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Shoes: Getting shoes right depends on the rest of your outfit, and, especially for women's officewear, poses a more difficult problem. A ballet shoe might have the interchangeability to go with many outfits, but might be seen as not professional enough. Heels have to be kept within varying degrees of height-chastity, and can be gotten away with by some, whereas they seem hopelessly contrived on others. Whatever your choice it's best to err on the more expensive side in this department. You want to be aiming for finesse, not flashiness.

Dress Down Days Subliminal Politics: 'Dress Down' days, or whatever they're called in your office, are always the curve-ball in knowing what to wear. It's a paradoxical celebration in many ways, because the people most probably vying for your potential future position with you will be the last people thinking of coming in a novelty tie and a pair of corduroy slacks. But this can be used again to your advantage; stylish but comfortable is the way to go if you're going to go along with the Dress Down game.

Avoiding Cutesy: On reading officewear do's and dont's pages you'll more often than not find endless lists of how to avoid 'slutty' looks in the workplace. I'd rather presume readers are heading for a position because they deserve it, and don't need to be condescended to about the benefits of not trying to seduce your interviewers into giving you the job. On the other side of the same coin is the danger of the too 'cutesy' look for women it's a popular look, but completely undermines the seriousness of your case in holding out for promotion. When putting together an officewear outfit, take a look in the mirror and repeat this question: have I fallen into the trap of 'cutesy'?

Emergency Measures: It's worth bearing in mind the tendency for things to go wrong when you least want them to, and this can have implications on your outfit too. A sudden downpour on your way back from a lunch break or meeting, spilt coffee or other stains your ability to hold composure in unexpected setbacks or minor disasters will ultimately wear off on your peers, and your superiors most of all. Getting into the habit of having an accessible spare outfit will mean that you're never caught short even when the most highly unlikely sequence of events seems to be attempting to thwart your best attempts.

Well, that about rounds it up for dressing on the rungs of the corporate ladder. Remember the important stuff; interchangeability, avoiding cuteness, smart accessories, and, the golden rule, dressing for the job you want, not the job you have.