It's a given in today's image conscious society that women need to "dress for success" if they want to get ahead in the workplace, but does that mean leaving your sense of personal style at home every morning?

We say absolutely not!

In fact, developing a sharp, professional style is probably more important than showing off your "look" to family or friends. After all, a raise or promotion might be at stake here, as well as the respect of your superiors and co-workers. It's no secret that if you want to be taken seriously, you're just defeating the purpose if you show up to work looking sloppy or unprofessional.

If you're lucky, you work at a job that requires you to wear a uniform every day. That certainly takes all the effort out of assembling a professional wardrobe. If you're not so lucky, you'll need to take stock of your current wardrobe, and think about the clothes and accessories you'll need to  buy in order to project the professional look you're aiming for.

One rule of thumb is to always dress for the job you want. If you're currently a paralegal, but you aspire to be a lawyer one day, then dress like a lawyer. If you're a worker who has ambitions of moving into management, then dress like a manager. You might be surprised by how seriously people take you by the clothes you wear and your overall appearance.

Another complication is the company that's gone to more casual attire in the office. Here you can't rely on the old reliable navy blue suit to bail you out. So you're forced to figure out ways of dressing casual at work without looking careless or sloppy.

An initial challenge, especially if you're new to the job or company, is do they have a dress code in place?  Unfortunately, many firms don't, which leaves you to try and figure it out by watching how your coworkers dress. But this it always a good indicator. After all, maybe the reason they haven't been promoted is because of the way they dress!

One way to get around this problem is to get your cues from how your boss or supervisor dresses (remember, dress for the job you want!). If she wears mostly pantsuits, perhaps you should too. If she wears hose or open-toed shoes, then follow suit.  

If your company doesn't have many female executives to emulate, then you'll have to watch what the guys are wearing. If they dress formally in dark suits and ties, you should wear the equivalent .  If they're wearing khakis and polo shirts, then you can dress more casually as well (but bear in mind that causal doesn't mean wearing a tube top or miniskirt to the office. Those fall into the category of "career killers").
 

Some tips on looking professional and polished:

• The first order of business is making sure you wear clothes that are neat, clean, and in good condition.
• Keep jewelry conservative. Leave the hoop earrings and jangly bracelets at home.
• Go easy on the makeup. A clean, subtle look is best.
• Avoid trying to look trendy or cute. Save that for the weekend or night out on the town.
• Know the effects of color. Avoid loud colors that are a distraction. You're usually safe with navy, grey, black or red.
• Handbags or briefcases should be business-oriented and professional. A small designer bag is okay, but don't go overboard with the oversized designer logos.
• Leave the sexy threads at home. This includes sheer dresses, see-through mesh, leather miniskirts, tube tops, etc. Your husband or boyfriend may love them, but they will only get you into the wrong kind of trouble at work.

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