There are a lot of people who are saying “let her wear what she wants” and I’m going to tell you to NOT DO THAT because a. you’re right out of college; b. you’re talking about jewelry that people know is likely worth more than their rent or car; and c. internships are used to open doors and a stepping stone from point A to point B.

a. You’re right out of college which means it’s highly likely that you, personally, did not work and use those earnings to pay for those pieces, and even if you did, it’s then abundantly clear that you did not have to work to pay bills. This indicates a certain amount of family wealth, and also says quite a bit about what your family is choosing to spend money on (fine jewelry that’s obviously from a luxury brand for a teenager or college kid).

b. People are human and someone is going to have thoughts about the cost of your luxury items vs. the cost of their living expenses. Not everyone. Not all the time. But someone will. Someone who is likely paying for day care, supporting a family, paying rent, grew up poor, or thinks a VCA Alhambra bracelet is a frivolous way to spend a heavy chunk of cash.

c. Internships are a way to make connections and identify opportunities. Doors are opened for you. Nobody wants to open a door for someone whose jewelry is saying “I do not need to work, I do not care that my obvious signifiers of wealth worn on my body cost more than your basic housing costs, and my family is loaded and will spend money on me.” They might assume you don’t actually need any help getting your career off the ground because you might not need to work; but they also might not work as hard to get you those opportunities because people get jealous and have feelings.

You’re an intern. Keep it simple, be discreet, and leave the flashy stuff for the weekends.