Tip of the Day

Dressing for Success

your office has a written dress code, your problems are solved, and you can dress cookbook-style. If necessary, go shopping with the dress code in hand and pluck appropriate stuff from the rack.

For men, traditional attire includes:

—A button-down shirt.

—Polished black shoes.

—A blue, black or gray jacket.

—Slacks that complement the jacket.

—You can't go wrong with a conservative tie.

—Don't forget the socks. buy two dozen pairs of identical black or blue socks so you can pluck two at random from your drawer each morning and always have a match.

For women, the traditional look includes:

—A skirt that hits just above the knee, slacks and perhaps pantsuits.

—Simple jewelry.

—Just a hint of makeup. Skip the perfume, especially during a job interview or the first few days at a new job.

—Polished flats or moderate heels.

—Sweaters.

—Pantyhose may be the office standard. Ask.

Keep an eye out for regional differences; what's standard in the Northeast may be seen as stuffy and impractical in the Southwest.

http://www.forbes.com/2006/04/11/office-dress-codes-cx_sr_0411officedress.html