Whether you’re meeting with corporate executives in the boardroom or attending a VIP meeting offsite, you’ll need to dress for the occasion. Here are some important tips for putting together your work ensemble for the big day ahead:

1. Head to the tailor. If you plan on wearing an expensive suit or a fancy dress for the meeting, make sure everything fits just right. Head to the tailor to make sure the lengths of the blazer are perfect, and that the dress is of an appropriate length. The small investment will be well worth it, because you’ll feel more confident and relaxed in your outfit when it fits you properly.

2. Stick with the basics. Avoid wearing too many colors and flashy prints, even if it’s just for accessorizing. Maintain a polished and professional look by sticking with neutrals – preferably black and white. You can always accessorize with a colorful scarf or a bold colored bag, but avoid wearing anything that will attract too much attention.

3. Bring out the skinny heels or pumps. Avoid wearing any open-toed shoes or fashion-forward styles with embellishments, fringe or anything that doesn’t fit the ‘classic’ mold. Your best bet for an important meeting is a pair of skinny heels or pumps with a thin heel (no platforms) in black or dark brown, depending on your outfit.

4. Wear a blazer. If you’re not wearing a suit, you should still wear some type of jacket or blazer over your blouse or top to create a more professional look. Make sure this matches perfectly with your skirt or pants, and have it tailored (see #1) to achieve the perfect fit.

5. Accessorize with simple jewelry. A set of pearls, small silver or gold stud earrings, diamond or cubic zirconia bracelets, and other classic pieces of jewelry are the most appropriate selections for the polished, professional business look. Even if you’re used to wearing flashy, oversized and trendy jewelry with your office attire during the week, the VIP meeting calls for something a little more simple and elegant. When in doubt, stick with the basics!

Dressing appropriately for the VIP meeting is just as important as being on time and delivering your best presentation. Take the time to put together the right outfit so you can make a lasting impression!

If you work in an office that adheres to a business casual or professional dress code, selecting the right types of shoes for every ensemble can be a bit of a challenge. How do you find the perfect balance between heel height, comfort and style? While some office mavens can get away with platform pumps and stiletto heels, your feet and legs may not be in prime shape to tackle the stairs and long trek across the building in a pair of skinny heels. However, there are some ways to stay comfortable in high heels, like with Mary Janes and kitten heels for those long days that you’re on your feet.

If you choose to wear stiletto pumps or another style of skinny heel, consider adding a few gel pads for extra support on the ball of your foot. The balls of your feet absorb most of the pressure from wearing those extra-high heels, and if you plan on trotting around on them for over an hour, the extra support will prevent foot pain and soreness.

When you’re wearing kitten heels , consider wearing a thin no-show sock so that your feet aren’t slipping out of the shoe easily. Kitten heels are a great, classy alternative to the standard pump for the office, but they can feel like a pair of sandals if they’re not cut very high. Wearing a thin pair of socks with these shoes can make the shoe much more comfortable and will prevent your foot from slipping out.

If you decide to wear a pair of booties with a high heel for the day, make sure you’ve practiced walking up stairs and on elevated floors with them. Booties and boots will constrict your ankles, which means you can’t climb very easily. If you know you’re going to be tackling escalators or flights of stairs during the day, make sure you’re comfortable making the climb in these constrictive shoes.

Mary Jane pumps are great for the office, but even a platform shoe or a thick heel can put some pressure on the balls of your feet and calves. Wear some padded insoles or gel support cushions if you plan on wearing tight leather shoes for several hours so you can get the support you need.

Finding the shoe that fits for your office ensembles can take time. Make sure the heels you choose can provide the comfort and support you need to get through those long days that you’ll be on your feet.

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!

One of the most popular fashion trends for spring and summer 2009 is fringe, and those little shreds and ruffles are appearing on everything from dresses to sandals. This fun, bohemia-Western inspired look can jazz up any plain ensemble and show off your playful side, but is it really appropriate for the office? Here’s a close look at the clothes and accessories that you can get away with on casual day at the office and the pieces that should stay in your weekend lineup:

Fringe Sandals
Gladiator sandals and heeled ankle-wrap sandals with fringe trim are one of the hottest looks for the season, but are slightly over-the-top for most office settings. Some of the latest shoe and sandal collections feature ballet flats and gladiator flats trimmed with fringe, but this can be distracting and make your ensemble look less than professional. Stick with the classic looks for shoes and sandals when you’re hitting the cubicle.

Fringe Dresses
This season’s fun and flirty dresses are laced with fringe and long fringe accents, but they’re a definite ‘no’ for the office. If you want to wear a summer dress, stick with a more conservative, classic look with a cap-sleeve warp dress or a sleeveless shift dress with a lightweight cardigan. Fringe dresses are more suitable for cocktail hour or weekend social events.

Fringe Handbags
Oversized handbags trimmed with lots of fringe may be the ultimate accessory for the average celebrity, but probably won’t win you a ‘best dressed’ award at the office anytime soon. These bags are also very distracting and take away from the polished, pulled-together look you need at the office.

Fringe Tunics
A fun and sassy look plucked right out of the ’70s, the tunic paired with some opaque tights is a casual ensemble for the season. However, this stylish and modern look is too fashion-forward for the office scene. If you want to wear the tunic or tunic dress, make sure you’re wearing a fitted jacket or long cardigan over it.

Fringe Scarves
A scarf or wrap is a great accessory for the office, and you can get away with a fringed version on casual Friday for the office. Just pair it up with a plain dress or blouse, and enjoy a stylish and trendy look for the day.