When you're heading to a business-casual or professional office environment on a daily basis, you don't have to compromise on style in the handbag department. Totes, hobos and bucket bags can work with a business suit, skirt and blouse ensemble, and other office attire as long as the bag has some structure and exudes a clean-cut, classic style. For the Fall season, handbag trends are leaning towards studs, over-the-top embellishments and eye-catching leopard prints. Still, there are some ways to embrace Fall trends without going overboard with your office look.

If you prefer a small or mid-sized tote for carrying basic accessories, stick with an oversized ruched bag in black, brown or another neutral color. The oversized ruched bag is a versatile, eye-catching addition to any outfit, and is low-key enough to complement your office ensemble.

Looking for a briefcase-style tote? Stick with the simple patent leather tote or a structured leather bag for a classic Fall look. These types of bags never go out of style and are a great way to add a touch of sophistication to your ensemble. Just match the bag with your shoes, and you're ready to hit the office in style.

If you want to incorporate the Fall handbag trend of studs and metal embellishments, stick with a simple duffle-inspired tote or a shoulder bag that's framed in small silver or gold studs. Avoid the bags covered with silver discs, gold pailettes or oversized studs because these will create a more casual, rocker-chic look. Enjoy the latest trend in moderation so that you don't overpower your otherwise-professional look.

When you're wearing an all-black or all-grey ensemble for the office, add some color with a dark purple or pewter bag. Both of these colors are some at the top of the trend charts for the Fall season, adding a splash of color but still complementing your neutral outfit. A dark purple shoulder bag, tote or ruched bag is a great addition to any business casual ensemble.

From glossy patent leather totes to oversized ruched bags, you have several options for putting together an attractive office ensemble this Fall. Pick up any of these top trends to create a pulled-together and stylish look for the season.

It's finally time to ditch the flats and sandals at the office and strut your stuff in some high-heeled boots. Fall calls for the return of the ankle boots and knee-high boots that show off your gams conservatively under a knee-length skirt, but how do you pick out something trendy and functional for those long days at the office? Here are some important tips for selecting the right style of boots for the office:

1. Avoid the stiletto heel boots. Stiletto-heel boots are among the top trends for shoes this season, but that doesn't mean they're appropriate for the office. While you might be able to get away with them under a pair of long black pants, they're sure to raise a few eyebrows when paired with a dress or a skirt.

2. Go for the chunky heeled ankle boots. Ankle boots are back in a big way for the Fall season, and you can find a variety of styles that are suitable for the office. Go for a chunky heel with a square toe if you want to stay comfortable and fashionable for those long days on your feet. Ankle boots are especially flattering with a knee-length skirt.

3. Save the over-the-knee boots for the weekend. Another hot trend for the Fall season are the over-the-knee leather boots. Definitely a style you want to show off at least once this season, but just don't make it at the office. This look is best reserved for weekends with the girls or date night.

4. Ankle lace boots are a definite fashion don't. No matter how much your inner rock star wants to play during the 9 to 5 hours, save the ankle laced boots for social hour. These boots are fun, flirty and make a bold fashion statement, but they're not a good match for the semi-professional office environment.

5. Try platform boots for casual Friday. If you're dying to wear boots this season but can't find a match for the conservative dress code, you may be able to get away with a wedge or platform heel boot (or bootie) on casual Friday. Take your pick of rich leather or soft suede in a variety of colors for a classy and trendy Fall look.

If you're working in a professional environment, the boss may allow open-toed shoes and sandals on casual Friday or for certain special events. If you work in a business-casual or very casual environment, you might be able to get away with sandals five days per week during the summer. Either way, you still need to pick a pair of sandals that will complement your office attire and keep you cool and comfortable all day long. Here's how to choose a pair of sandals that lean towards a more professional look for your office days:

Neutral-toned sandals in black, beige, or white are a good investment for your shoe closet this summer because they're so versatile. You can wear them with pencil skirts, tailored capri pants and even some types of dresses at the office, without drawing too much attention to your legs.

Ankle strapsandals are a great way to get some extra support you need at the office and keep the 'flip-flop noise' to a minimum. This season's gladiator sandals may work well for casual office environments, and many are designed with extra straps that provide plenty of support.

Try cork heels with capri pants or skirts if you want to add some height. Cork wedges may be too much for the office, but a skinny cork heel or cone shaped heel can add a classy touch to your outfit. Just make sure you stick with the 2 to 3-inch heel range to keep your look somewhat professional.

If you want to wear a dressy sandal, stick with a low-heel flat or kitten heel to add some height without going overboard. Dressy sandals with criss-cross straps, jewel embellishments or shiny patent leather bands are great ways to add a stylish twist to your look this summer.

Finally, if you work at a job that requires you to be on your feet for most of the day, invest in a pair of slides or wedge heels with an extra-padded footbed. These will keep you comfortable throughout the day with the extra support you need.

If wearing sandals at the office is allowed in your work environment, you still need to pay attention to the design, colors and style to make your chosen pair complement your semi-professional or professional wardrobe. Stick with these sandal styles to maintain an office-friendly look this season.

If the desk job has you sitting behind a computer for hours on end, staying in great shape this summer might not be an easy task. Even when you're hitting the gym before work and eating healthy throughout the day, a few extra pounds can creep up on you. What's an office maven to do? Wear the right type of office attire so that looking slim and fit is in the realm of possibility. Here are some tips for looking slimmer when you're stuck with the rules of business-casual:

Single Colors from Head to Toe
The office fashion lineup for summer includes neutral-colored linen suits and all-black or all-white ensembles. This is a great way to look slimmer in a flash, because the monochrome outfit elongates your legs and torso.

Kitten Heels
Everyone in the office may be wearing ballet flats and gladiator sandals, but these can make you look heavier (especially if you're petite). Stick with kitten heels or shoes with at least a 2-inch heel so that your legs look just a little bit longer. The extra height can also improve your posture and make you look leaner.

Pencil Skirts
Pencil skirts are great for the summer season at the office, and will help you pull off a chic and stylish look. These can be paired with a fitted blouse or top, and are especially slimming for larger hips and thighs. The straight lines create a sophisticated, pulled-together look and also trims away a few pounds.

Long Blazers
If you must wear a blazer on a hot summer day, skip the cropped blazer trend and wear a blazer that ends a few inches below your waist. The longer blazer has an instant slimming effect, and is also a classic look that can be worn through early Fall.

Button-Down Shirts
A crisp cotton button-down shirt is a summer necessity for the office, and is a great base piece for layering. The clean lines and straight cut has a slimming effect, and you can wear this with cropped dress pants, a pencil skirt or straight-cut, wide-leg pants for the complete look.

From kitten heels to long blazers, you have several options to choose from when it comes to dressing for the office in style. Pick out a few of these key pieces when you want to hide a few extra pounds but still stay fashionable and comfortable this season!

While we think of women's suits as a product of women entering into the workplace, it's worth remembering that women's suit actually have a much earlier origin.

The first women's suits were outfits for horseback riding and appeared in the mid 17th century. Additionally, women's suits modeled on the designs of men's military wear (but featuring a skirt instead of trousers) were also popular for fancy dress parties and other festive, but not necessarily formal, social occasions at the time.

These suits often featured floor-length skirts that could be buttoned up or draped to make walking and riding easier while also maintaining a woman's modesty.

The suit was not just worn for riding, but also for traveling and any other activity that might be considered challenging. While these suits were significantly more ornate than today's suits for women, they were distinguished by their use of durable fabrics and limited (for the time) trim in an effort to make them more practical than other women's clothes of the era.

Suits took their next step in evolution in the mid-19th century, as practical feminine attire for women became important during and after the American Civil War. By the end of the 19th century, some women had started working in offices, and suits for them, as well as the walking suit for ladies of leisure, became prevalent.

In the 20th century, the suit became fashionable for ladies both in and out of the office. With suits being the dominant look for women in the 1950s and 1960s.

Pants as a part of women's suits did not exist until the 1960s, and even then these suits were considered more casual than skirted suits. It took two decades for such pants suits to gain wide acceptance as office attire.

Today, thanks to the business casual movement of the 1990s, suits are less a stable of both men's and women's wardrobes in most professions. However, a return to structured tailoring and an interest in retro looks has helped revive the suit for women as a fashion statement, if not a practical one.