HOST: What's a girl to do when it's sweaty-hot out, but she still wants to look good in the office?

TINA (Sales Associate, age 25): If I know I'm going to be sweaty on my way to work -- which sometimes happens in mid-winter too -- I use less makeup. Maybe just eyeshadow and lipgloss. I'll bring my foundation with me and do it at the office. Keep it basic, you know. I mean, it is summer.

MARIA T. (Account Executive, age 26): If you have a nice tan or a glow, there's no reason to cake on the makeup. With the heat and sweat, it's not going to stay on anyway.

GERMAINE (Consultant, age 31): I rely on oil blotting papers in the summer. They're so much better than pressed powder because you just wipe them across your face and you get a nice matte finish. Love 'em!

SHANNON (Business Development Executive, age 28): I'm always just a lipstick and mascara girl, so the only change I make for summer is a lighter shade of lipstick. Another change I make to my summer regimen is a whole body moisturizer with SPF -- you can just sit outside for lunch and get color.

SUSAN (Advertising Executive, age 50): Oh no, you've got to wear the SPF year-round. Everyday.

MARIA T.: Not me! Any minute I can get sun, I'll take it. It's such a tease to put on sunblock to go on a walk. [We digress, but it's worth taking note: The sun is strong, so slather on the sunscreen.]

GINA (Social Worker, age 25): It's like putting on lotion and it protects your skin. You've got to do it!

MARIA T.: It's psychological.

SUSAN: If you know people who have had skin cancer...Seriously, maybe I can scare you.

MARIA T.: I put it on when I go lay out, but I'm just not going to put it on for a lunch break. No way. But I respect that -- to each her own.

HOST: Are we baring our legs in the office these days?

JULIE (Pharmaceuticals Saleswoman, age 25): I don't wear stockings -- it's too hot!

JACKIE (Equity Analyst, age 32): When there were more Internet tech people in my office last year, I was more comfortable not wearing stockings. Now that there's older industry people (all those Internet people got fired), the office is a little more professional, more formal.

SUSAN: Yeah, I totally agree. I think if it's something like an investment banking office it's more button-down. It gets progressively more casual the more artistic and individualistic the business is. For me, if I'm going to be in the office all day, I'll go without stockings.

TINA: When I was a headhunter, I always sent my recruits out with stockings on. It's just classier. But now I work with product designers -- you know, artists -- so the environment is more casual. I actually think they might notice if I was wearing stockings.

SHERRY (Architectural Designer, age 54): Stockings? I'm a pants woman through and through. Simplifies things if you ask me.

GINA: Wear them, don't wear them, it's up to you. Just whatever you do, don't wear stockings with open-toed shoes. And those open-toed stockings are no solution either.

[Not a single voice of dissension here.]

HOST: Taking it down a little farther, what about shoes? Sandals okay? Open-toed?

JULIE: No open-toed shoes! Uh-uh. The sling back is my savior. Maybe I just don't like my toes or something, but I feel like it is a rare office where open-toed shoes are appropriate -- even when you're working with all the creative types. And then the pedicure issues...

PAM (Client Relations Manager, age 25): I work in an 80-person office and we can't wear sneakers or open-toed shoes. Not only did they distribute a dress code manual, they also handed out a Docker's catalog!

MEREDITH (Marketing Coordinator, age 24): In our Connecticut office it's like a free-for-all compared to the NYC office. I think it's like that in general -- it depends not only what type of work the company does and how much client interaction there is, but also where in the country it's located.

GERMAINE: Yeah, it depends on the client, but I think it's just a safer bet not to wear open-toed shoes. Why go there?

HOST: Do we think sleeveless is appropriate?

MARIA T.: You must layer because it's hot outside and most offices have intense A/C. Wear a tank top, bring a sweater. In my office, anything goes.

LISA (Teaching Assistant, age 26): I feel self-conscious wearing a tank top to work. But I work with adolescent kids, so...

MARIA S. (Junior Media Buyer, age 25): This might not answer your tank top question, but it definitely solves the inevitable hot outside, but freezing inside issue. The office sweater. I am all about the office sweater.

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