By Mary Elizabeth Elkordy

Published November 23, 2015

If you are new in D.C. and landed a job on Capitol Hill, or hope to, here are some basic rules of fashion to navigate your ways through the halls of Congress. Reflecting on my experience from working on The Hill, you come to learn that each office may have a different tone when it comes to attire. Some  Republican offices prefer dresses or skirt suits for women. Others have no preference. Here are few observations I have made over time, and I spoke to some current Hill staffers as well to get their take on Capitol Hill fashion.

Pencil skirts are a must! And can be above the knees but with a tasteful length (not a mini skirt). Dresses are also a must-have because they help you get ready in the morning by being an entire outfit on its own already. For the Fall and Winter, tights are a great staple to have in your closet. They really make an outfit pop and, my favorite part, they let you transform your summer outfits into fall/winter.

When I first started, I kept looking at blogs for advice on what to wear. And when I actually got to see what others were wearing, I quickly realized on the job that business casual means different things for different people. A good and safe definition to go with for business casual is knowing that jeans are allowed, but everything else in the outfit better be business attire. Casual dresses and trousers, preferred.

Staffers who represent different political parties will have their own quirks. Republican men tend to wear sperry’s, bow ties, plaid dress shirts, sweater vests and tweed suit jackets. Republican women like wearing pearls, have their up in a ponytail more often than not, plaid blazers, short heals,  stress skirt suits and tend to have clothing made with poly blend. The colors happen to be more conservative as well where you will see more beige, browns and grays.

Men on the Democrat side tend to wear clean cut suits, traditional ties, sweaters and dress shoes. They have fun with the color of their tie as well. Women on the Democratic side wear more pant suits, less pearls and will either have flats or stiletto heels.

Below are some DO’s and DONT’s that current Hill staffers have shared with me anonymously:

DON’T: Wear an untucked dress shirt…ever…under any circumstances…even on a non-Session day in the summer.


DON’T: Wear wacky, bizarrely patterned or novelty ties (unless a holiday event, party or special circumstance specifically calls for it).


DON’T: Wear a banker’s collar dress shirt. You’re not on Wall Street; you’re not Gordon Gecko; you can’t pull it off; don’t try.


DON’T: Opt for khakis and a blazer on a day when you’re in session. It screams intern, and you’re not an intern.

DON’T: Girls should not wear gym shoes on the Hill. You work in the nation’s Capitol. Gym shoes just don’t work.

DON’T: Wear skirts that are ill fitting or pants that are three sizes too big. This a professional place of work. Looking like a parachute does not mean you are dressing professional.

DO: Wear heels that you feel comfortable in but know that heels aren’t required. The Hill is bigger than it seems and after a while of walking in the tunnels you’ll want to wish you wore comfier shoes.

DO: Having flats is a must. Keep a pair of chunky, yet professional heels under your desk to wear if you have a meeting or an event. If you have to walk a lot or are just staying at your desk in the office, stick with flats.

DO: Always wear dress shoes with laces when wearing a suit. On non-session/dress-down days, loafers are okay.


DO: Have the courage to rock a three piece suit. Stick to grey, black, or blue.


DO: Stick to grey, black, and navy blue suits in general.  


DO: Invest in a proper briefcase/ professional bag. Don’t sport a ratty, worn satchel. It makes you look unprofessional and juvenile. You’re not a college student or an urban hipster.

DO: Get a pair of sunglasses. They can be a great statement piece

If you have worked on the Hill and want to share your fashion do’s and don’t’s, please comment below with your words of wisdom.  ©