However, unlike most college students around the country, this does not mean jetsetting off to Turks and Caicos or volunteering at a summer camp in Maine. Most GW students set up shop in New York City or Washington, DC, ready and eager to intern their summer away.
Whether your internship is at a hip, non-for-profit, a bustling federal agency or even the highly coveted Capitol Hill positions, they all have one thing in common: most of them are unpaid.
And because housing and living expenses in big cities are astronomically priced, you may find yourself in debt before you even begin your first day. So how are you supposed to afford work clothes when you're not even getting paid to work?
"I think a lot of GW kids don't know what business casual actually even means," senior Lilly Walmish said. "It's not easy to find affordable work clothes that don't look stiff or underdressed."
Oh, but it is.
Here's your guide to everything a female needs to begin your young professional career. (Sorry boys, writing an entry about just suits and ties would bore me to tears.)
ESSENTIALS
1. A pair of structured black trousers.
Ann Taylor Loft makes a great pair that will last you several seasons. Banana Republic also has great trousers, as well as Gap. DC gets very hot in the summer so I would recommend sticking to cotton and linen blends.
Make sure that they are the right length, and don't be afraid to get them hemmed if not!
2. A navy or gray pencil skirt.
My favorites are the suiting skirts from J. Crew. They are little pricey, but you can also find similar options, like this one from Forever 21. The reason I recommend gray or navy is because these are great alternatives to black that go with many different patterned tops.
3. A black blazer
Simple, classic, and can be thrown over almost anything to make an outfit look crisp and professional. My favorite is from The Loft, but you can find great blazers at H&M (sadly, no catalogue website for this store).
4. A structured work dress in a basic color.
You can either go with an A-line dress, like the one above, or a wrap dress. I recommend staying away from white (it'll look too casual and is often unflattering) or bright prints (no Lilly Pulitzer, save that for Foxfields - hint at future post).
My go-to work dress is one similar to this Banana Republic one. It's breezy and classic, and never clings, even in the summer heat.
5. Last, but not least, a silk (or silk-y, for those penny pinchers out there) blouse. Make sure to get something that breathes! and in a bright color, or white. You can find these at all the above mentioned stores, and even stores like Express.
Now comes the fun part! Mixing and matching. Blazer + dress. Skirt + blouse. Skirt + Pants. Skirt + Blazer + Blouse. Pants + Blazer + blouse. Add in a statement necklace and pair of flats, and you're good to go!
"I find that I really only need a few items to get me through the work week," Sarah Fisher said, a senior who has an internship every summer since her freshman year. "It's a great time saver to not have to go through a million articles of clothing!"
The great thing about buying these five essentials is that you can have them forever, and always embellish them with new tops, shoes and accessories. Not only will you look successful on the job, but the confidence of dressing appropriately will make you excel in your summer of slave labor!
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