Like many of you out there, I am in a constant search for interviews that will (hopefully) be my ticket to a fabulous internship, and possibly an even greater career for the future! So with my resumes being all set, and my brightest smile practiced, I now have to worry about what I’m going to wear.

They say great first impressions are a must for interviews. You may be a great person (that’ll show in the conversations you hold with the interviewer), or have 4.0 (that’ll show in your resume) but honestly the first thing that they see is your overall appearance. It shows that you’re not crazy, don’t have green hair, and lets them know that you take the job and the interview seriously. So how do you show them that you really want it but at the same time, be as fashionable as possible?

I’m a skinny jeans, slouchy boots, and Rayban Wayfarers type of girl. I tend to be a little bit more on the unconventional side of fashion and I struggled with this separation between my everyday look and the “workplace” look. Over the summer while I held an Administrative Assistant position at the US Courts in D.C., I wore the basic dark-colored blouses, un-flattering loose black pants, and small-heeled black pumps. It’s obvious: I hated how I looked.

So, for my next interview for a PR internship, I was determined to look professional but also fashionable enough for me to be confident in how I looked. So I came up with an overall look that I loved.

I couldn’t get rid of my skinny jeans. But I turned it from the casual look to a professional one by opting for twill black skinny pants instead of my rocker jeans. Than, I chose a shirt that’s more conservative by choosing one solid color such as white, beige, or blue. I finished the look up by going for a form-fitting black blazer.

With this look, you don’t need to worry about looking ditzy or unprofessional. The dark colors keep it tame but the cut of the items will keep you feeling sexy – in that corporate American way. So at your next interview opportunity, don’t feel weighed down by the boring clothes! Spread your imagination through your closet and pick something great and it’ll definitely show the interviewer that you’re down to business.