Building Your College Internship Capsule Wardrobe: A Fashion Student’s Guide
Ohhh do I love a guest post moment! And this one is really good! We’ve had quite a few questions recently about how to help, from a fashion and wardrobe standpoint, the young women in our lives.
By the way - my best ideas come from you! If there are topics you’d like to see, please comment or write in!
How To Build a Capsule Wardrobe for an Internship/First Job
+ 14 Days of Outfits for Inspiration!
This blog post is for young women who are starting internships or launching into the working world. Transitions are tough, and going from college classes to the corporate world can require new wardrobe choices. And we also know if you feel good in what you’re wearing it builds confidence. At the end of the day that is how we want to empower these young women.
So I tapped into my resources - Maddy has been interning and working with me for 4 years. She has a passion for fashion and I’ve really seen her grow over that time. Since she and her friends are literally in the weeds of this internship/first job stage of life right now, I thought who better to give us the insider scoop regarding what to wear to my summer internship/first real world job!
Because here’s the thing…yes, I help women get dressed and I have for 20 years. And I am the mom of a 21 year old young woman and I know first hand how sometimes my suggestions can seem too mature or not hip enough. Some of that truly is just the age old mother/daughter dynamic and I’m cool with that. But I also want to make sure that the suggestions I’m making to you are spot on.
I was thrown a curve ball and had an epiphany.
When we got together to film this, Maddy and the other members of my team wanted to see my interpretation of each look Maddy had come up with. Like how would a 50 year old wear this? I had not planned to do this so I was totally unprepared. And ya know, it was kind of fun.
I saw what Maddy had created and quickly ran to my closet to create something similar. And we filmed it all for you to see too. It totally got my creative juices flowing. And it also gave me an epiphany - that the reason I was able to create these outfits on the fly was because I have a balanced wardrobe with lots of basics. And it’s those powerhouse pieces that do a lot of the heavy lifting, especially when it’s crunch time or you’re going to something that is out of your regular element.
One more thing to take note of… Sweet Maddy is under 5 ft tall. She is an extra petite ball of fashion fierceness. And I am 5’4”. I’ve never really felt tall a day in my life until we did this. In these photos, I look like I could play center for the WNBA!! And it also shows that looking put together is ageless, size less, height less, and that playing dress up can be fun.
Introducing: Maddy!
Hi, I’m Maddy Markowitz!
I’m so excited to be a guest on The Wardrobe Consultant blog! When Hallie asked me to write this I jumped at the chance. After all, I am a 21-year-old student, majoring in Fashion Merchandising at Kent State University and a proud Clevelander.
I’m excited to share my love for all things fashion with you and to help you create a wardrobe that’s not only internship-appropriate but still maintains individuality and personal style.
Per Hallie’s suggestion, I’m focusing on a limited number of pieces (i.e. a capsule wardrobe) that can be mixed and matched to create work-appropriate outfits that still feel authentic to you. And also don’t break the bank.
Capsule Wardrobe Importance & Why YOU Need one
For college students diving into the world of internships, having a capsule wardrobe will cut down the morning outfit decision stress. It’s like having your own curated collection of essential pieces that you can mix and match to create endless outfit possibilities. Capsules typically consist of more timeless classics over trendy pieces because it’s those basics that do the heavy lifting. Investing in key closet staples, allows you to effortlessly put together professional and polished looks.
Maximizing your College Internship Capsule Collection
Let’s be real, who wants to spend money on an entire new wardrobe you might only wear this summer?? No one!! So this is not a reason to panic shop!
This is the time to begin building your balanced wardrobe - your future self will thank you.
The ideal balanced wardrobe should be filled with 50% wardrobe basics, 25% of elevated essentials, 15% statement pieces, and 10% trend pieces. This capsule wardrobe I have drawn up for you is a microcosm of this balanced wardrobe equation. This means we can mix and match these pieces with your favorite closet staples for any occasion, from work to day-to-night to weekend plans.
Accessorizing during the day may look filled with dainty pieces, while at night we can go for a bolder look and add a fun bag. For example, you can take our white button top and pair it with your favorite pair of jeans. Let’s add a heel or a boot, and statement bag/jewelry for a night out look. With that being said, don’t ever underestimate the power of a well curated wardrobe. This is your secret weapon for looking effortlessly chic no matter where you’re headed!
Capsule Wardrobe Essentials
Investing in closet staples that you can wear now and later will set you up for success. I picked 22 pieces that will give you maximum versatility.
22 pieces - endless outfit options
3 pants - I added an optional skirt for weekend fun!
5 shirts - Some simple + some with interest
4 toppers- One blazer and three cardigans!
1 dress- The ultimate summer dress!
3 belts - The belts will transform the outfit!!
2 bags- I’ve added a shoulder bag for the weekend activities!
4 shoes -You could narrow this down to 3, but shoes are my weakness!
Building a Mix & Match Wardrobe for a College Internship
14 Days of Outfits
This capsule wardrobe offers endless outfit possibilities, allowing for effortless style without sacrificing your personal style. So without further ado… 14 DAYS OF OUTFITS!
