August is nearly upon us. I cannot believe over two months have gone by since summer began. However, it doesn’t take long to recall just how long I’ve been at my internship when I face the small selection of overused professional attire in my closet every morning.

I have had more and more trouble finding new getups fit for the office as the summer has progressed. I have managed to get by so far with a few staples and oft-worn pieces, but creativity, I’ve found, is one quality I cannot afford to live without. The cost of business casual clothing is simply too expensive to have clothes you can’t wear over and over again in different ways. So, when you hit the point where you have exhausted your wardrobe (as I have), what do you do? Below are a few ideas to perhaps save you some anxiety (and $$) over your mid-summer, overused working wardrobe.

Problem: I do not have enough outfit combinations. I end up wearing the same things over and over again. Won’t my coworkers judge me?

Solution: Honestly, people who have their own work to do will hardly notice if you wear the same pants two times a week. I cannot remember a single ensemble anyone in the office I work in has ever worn. As long as you don’t scandalize your coworkers by showing up in an inappropriate outfit, you will probably be fine. That being said, having options is nice—I invested in slacks (black and khaki), a black pencil skirt, and a few basic dresses. Pairing these basic staples with various articles of clothing I owned pre-internship, like blouses and sweaters, might give the impression that my working wardrobe is more expansive than it actually is.

Problem: I need to buy new shoes. I get by with sandals and athletic shoes at Scripps and grew out of my flats long ago! What do I buy?

Solution: Maybe this is more a personal problem than a universal issue, but I have had the hardest time finding suitable footwear for my internship. In another life I wore ballet flats pretty regularly, but those shoes no longer fit. Since I must walk from the train to my office nearly 3/4 mile away, I cannot get by without wearing comfy shoes. I bought a pair of comfortable black flats this summer and wear them multiple times a week. On the days when I do not wear my new shoes, I just wear flip-flops and pack older flats for the office to mitigate the painful effects of the prolonged wearing of ill-fitting shoes. Resourcefulness is key!

Problem: It’s so hot today, I need to wear as little clothing as possible. What’s the least I can get away with?

Solution: Knee-length minimum skirts. No shorts or t-shirts. Nothing too tight, low-cut, or sheer. Never sandals. Maintaining professionalism is possible in the heat. If you’re even questioning whether something is too skimpy or not, you should probably opt for something else. These examples of work-suitable tank tops provide a nice guide, but bring a sweater just in case. Hopefully your workplace is air-conditioned!

Problem: How can I incorporate clothes that aren’t really business casual into my work attire?

Solution: Certain tops, particularly blouses, can easily make the transition from school-appropriate to office-appropriate when matched with slacks rather than jeans. Sweaters, like cardigans and light pullovers, can also be paired with everything from skirts to dresses of appropriate-length. Tucking shirts into skirts/slacks oftentimes dresses up ensembles marvelously! Subtle jewelry like necklaces and earrings have a nice way of sprucing up an outfit a bit as well. Try different combinations and see what works!

Be economical, and good luck dressing in the next month! For more information about what professional attire means for interns, check out this article I read this weekend.