Who says female office attire should still be defined by blistered feet, sleep-inducing power suits, and hosiery no different from the type your grandma wore? If, in the old days, the focus was on blending in with the boys, the emphasis now is on standing out and looking competent as well as hot. If you’re female but still look like you’re batting for the other team, it’s time to up the fashion ante.

It’s time to bring your style quotient up to par with your intelligence quotient. Here’s how.

1. Look around.
Find good role models to emulate. His Hairness’ daughter has a good corporate style going. Pay attention to what she’s wearing.

2. Start with classics.
Female CEOs everywhere swear by the power of the crisp white collared shirt.

3. Follow the five-piece-of-jewelry-only rule.
Never wear more than five pieces of jewelry at any given time. A watch counts as one, earrings make two.

4. Splurge on a good watch.
Nothing says competent and reliable like a good timepiece. Get one that you can take from day to night and match up with any outfit.

5. Rotate your accessories.
Jazz up your outfits with varying pieces. Do not wear the same one every day.

6. Stay current.
Who says keeping abreast with the latest only refers to information? Keep yourself up-to-date with market trends, accessories, clothes, and haircuts. You’d never be sloppy with a report so why should dressing up be any different?

7. Keep things simple.
Ruffles are fine, and it might be cute to show up for work looking feminine or vulnerable every now and then. But the keyword here is every now and then, not all the time. Keep it simple by getting custom-tailored outfits. The look you want to project is professional and unflappable, not over-the-top feminine.

8. Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize.
Invest in good bags, shoes, and belts. They may be pricier than run-of-the-mill items but they last longer and give you more fashion mileage.

9. Make up with makeup.
Makeup should play up your features, not make you look like a tranny. Give your face good coverage. Make concealer your friend. Remember, if the lips get to work before you do, that’s not a good thing.

10. Say goodbye to seasonal clothes along with the season.
If they’re out of season, let them stay out of season. Resurrect them from your closet next year.

11. Discipline yourself to follow the seven-minute rule.
Organize your closet like a matrix. This will make mixing and matching quick and simple. You can get dressed and get out of the door in seven minutes - tops!

12. Hose up with care.
Confused whether to wear pantyhose or not? If you’re a junior executive, do. If you’re much higher up the rung, you can do without.

13. Pay attention to your hemline.
Sure, you have great pins but the office is no place for minis. Your hemline should always graze the knee line.

14. Step up to the challenge with comfortable shoes.
Don’t suffer blisters in silence. Heck, why suffer blisters at all? Wear comfortable shoes to work.

15. Transition from day to night seamlessly.
Take your look from day to night with a slight change to your outfit. Your collar, for example, could be turned down during the day and turned up at night. A cardigan can also downplay the drama.

What about you? What rule of thumb works for you when it comes to dressing up for work?