Dress for the heat, but keep it neat

Tag : Womens Casual Wear
Fashion was so much easier in the 1950s. Suits,white shirts and ties for the gents. Skirt suits, stockings withgirdles and closed-toe pumps for the ladies.

Now we're "business casual," and what that means isn't clear. Throwin summer heat, and things get even more confusing. Are capri pantsOK? What about ties with short-sleeved shirts? Can men wear sandalsto work?

"It's a tough time of year," says Bobbie Thomas, co-host of StyleNetwork's "Fashion Police." "You are trying to balance comfort withbeing professional."

While dress codes vary from place to place, some general guidelinescan keep you cool and professional in the office:

SHORTS

In a more casual office environment, knee-length polished andtailored shorts are fine for women, says Thomas.

But fashion experts are split on whether men should wear them.

Executive coach Pamela J. Holland, co-author of "Help! Was That ACareer Limiting Move?," says shorts for men are a no-no, unless thepresident of the company is wearing them and encouraging it.

Thomas says she would prefer the same fashion rules apply to menand women although she acknowledges that it is harder for men topull off shorts. Most men's shorts are cotton and work best with amore casual top and shoe, she says.

"Now he is worried about not wearing a tie, losing the socks andsporting loafers," says Thomas. "Otherwise, guys run the risk offeeling like an English schoolboy."

She suggests men wear a short suit or pair "smart shorts" with amatching blazer - if they are comfortable the boss won't mind andhave some fashion-forward nerve.

CAPRI PANTS:

Capri pants are fine for women, says Holland.

"Men in capris?" she asks. "I shudder at the thought."

SHIRTS

For men, wearing a tie with a short-sleeved shirt is generally ano-no, says Holland.

"I know often people in car sales, they're going in and out, and itis considered acceptable for their industry," she says. "But if youare working where people are more conservative and more fashionsavvy, the fashion rule is if you wear a short-sleeved shirt, keepit under a jacket."

If the workplace is a bit more casual, men can't go wrong with apolo shirt, she says. But T-shirts with expressions and tank topsare no-nos.

For women, a plain T-shirt is fine in a casual office, says LairdBorrelli, senior features editor for Style.com. But it should beclean, thick and worn neatly, such as tucked into a pair of whitedenim jeans with a blazer.

SUMMER DRESSES/TOPS

Sleeveless for women is OK, but some employers enforce athree-finger rule, which means straps have to be as wide as threefingers, says Holland.

As a general rule, women should avoid showing too much shoulder orcleavage.

"The more flesh that's exposed, the more distracting you couldpotentially be," says Holland.

To make a summer dress or top more office-friendly, throw on ashrug, cardigan or jacket. Most offices are freezing in the summeranyway.

PANTYHOSE

Ah, the great hosiery debate continues. Diane Sawyer challengingmen to wear them for a day. Michelle Obama's recent confession on"The View" that she doesn't.

Look at your legs. If there are veins, bumps and lumps, youprobably should be wearing pantyhose, says Nancy Schneider, 71,owner of Nancy & Co. boutiques, with locations in Manhattan, EastHampton and Southampton.

If you have good-looking legs, you probably don't need them unlessthe office is conservative, she says.

Thomas calls the debate a "bit absurd" since pantyhose aresee-through. She advises women going bare to shave their legs anduse self-tanner. Smooth and soft legs boost a woman'sself-confidence, she says.

MINI-SKIRTS

A no-no, even during a heat wave, says Thomas.

"I don't think the three inches (7.5 centimetres) you are shavingoff on the hemline is going to make you any cooler," she says."Your middle finger should be hitting the hemline."

SHOES

In general, male sandals are a no-no, says Holland. But in a casualenvironment, if senior executives are wearing them, go ahead

For women, the closed-toe shoe rule still applies in conservativeenvironments, she says, though peep-toes may be acceptable.

Sandals are fine in a more casual work environment, but toes shouldbe pedicured, says Borrelli. Mules can be a bit distracting if theymake a lot of noise and Keds may only be appropriate on a casualFriday.

Flip-flops? Not unless the entire office is hitting the beach.

"What do you think of when you think of flip-flops?" asks Holland."You think of kicking back. That's not sending a good message."

LINGERIE:

"Sex and the City" may have changed the way women wear bras, butshowing straps and wearing see-through shirts are generally notappropriate for the office, says Thomas.

Sundresses really need to be worn with a strapless bra, saysBorrelli, and many need a slip.

"I think a lot of summer dresses are see-through and you might notnotice that in a changing room," she says.

Ladies going without the hose may want to opt for a thong to avoidpanty lines. Consider other undergarments if you need some control.