Even before you speak a word, your clothes talk. The way you dress speaks volumes about who you are as a person and as a business communicator. Whenever you enter a room for the first time, it takes only a few seconds for people you've never met to form perceptions about you and your abilities. Even if your company has a written policy on business dress, chances are it is ambiguous, and it may be contradictory, unfair, or lack "fashion sense." There are some strikingly different groups that probably should not all follow the same rules. People on the "client side," interacting with clients, tend to dress more conservatively, reflecting the more commercial and financial aspects of their work. The creative types tend to wear clothing that is more personally expressive. While every organization has its own culture and standards of dress, here are a few universal guidelines:

	Skirts: One inch above or below the knee or longer lengths are acceptable. Avoid mini skirts and at all costs. They reek of unprofessionalism in a corporate environment.
	Dresses: Think classy when choosing dresses. Avoid spaghetti straps, sundresses, and those with low necklines or sequins. Always wear hose with dresses and skirts.
	Shoes: Closed toe (flats or heels) and loafers. Shoes should match the hem of the pants or skirts or be darker. A leather belt should match your shoes. Make sure your shoes are polished and heels are void of scuff marks.
	Accessories: Think conservative. Your accents and grooming should not distract others or draw constant attention to you. Small earrings and a necklace are always good. Avoid bangles or several bracelets on one arm. Long colorful nails tend to distract and do not connote professionalism. Strong perfume or cologne can be offensive. Keep makeup natural.
	Never at work: Blue jeans with holes, t-shirts, spaghetti-strap dresses, flip-flops, big floral prints, visible tattoos, or clothing that is sheer, shiny, clingy, or wrinkled. Undergarments should never be seen. Body piercings and eyebrow and tongue rings should be removed at work. Too much self-expression could create a visual distraction or even become career limiting.
	Always at work: Have good posture, good grooming, and a smile.

Fashion fades, but style is eternal.   ~Yves Saint Laurent A law of science says you can't put more into a container than it will hold. Designer jeans break that law every day.  Anonymous A woman can put on a jogging suit and not go jogging, a bikini and not go swimming. But when she puts on a wedding dress, she means business.    ~Sam Ewing The expression a woman wears on her face is far more important than the clothes she wears on her back.    ~Dale Carnegie