( CareerBuilder.com ) -- Dressing for work can be a battle , but only if you do n't know what you 're doing . The way you look and dress in the office makes a statement about what people can expect from you and how you feel about yourself . Here are five areas you should focus on when it comes to having great work style , from the viewpoints of both a man and woman . Remember , every company 's culture and dress code are different , so follow our advice as it applies to your workplace . 1 . Accessories . She says : Every woman knows that accessories define what look you 're going for , whether it 's elegant , trendy or casual . If you put 100 women in a room together wearing the same black dress , no two of them would look the same . Why ? Because they would all accessorize differently . They 'd have to -- it 's how you set yourself apart from everyone else . This can be applied at work , too , especially if you work somewhere where everyone wears a different variation of the same outfit . As a general rule , limit yourself to 11 or fewer accessories , and always err on the side of caution and simplicity . If it 's excessively cute , big or loud -- just say no . He says : Men do n't usually wear as many fashion accessories as women , aside from a watch and perhaps a ring . Just remember to keep it simple . You should have more fingers without rings than with . And your watch should look professional , which means a leather band should n't be cracked or its silver links should n't be full of scratches . Pay just as much attention to your briefcase or laptop case . If your carrying case is leather , make sure it 's not cracked and falling apart . A cloth one should n't be covered in dirt or political buttons . 2 . Facial appearance . She says : What 's that they say ? `` Beauty is in the eye of the beholder ? '' While it 's true that beauty ca n't be defined , it 's also true that looking ridiculous can -- and that 's the last thing you want a client or colleague to think about you . When you 're choosing an outfit , you look for something that complements your features , right ? The same goes for your makeup , only on a more subtle level . Do n't wear red lipstick and leave the rest of your face bare . Do n't highlight your baby blues with 100 coats of mascara . And please , please -- leave the blue , turquoise , bright green ( and all other jewel-tone ) eye shadows for next Halloween . He says : For guys , facial hair is the real conundrum . Showing up to work clean-shaven is always appropriate . A well-groomed beard can look just as professional , but you have to be meticulous about keeping it trimmed or you risk looking like your chin is growing a Brillo pad . The in-between stages and styles , such as 5 o'clock shadows or week-old scruff , are fine for some workplaces and forbidden in others . Remember that you 're a regular person going to work , not a rock star going onstage . They can get away with looking like unkempt college students . If you ca n't find an explicit policy in the company handbook , take a cue from the other men in the office . 3 . Hygiene . She says : I 'm not sure that this one needs too much explanation , so we 'll keep it simple : . 1 . Please bathe , if not daily , at least every other day . 2 . Please wash your face . Your makeup never looks as good after it 's been slept in and reapplied as when you do it fresh every day . 3 . Please wash your hair , or at the very least , brush it . 4 . While we 're washing things , give those clothes a good scrub , too . 5 . Please brush your teeth , as no one wants to smell your morning-coffee/last-night's-happy-hour breath . The bottom line is that , when given a choice , colleagues and clients will be more apt to interact with people who look neat and smell great . The last thing you want is to have your pungent aroma be the topic of water-cooler conversation . He says : Let 's assume you bathe and brush your teeth regularly -- if not , we 've got a whole separate set of issues . One important problem that continually plagues men is cologne : Go easy on it , please . I think everyone understands you 're trying to smell good , but do n't suffocate everyone with your fragrance , even if it is by a fancy designer . Many people are allergic to colognes , so skipping it altogether might not be a bad idea . If you do decide to dab a little on , keep it very light . Remember that just about everything is scented these days , so between your cologne , laundry detergent , fabric softener , hair product and deodorant , you 're a cornucopia of fragrance . 4 . Overall outfit . She says : Women have several options when it comes to work attire and we should be grateful for that . What to wear to the office hinges on several things : your company culture and dress code , current trends , the climate and your personal style . What 's important is finding a style that works for you , your company and your budget . Whether it 's a pair of jeans with a white T-shirt , a blazer and a pair of pumps ; or a pencil skirt with a button-front shirt and pantyhose , your outfit is a reflection of your personality , which in turn can reflect your work style . Whatever you do , make sure your outfit is in line with the company dress code and whatever is on the day 's agenda . He says : Here 's a situation where men generally have fewer options than women . You can go dressy ( a suit ) , business casual ( pants or nice jeans and a button-up shirt ) or very casual ( plain jeans and a tee ) . Look at what others are wearing to see what you can and ca n't get away with at the office . If individuality is appreciated , feel free to be a little more daring than you would be if you were a trial lawyer . Even in a reserved office , a colorful pocket square or a bright tie can stand out and give you a little personality . What matters most is that you always appear pulled together and professional . In a relaxed business setting , even a plain black tee and jeans can look professional as long as they 're not wrinkled , ripped or ill-fitting . 5 . Shoes . She says : Some might say that shoes are considered an accessory , but not this girl . If you ask me , your shoes make your outfit . The other day , for example , a woman in the elevator was wearing a short dress , fishnet-patterned pantyhose and a headband with a huge flower on the side . The kicker was her shoes : four-inch , patent-leather , peep-toe platforms that tied around her ankle with satin ribbon . With a few tweaks here and there , the outfit could have worked , but her shoes made her look like she belonged at a Halloween party or street corner instead of the office . Basic rule of thumb for shoes at work ? Pick something practical over something cute , and be careful when it comes to flip-flops and sandals . He says : Contrary to a woman 's ensemble , shoes rarely make a man 's outfit , but they can often break it . If you see a guy wearing a wrinkled suit and a tie with a big soup stain on it , you do n't remember what shoes he wore . But if you see a guy wearing an impeccably tailored Italian suit with dirty tennis shoes , you wo n't be able to forget the footwear . When going for a conservative , professional appearance , stick with basic black or brown dress shoes that are free of scuffs or caked mud . If your attire is more casual , just make sure your shoes are appropriate for that outfit , which might include funky tennis shoes for an employee at a laid-back marketing firm . What matters is that the shoes match your overall image and that they look clean . Even the most relaxed boss does n't want your work shoes to look like they 've run a marathon . & copy CareerBuilder.com 2011 . All rights reserved . The information contained in this article may not be published , broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority .
How you dress for Halloween should depend on the culture at your office . She says : 11 or fewer shades , save garish eye shadow for Halloween . He says : Briefcase should be clean , not covered with political posters . Both say : Bad smells are a no - no -- either body odor or too much perfume .