With warmer weather approaching, its time to take a second look at what we are wearing to the office. I know when the sun is shinning I am tempted to dress for afterwork at 8 am, but we all need to resist this urge and keep a professional image in the workplace.

Etiquette books still tend to take a very conservative approach to the office. Emily Post, for example, swears that "business casual" doesn't exist, while Amy Vanderbilt prefers women not to wear pants to the office.

So, is it "anything goes" today? What you wear continues to say a lot about your work. So think about your company, your teammates, clients, management, and your position when reaching into your closet,know that the catch phrase "dress for the job you want" still applies, and you'll always come out a winner.

Every day, you get a chance to make a statement about your value to the company through your choice of clothes. Moreover, salary negotiations can happen at any time. Here's a list of ways to say "pay me more" - or at least avoid saying "pay me less" - with your wardrobe.

Here are some "rules" for work place dress that probably apply to all workplaces in our area: (I already took out ones I thought were grey area so these are pretty basic "no's"!)

Tank tops
Tee shirts
Athletic shorts
Athletic sandals, flip-flops (or any shoes that slap when you walk)
Scuffed shoes
Shiny or see-through fabrics
Tight/revealing clothing
Ripped jeans
Showy belt buckles
Anything dirty, stained, or torn
Shirts with offensive words or pictures
Tattooes/piercings
Fishnet stockings
Visible lingerie (bra straps, garter belts, etc.)
Glitter/club makeup
Messy facial hair
Baseball caps, remove all hats indoors

Refer to your employee handbook or HR for detailed information.
Good luck, Please send comments and questions to jobs@bangordailynews.net