18 Fashion Abroad: DC

Hamilton’s Washington, D.C. program is a popular domestic off-campus study experience for students and has been for the past 52 years. The program is structured in such a way that students work meaningful internships while simultaneously taking government courses taught by Hamilton faculty. This semester, we entered as the first students participating in the program since March 2020, when the program was unexpectedly interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of us applied with hopes of securing in-person internships. Unfortunately, the rise of the COVID-19 Delta variant and an increasing number of breakthrough cases posed a challenge yet again. Although we planned to spend four days per week in the office, we began our internships as remote and hybrid models. This turn of events certainly influenced our off-campus study experience -- especially regarding how we dress for a day in the city.

Washington D.C.

One might say that Washington D.C. is not a city particularly famous for its fashion or streetwear. However, sleek and elegant suits, dress shirts, skirts, loafers, and everything business casual that fill the streets of downtown D.C. beg to differ. Fashion was unexpectedly able to play a role in our day-to-day lives this semester, despite our new remote-hybrid lifestyles. The opportunity to work from home allowed each of us to expand our closets past just business attire. In turn, this meant we could wear clothes that more accurately reflected our personalities and senses of style. While some students in the program chose to dress up in business casual attire, others took their days in more casual outfits. Either way, we all dressed for the variety of occasions any given day might bring. In this way, we found that professionalism -- and with that, a professional sense of style -- took on its own meaning for each of us.

“...we found it all the more important to find the best possible style that communicated our professionalism while also maintaining our individuality”

When it comes time to look presentable, whether that be going into the office, networking with Alumni, or engaging in other professional opportunities in the city, there is always a moment of self-doubt and reflection. When selecting an outfit, we had to consider the degree of formality and professionalism appropriate for the event. There is undoubtedly a fine line between looking too dressed up or too casual; determining where an outfit should lie on that line can be challenging. In addition, potentially misjudging a dress code can influence, even subconsciously, a crucial first impression. Keeping this in mind, we found it all the more important to find the best possible style that communicated our professionalism while also maintaining our individuality. As the semester progresses, we will continue to learn how to ride that fine line between individual expression and professional style.

models: Peter Huleatt, Joe Largo, Nicole Ramirez, Meredith Enslow photographer: Peter Huleatt layout: Talia Rosen