Dressing for work can be a lot of, well, work. If clothing and grooming speak volumes about who you are, the office is one place where you want those messages to be carefully calibrated.
Still, there is such a thing as being too careful. Anyone who buys all of her work clothes at Ann Taylor most certainly is in a fashion rut. And although wearing a cotton tank top and rubber flip-flops might not get you reprimanded in today's business-casual culture, you probably won't be looking at the corner office anytime soon, either.
With this guide to office style, we're here to help. We have tips for finding work-appropriate pieces, but we decided to skip obvious spots such as Nordstrom and the Gap in favor of less likely retailers, including Up Against the Wall and -- no joke -- Bebe. Chic work clothes are everywhere, even at chains better known for hip-hop tees and tube dresses.
We also reviewed a gaggle of products designed to save the day, should you discover that you have a fallen hem or scuffed shoes five minutes before a big meeting. Last, we have tips from a personal shopper whose stock in trade is helping working moms look their best. As we discovered, that means a lot more than "Lose the sippy cup."
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Work wardrobe
Who says a work wardrobe can be found only at conservative stores? I saw surprisingly appropriate (and totally chic) pieces at these five chains.
Bebe
Miniskirts trimmed in flamenco ruffles and hoop earrings you could stick your hand through are not part of my fashion lexicon. But if they are part of yours, this racy retailer will not disappoint. The store is rife with chiffon bustiers, Herve Leger-inspired tube dresses and other Vegas showgirl staples. Finally, I know where the cast of "Rock of Love 2" shops.
Still, the chain does stock a few styles that don't scream sex-ay: I particularly like one trench coat ($129) whose trim cut and girlish ruffle sleeves wouldn't look out of place on Lela Rose's runway. A curvy suit ($257) toned down in sweet seersucker is another attractive office option.
Forever XXI
Personally, there are few years I want to revisit less than the time I was 21. But if you want to relive that age, this store is the place. The cavernous space is filled with adorably tiny things befitting youthful bodies: skimpy skirts, teensy T-shirts and the greatest number of slinky jersey dresses I've ever seen in a single space.
Look past such cutesy pieces, though, and you'll find many work-worthy staples with right-off-the-runway details. I love several Marni-inspired tops. The few skirts that are longer than mid-thigh (including the A-line version, $23) easily could have legs at the office. The shoes are a miss, but other accessories feel chic and grown-up: Chunky bangle bracelets look more like boutique finds, and one orange vinyl satchel ($25) is posh enough to pass for patent.
Up Against the Wall
At first glance, this is one of the least work-friendly shops I've visited, unless you can get away with wearing a cropped bomber jacket, day-glo skinny jeans and a velour purse by Juicy Couture to the office.
The chain's office-friendly finds might be few, but the little that's there is quite cool. Up Against the Wall is an unexpectedly great resource for pretty blouses -- the kind that can make all the difference when you're wearing a staid suit or a same-old cardigan. A fluttery sleeveless shirtdress ($48) is beautifully made for the price. And the jewelry looks more sophisticated than you'd expect: One earthy wood and gold-tone pendant ($10) is nicely in keeping with spring's tribal trend.
Urban Outfitters
If Sienna, Kate or Mary-Kate has worn something in the past six months, I know I'll find the knockoff at this carefully curated haven of mass-market hip, where lanky-limbed girls fold sweaters, and no one looks like they showered that morning.
This summer, flat sandals, faux-vintage dresses and rompers reign supreme at the store, but there's plenty available for the non-Nylon magazine crowd, too. Several of the bags are first-rate. Although the store I visit has a surprising lack of pants, the few on offer could work for a casual day at the office. And although soft cardigans ($48) and wide woven belts ($20) might not seem thrilling, they're well-priced, well-made staples that will last long after all of the shop's trendy garb has had its moment.
Wet Seal
For tweens gone wild, this chain's bright, flirty offerings amount to retail heaven. Ashlee Simpson stars in the ads, pop punk blasts from the stereo, and shrunken hoodies, short-shorts and tees with slogans such as " '80s Love Child" rest on the racks.
There's not much here for adults, but a few more-mature styles rescue me from sugar overload. High-waisted slacks ($26.50) feature big sailor buttons and a subtle pinstripe. Several pretty tops, including a rosette-trimmed camisole ($10), would look appropriate, yet chic, layered under a cardigan.
Quick fixes
Four problems, eight quick fixes: From fancy to basic, which product is best to stash in your desk drawer?
Skin breakouts
Sometimes, my polished, professional at-work makeup gets an unwelcome addition: a midday blemish, complete with inflammation and redness.
Fancy fix: Benefit's Galactic Shield blemish concealer ($15). Its sleek packaging could pass for a pen if you stashed it alongside your Bics. The concealer goes on much like a twist-up eyeliner, and the secret ingredient is salicylic acid, a common ingredient in acne-fighting products.
Emergency fix: Visine is rumored to have zit-zapping powers, mostly because the ingredients that shrink blood vessels in your eyes supposedly reduce redness around a blemish. "Supposedly" is the key word here.
Which is better? Benefit's fix, hands down. The concealer goes on smoothly and covers blemishes; plus, it seems to speed healing. The downside is it comes in only two mid-tone shades, so if you have very fair or dark skin, it's a bit limited. The Visine, on the other hand, was a big disappointment. It didn't make my breakout any less noticeable; it just left my face feeling ... wet.
Fallen hem
Even if your fabulously put-together ensemble says "promote me," a fallen hem sends a different message: "I'm a slob with no time to go to the tailor." Or perhaps, "These pants cost $5.99."
Fancy fix: Her Look Matchsticks ($10 at doublesticktricks.com). The double-sided tape strips, which resemble skinny Band-Aids, offer relief for wardrobe malfunctions from a sagging hemline to a gaping wrap dress. Medical-grade adhesive promises long-lasting hold, while the slim package makes it easy to stash in even the skinniest clutch.
Emergency fix: In a pinch, plain old packing tape is a fast, MacGyver-esque solution for a drooping hem. It's also cheap -- or free if you've got a well-stocked office-supply closet.
Which is better? In highly scientific road tests, the new-fangled Matchsticks didn't perform much better than my old friend, packing tape. The Matchsticks were a bit tricky to use -- peeling off the backing took a few tries -- but once on, they provided a non-bulky hold that lasted all day. As did the packing tape.
While Matchsticks might be the superior solution for more elaborate fixes, such as a too-deep neckline or a wayward slingback-shoe strap (you can't use packing tape on skin -- ouch!), the tape works just as well for a standard hemline hold.
Pantyhose run
Pantyhose are hot. They itch. And, most of all, they run. So when yours hit a snag -- as they inevitably will -- how do you deal?
Fancy fix: Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs ($10-$13 at drugstores and mass retailers). The leg makeup comes in four shades that you can match to your skin tone or, if you prefer, use to get a tan tint. Application promises to be easy: Spray the product into your palm, then blend evenly on your legs to hide imperfections.
Emergency fix: Mom's time-tested standby: Brush a bit of clear nail polish at the tip of the rip to keep the run from extending.
Which is better? Not to knock nail polish, but I hate having a smelly, tacky dab on my leg. I don't feel as if I'm fooling anyone: Although the polish prevents the run from getting worse, I still have a noticeable nick in my hose.
This spray, on the other hand? Love it. It can be applied at home before dressing or at work -- if you're flexible enough to reach every spot while standing in a bathroom stall, that is. It dries quickly, hides imperfections and doesn't rub off on clothes.
The nail in the pantyhose coffin: After a shower, soap and a little scrubbing, the leg makeup comes off easily.
Scuffed shoes
If shoes make an outfit, then nothing undoes an otherwise professional look faster than dirty or scuffed shoes. But even if you start your day in pristine pumps, one trip on a crowded subway train can leave them with glaring scratches. And who has time to polish at work?
Fancy fix: Foot Petals shoe polish pen ($13 at Target). This small, convenient tube of carnauba wax polish brushes on easily without the mess of a standard polishing kit.
Emergency fix: Crayola markers. The black marker covers scuffs beautifully. But when I try to hide a scuff on a brown sandal, it looks, not surprisingly, as if I've written on my shoe.
Which is better? The Foot Petals pen works much better than the Crayola; it leaves both black and brown shoes -- even in tough-to-cover patent leather -- scuff-free. And it's small enough to fit into a tiny purse. But should you make room in yours? Unless you are a tap-dancer or chronic foot-dragger, chances are you don't suffer enough scuffs to keep it on hand.