<p>She’s working at a non-profit. It may be casual, but hard to tell. I visited DC in July. I’ve never seen beads of sweat pour openly down people’s cheeks. I think it’s probably the most hot and humid city I have ever been in.</p>
<p>Any ideas? Dress corporate/covered up (in case there’s A/C) for the first week then take it from there?</p>
<p>The only “no” I can think of is closed toe patent leather pumps (the swelling/swollen factor). Or flip flops. Or too much skin. Or skirts too short.</p>
<p>I see young women (presumably summer interns) on the commuter train to NYC every summer. Wearing tank tops, short skirts, flip flops. Too much skin and cleavage, to my eye. Maybe they change when they get to work? Or their dads own the company so it doesn’t matter?</p>
<p>Appreciate your thoughts and advice. Not that she’ll take it :(</p>
<p>She should ask the person who’s going to be her supervisor – or the HR person if the nonprofit is big enough to have one – about the dress code. It’s a perfectly reasonable question. Even if she interviewed in person, it wouldn’t have been in the summer, so she would have no way of knowing what the expectations are for summer interns.</p>
<p>I’m at a no-jeans/business casual non-profit and I tend to wear a lot of layers especially in the summer (I take public transit). So if it’s sweltering on the train you can take your cardigan off and be wearing a nice tank top, but get the cardigan back on in the office. Some non-profits have much more lax dress codes, and you can wear professional-looking shorts or much more casual skirts and sundresses, but I wouldn’t make a guess at that without knowing. I don’t think it would be out of place to email her contact there to check specifically about dress code – she can say that she just wants to make sure that she packs appropriately.</p>
<p>I don’t have any non profit or female advice unfortunately… but men in DC wear suits all the time in the summer, and yes, many times this involves sweating on the walk from your car/metro to the building.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! Yes I remember my first summer in Manhattan, having a man my age explain that the reason he kept his jacket on in the subway was to keep other people’s sweat off him. Lovely.</p>
<p>I’ll reinforce the layers idea, plus asking her supervisor for clothing appropriate advice.</p>
<p>The way to survive is to wear a sleeveless blouse or shift dress on the way into work with flip-flops, and carry the office shoes and light sweater in a tote. Then stop in the restroom on the way in, touch up makeup and hair, change shoes, and look cool.</p>
<p>Class of 2015: I just tried to send you a private msg, but I’m not allowed to because I don’t have more than 15 non-Parent Cafe posts. My many posts here don’t count. So, I apologize for the public question that isn’t on topic. I’m not trying to hijack your thread. My grad-school D has a summer non-profit internship in DC this summer as well which starts 6/1 - 8/1 and she is STILL working on housing. Her stipend is not very big, so there has been some sticker shock. We have read the other threads re internship housing, and she has been following up on Craigslist listings and doing some networking. I’m wondering if you, or anyone else reading this, knows of any specific (safe, of course) housing opptys and could maybe PM me. Does your D need another roommate, maybe??</p>
<p>I know a student who is staying in George Washington University dorms for housing for a summer internship in DC. If you google this university and summer housing you can see what spots are still there.</p>
<p>I agree with just asking about the dress code. If you are near a Nordstrom Rack or J. Crew outlet, they have business appropriate 3/4 sleeved light weight cardigans in many colors. Those are great over sleeveless tops or dresses. I have found lots of business appropriate sleeveless tops at our local Ann Taylor outlet store (which is different from Loft, but Loft probably has some younger styles for less money.) I find skirts and dresses to be a lot cooler than slacks.</p>
<p>eireann is right on - layer a cardigan or jacket on top of the commuter-friendly tank top.</p>
<p>When I worked in DC over a summer, I walked to work (2 miles each way). I left early enough in the morning so that it wasn’t bad - I was out the door shortly after 7 am - but would wear flip-flops and a tank top/camisole for the walk, and carry my work clothes in a shoulder bag. You know, those black shoulder bags that every young woman has. Get one. They’re great.</p>
<p>Be careful with the flip-flops. Some buildings in DC have fancy, slippery sidewalks outside of them. It’s easy to trip on those surfaces in certain types of shoes.</p>
<p>My daughter tripped on a fancy sidewalk in DC once while wearing flip-flops on her way home from work. She skinned various parts of her body and had to ride home on the Metro dripping with blood. The other Metro riders were less than thrilled to share a car with her.</p>
<p>Years ago when I interned on the hill I found cotton skirts and loose cotton tops to be the most comfortable. A cotton slip is also very useful, though I know this generation doesn’t seem to use slips any more (Vermont Country Store still sells them).</p>
<p>yes, as some have hinted at, it is definitely fairly common in DC to see people wearing full business attire except for their shoes while they are commuting.</p>
<p>Men in full suits… and then sneakers, etc. I don’t know if this happens other places, but fairly common (read: multiple people on one metro car)</p>
<p>D loves CapHillStyle - she interned in the DC area last summer. CapHillStyle is also on Pinterest - some nice boards she can look at for inspiration.</p>
<p>also, keep in mind, the north east gets very humid in the summer. I’m sure that’s what you experienced before. It’s not always like that but it is quite often very uncomfortable here.</p>
<p>Look for light fabrics. Not necessarily light colors, but things that are lightweight and breathable. Layers are nice, but you don’t want to be wearing the equivalent of a sweater either. </p>
<p>I say she should show up the first day in a nice black outfit, then look around and see what others are wearing. She can also ask her supervisor or HR team what is appropriate as others have mentioned.</p>
<p>Avoid flip flops. You don’t want to get stuck on something or stub your toe or anything like that. Plus they noise they make when walking indoors is really annoying.</p>
<p>thanks PizzaGirl and sabaray – I never would have found those sites on my own!</p>
<p>fendergirl – I’m with you – the slap slap slap of flip flops is like nails on a chalkboard.</p>
<p>soccerguy – you’re so right – I told her commuting means walking. There’s always an escalator or stairs plus the few blocks from the metro to the office.</p>
<p>I actually disagree with fendergirl. DC is in many ways a southern city, and no one wears black in the south in the summer. And if she’s interning at a non-profit, no one expects her to be a fashionista either. I would advise something like a khaki skirt, a cotton top, and some sort of light cardigan/blazer type thing, the latter largely in case of of too much air conditioning. They are showing a lot of cute espadrilles for this summer, which would be fine.</p>