In a world where “business casual” seems to be a key phrase, a lot can get lost in translation when it comes to deciding what’s appropriate for the office. And now that the weather is heating up and jackets and pant suits can be more than a little uncomfortable, you may be rummaging through your closet asking, “Is this OK to wear to work?”

If you’re at all unsure of proper work attire, ask the head of Human Resources or even your supervisor if there’s a specific dress code you should be following. Look around you and take a tip from other employees—if you don’t see any miniskirts or tube tops, it’s for a good reason. Short-shorts and tight-fitting clothing are almost always a no-no in the workplace, no matter what the weather is outside. Even in retail, families do frequent the mall and you wouldn’t want to offend any shoppers.

If you’re worried about being hot on the job, instead of donning an outfit that would make Britney Spears blush, ask someone in management to crank up the AC. You can even survey other employees and let your boss know that it’s a company-wide preference to keep it cooler around the office.

As for your feet, open-toed sandals may be cooler, but you’re more prone to injury if you wear them, so assess your surroundings before slipping on flip-flops. Women have more freedom when it comes to shoe selection, but guys can keep their tootsies cool by avoiding heavy leather shoes and opting for a more lightweight fabric. Everyone should steer clear of plastic shoes that only make your feet hotter, and please, no socks with sandals. Ever.

To stay cool while still looking hot, don’t sport a muscle tee to the next company meeting. Instead, stay away from mystery fabrics and polyester, and go with good old cotton. Whether you work at a trendy clothing store or a corporate office, what you wear says a lot about you. Looking professional is the first step in becoming a professional, and you want your work attire to command respect, not a nomination for “What Not to Wear.”

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This entry was posted on Monday, July 7th, 2008 at 3:52 pm and is filed under Job tips, Jobs, Work, Careers, Seasonal & summer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.