Dress to impress: A guide to navigating your wardrobe in the business world

At about this time every year, students all across campus begin the stressful process of applying for internships.

As interviews start to pop up and acceptances start rolling in, the next question students have to ask themselves is, “What am I going to wear?”

Making a good first impression is essential early on in your career, and dressing sharply and appropriately is the easiest way to look and feel like you belong in the position.

Different industries have different standards for attire, but for the standard business casual, there are some key staples everyone should have.

Girls, as much as you may want to wear heels, your feet will not be happy after an eight-hour day. Ensure you get a staple pair of flats or loafers in a neutral shade to pair with any pants, top, dress or skirt combo without buying too many shoes.

When it comes to guy’s shoes, get a black and a brown pair of dress shoes, and you will be good to go. Make sure your shoes and belt color match when picking out your outfit.

Next, let's talk about shirts. Guys have a few choices, but some good options are quarter zips, button-ups and golf shirts. Good brands to look into include Vineyard Vines, UNIQLO and J.Crew.

If the company allows it, these tops can be paired with simple brown khaki pants or a pair of nice jeans. If you want to add some flare to your outfit, pairing your button-up with a nice pair of dress pants will make you look professional.

Dress pants are another way guys can add some personality to their outfits by playing around with different color combinations, as long as it’s within reason.

Girls should get a set of basic tees in go-to colors that can be worn under a blazer, paired with a floor-length silk skirt or thrown on in a pinch.

Still, when styled right, sweater vests, cardigans and flowy button-downs with light brown or black slacks or dark wash jeans are always fun to wear to the office.

If those options aren’t your style, dresses are always an option. Don’t wear any dresses you wouldn’t think were appropriate to wear in front of your family, but regardless, there are so many styles and patterns that you can play around with.

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H&M, Zara, Cotton On, Nordstrom Rack and T.J. Maxx are my go-to for business casual shopping and are often one-stop shops for an entire outfit.

Another destination that shouldn’t be overlooked when picking up a new blazer or pants is the thrift store. Even though it may take some digging, there is always a wide variety of staples if you aren’t looking to spend your first paycheck on work clothes.

Navigating the business world can be tricky, but navigating your closet shouldn’t be if you stick to this essential guide.

Mia Zurich

Zurichme@miamioh.edu