I recently had the opportunity to sit and watch people come through the door to go to work in an 18 story office building.  Many of the tenant companies are recognized corporate names, but to look at the attire of the people coming through the doors, you would have thought most of them, especially the women, worked for the cleaning crew.

I made a quick check sheet - men on one side - women on the other with a plus or minus each time someone came through the door.  Of the 40 men who came through the door, 3 could have improved their appearance.  Their clothes were either rumpled or they looked as though they'd just jumped out of bed.  Of the 65 women who came through the door, 55 of them could have improved their appearance.   The numbers tell the story. 

Today, reading Parade Magazine, I saw the following question written by a man:

"Someone in my office wears low-cut tops that are inappropriate for work.  I don't know where to look when I talk to her".  Judith Newman provided a good solution.

His question confirmed what I had witnessed.  Women want to be taken seriously, but their attire conveys an entirely different message.    Seriously!!!!!  Women do themselves (and other women) a tremendous disservice when they do not dress appropriately.

For the most part, men get it when it comes to the work place.  They dress appropriately.  Too many women feel they should be taken seriously as a professional, but the message they send when you look at them is NOT

What we wear makes a statement.  Good or bad - it is a visual that says a great deal to the person looking at us.  I cannot ever remember having to look away because a male co-worker had ripped abs you could see because his shirt was unbuttoned, but I can't count the number of women I've had to advise because they didn't get the "cleavage/legs memo. 

The world of work is competitive.  If you want to play the game - dress the part.  Men you get an A+ in this category.  Women - - D- at best.