What I Wish I Knew: Summer Associate Attire

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Let's start a new feature where readers who are a bit more senior in their careers can offer the advice you wish you'd gotten, but didn't. (Or, what you would tell people if you could do so anonymously!) What are your best tips on what to wear as a summer associate (and what to avoid)? What should new hires know about law firm dress code? How would you delineate business casual vs business formal?

In the past, we've had a lot of discussions about what to wear as a summer associate, including discussions on what not to wear as a summer associate or intern (or, at least, what to question whether is correct for your office), which skirts are too short, when to show personality, how to anticipate wardrobe malfunctions if you're curvy or busty, and (in our first viral post!), why it might be a bad idea to carry a $9,000+ handbag if you're a summer intern.

{related: guide for summer associates}

What I Wish I knew About: What to Wear as a Summer Associate

For my $.02, I would give law firm interns and summer associates this kind of advice about BigLaw dress codes and more:

• The summer program is an extended interview — if you dress on the more formal side, that's OK!
• That said, don't worry too much about whether your clothes are designer; your superiors are more looking at whether or not you can pick up on unofficial dress codes and general office culture. Effort matters the most here, but…
• Avoid wardrobe malfunctions at all costs. Bring an extra outfit to work so you can change if something goes wrong. If you can't bend over in the skirt or dress, it is too short for work. Examples from my own time in BigLaw:
  • I once realized after getting to work that my dress was way, way too low cut. (I stuffed a scarf around the V-neck to raise the neckline up a bit.)
  • I once had a last minute Fancy Lunch with the VIP partner — and although I had a spare suit in the office, the blouse I had didn't work with the bra I was wearing. Huge thanks to the friend who literally gave me the shirt off her back…
  • I definitely had skirts with unfortunate slits — this was one of the reasons I always kept an office shawl or pashmina at the office so I could cover my lap with it!
  • I've also seen women wear wrap dresses that really, really needed a slip underneath (this one works), have gaping blouses (that's a whole other discussion), and one poor friend who literally split her pants on the way to work. (She went home to change, if I recall, and brought a spare outfit to the office when she came back in that day!)
  • (It happens to all of us, though — we even had a guest post from a newsroom lawyer for Forbes magazine about some of her own somewhat comical malfunctions…)
• Harsh but true advice no one else will give you: your bra should not be showing. At all. Straps too. Also, it should fit — no one likes the quad boob look, but it's one of those things that will ruin a work look.
• Wear shoes you can walk in. It doesn't matter if they're stylish or frumpy, high or low — you should be able to walk in them for at least a few blocks. Yes, you can change shoes at work but keep some acceptable, comfortable flats on the off chance people want to walk to lunch. (But no one wants to see the tottering baby giraffe even if you're just walking down the hallway.)
• Your general attire matters if you're just walking around the office — but if you are in any way representing the firm, such as meeting a client, shadowing someone at court, or part of the team meeting opposing counsel to finalize the deal, depose a witness, or otherwise negotiating — then that really really matters. Throw on a safe outfit. A blazer won't hurt; a suit might not either.

Law Firm Summer Internship Outfits

There are a few classic outfit formulas that work for a business casual environment — here are the ones that come to mind immediately:

• Monotone — You most often see this with black, although many bloggers are now doing beige, but it can be a really powerful look with something like gray or, if you’re daring, red. Example: gray short sleeve sweater + gray trousers + silver necklace.
• “Column of color” — it’s always a classic way to look polished even if you’re doing it with a jean jacket as your third piece. Example: black tee + black trousers + blazer + flats.
• “Shades of a color” — here your third piece is a cardigan, jacket, or other shirt that is a shade lighter or darker than your base shirt color. Example: light blue T-shirt + dark blue cardigan + trousers.
• “Top top bottom” — I've got to come up with a better name for this one, ha. But: here your top two pieces match exactly, and your bottom is a totally different color. Light blue cardigan + matching shell + black pants. Another example: light blue blouse + light blue blazer + gray pants.

How to Dress If Your Internship is Partially Remote

We've talked about what to wear for video interviews and how to look your best on Zoom in general — I would encourage you to think of adding structure to the top half of your outfit. A crisp collar or a blazer works well!

Why You Should Trust Corporette®

At Corporette®, we’ve been covering professional women’s workwear since 2008, and have written hundreds of posts about comfortable office clothing and shoes, business casual wardrobes, and reader-favorite brands for wardrobe essentials. (We just did a big update to our guide to the best women's suits!)

Our community is one of the best parts of Corporette® — you'll see a lot of professional women at all career levels, discussing which clothes work for their offices and their lifestyle.

Other Resources for Summer Work Clothes

Looking for specific suggestions about what to wear to work in the summer? We've done roundups for lightweight summer work pants, opaque white T-shirts, lightweight blazers, work dresses with pockets, and more. We've also rounded up products to help keep you cool on your commute. (You may also want to check out our roundup of the easiest office up-dos!)

Some of our latest favorites include these…

Business Formal Starter Wardrobe – Editor's Picks

Comfortable Heels That Won't Kill You By 3 PM

Polished Flats for Work Outfits

Our Favorite Mid-Range Suits

Great Totes and Work Bags

Great Blazers to Add Authority + Polish

The Best Sweater Jackets for Casual Days

Lady Jackets: The New Blazer

Some of our latest favorite lady jackets for work in 2026 still include knit jackets such as those from ba&sh, MMLF, or Boden… but in general the style has gotten much more structured, closer to a Chanel-style jacket for work. On the budget side of things, check out J.Crew, Tuckernuck (XXS-XXXL), J.Crew Factory, and Ann Taylor… on the splurgey side check out L'Agence, Veronica Beard, St. John, and (of course!) Chanel.

Summer Work Clothes: Breezy, Summery, Lightweight

Summer Work Pants

Opaque White T-Shirts

Lightweight Blazers

Work Dresses with Pockets

Products to Keep You Cool On Your Commute

These are some interesting products to help you cool down or stay cool on your commute. See more clever products like this in our Amazon shop! (If you're suffering from hot flashes or feel like throwing money at the problem, do check out the Embr Wave cooling bracelet or these “discreet cooling necklaces“..)