stipulation of dresses and skirts below the knee. Since most college girls don’t have an extensive wardrobe of skirts and dresses below the knees (shocking, I know), I invested in three different maxi dresses. They are so comfortable, work appropriate and stylish. They’re also super easy to pair with blazers, accessories, wedges, etc.

My mother and I shopped at Kohl’s and Younkers, which had several great options for maxi dresses. I also picked up a couple of dress slacks to have a balance in my wardrobe and not limit my options too much. Great business casual clothes can be found in lots of stores, but be careful that a cheap price sticker doesn’t always mean that the clothing is work appropriate! Purchase clothes that are well-fitted, versatile, multi-seasonal and flattering.

Dress, Kohls {Exact and on sale!}

Heels, Dillards {Similar here and here}

Although some people mistake getting ready in the morning and choosing their outfits as “time consuming” and a “waste,” I disagree when it comes to work. At work, you are interacting with multiple people a day and never know when an unexpected visitor, presentation or customer will come to your door. You want to be confident and prepared! Internships are no excuse to start getting in the habit of non professional dress or being too “lazy” to put together outfits that express your personality. My coworkers love my style, and they say that some of my patterns, colors and ensembles are bright and fun, just like they see in the style of my work! For myself personally, I encourage “dress for success” because confidence stems from your passion of the work you do, how you do that work and how you present yourself to others around you: both on the inside and the outside. If you are struggling with work clothing, invest in a couple of staple items that are year-round, versatile and multi-purpose! You won’t regret investing in your confidence and professionalism at work. You never know when that confidence can turn into a promotion or a coffee date with that cutie in the cubicle next to you!

If you would like to see further outfits or tips on appropriate internship etiquette or wardrobe tips, don’t hesitate to contact my sister and we can continue to collaborate to inform you on my experiences!

My Closet

Bow-Tie Blouse + Printed Cardigan {Similar here and here}

Printed Blouse + Blush Cardigan {Similar here and here}

And that’s all… thank you so much Kaitlyn for putting this post together! Love you!