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beautiful summer colors on the spot, black also absorbs heat. Why would you want an entire lower portion of your body to become a heat sink in this weather? As far as pants are concerned, women have many more options than men do: from crisp business trousers in lighter fabrics, such as those sold by Newport News and Metro Style, to flowing palazzo pants from the likes of Travel Smith.

Or - there is a radical idea - be a girl and wear a dress! Beautiful summer dresses in every imaginable cut, color and pattern are available everywhere and in every price range. If you can splurge - go to Macy's, if you can't - go to Ross or TJ Max, where you can snag a fabulous Calvin Klein for a fraction of the price. The point is - you are a woman, so be one! The concept that femininity does not belong in a workplace is a fallacy. Putting on a lovely summer frock with cute sandals is not going to subtract any points from your IQ - I promise you. Incidentally, a well-cut dress in a good natural breathable fabric is a lot more comfortable than those stuffy black pants and perpetual white shirts you have imprisoned yourself within. When picking out a summer dress or top, avoid super-clingy fabrics - they will make you feel like a sausage tightly encased in plastic and make you sweat just about as much. Rather, choose fabrics with a bit more heft to them, but - if at all possible - with the minimum of synthetic fibers and combined with a fitted cut of the garment. That way, you will always look neat and trim.

Women have somewhat more freedom in wearing short-sleeve and three-quarter-length-sleeve t-shirts to work, so take advantage of it. That is not to say that your "I love rednecks!" t-shirt in neon orange suddenly becomes acceptable in an office environment. Rather, pick a range that you can leverage later in the fall and winter under suits, which means solid colors or subdued patterns, quality fabrics that won't fray easily, and - yet again - proper fit and neckline that flatters you. If you are not certain, which top would do the most for you, read "What Not to Wear" by Trinny Woodal and Susannah Constantine of the BBC fame. They provide an excellent guide for picking the best combinations of neckline and sleeve length and style for your body type.

Shoes... Shoes are important. Clumpy black pumps in the summer will kill your feet (not to mention your outfit). Do your homework and find comfortable sandals, slingbacks and / or wedges to compliment the rest of your look.

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