Whoever made the executive decision to relax corporate America’s dress code by introducing the term "business casual," forgot to send out a memo clearly defining the new guidelines. As a result, we have got more definitions than Webster. To help you make sense of it all, we would like to offer a few casual reminders.

• Clothes worn to any office should be clean and neatly pressed, never worn or frayed.
• Dress as if you might have an impromptu meeting with the CEO.
• When all else fails, opt for classic styling. It never goes out of style so it is cheaper in the long run.
• Take your fashion cue from the client. Different regions, industries, companies, departments, even venues dictate different dress.
• Men: Sport coats should be muted colors; pants can be khaki, chino, corduroy, flannel or gabardine; collared knit or button down shirts worn with undershirt are preferred, golf or polo shirts with discreet logo are acceptable; oxfords, loafers, boots, and rubber-soled leather shoes are in, athletic shoes are out; belts should match shoes, socks should coordinate with pants; and ties are optional.
• Women: You can not go wrong with pant suits or tailored pants with a sweater set. The same holds true for quality blouses, knit shirts or sleeveless dresses with blazer or cardigan; a choice of pressed khakis, slacks, or solid colored skirts; a collection of well-polished, closed-toe leather shoes; and professional accessories like silk scarves, classy bracelets and smaller purses or briefcases that coordinate with shoes. Hose are mandatory for knee-length skirts.
• Clothing should draw attention to your face and message, not your physical assets or availability. If you think this whole fashion phobia is really much ado about nothing, ponder this: accord¬ing to the Stanford University communication model, 55% of people remember visual cues like posture, clothing and groom¬ing from meetings, whereas just 7% percent actually re¬call what was said.

So while appearance may not be every¬thing, it could be the one thing that is preventing you from getting ahead.

SOURCE: Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com/Anne Field, BusinessWeek/ECGlink.com/ehow.com/