Sleeveless tops, shirts, blouses and dresses come in many styles. Even if you’re shy about revealing the top parts of your arms and the area under the arm, some of these styles will work for you. Sleeveless doesn’t necessarily mean strappy, sloppy and overly revealing. Instead of skimpy styles, opt for silhouettes in sturdy fabrics with good underarm coverage, a fuller shoulder line and a modest neckline. That’s what I call “covered-sleeveless” dressing. By paying attention to the details, anyone can go sleeveless.

Strappy and revealing sleeveless items are never appropriate in professional settings. End of story. The question is whether “covered sleeveless” items can be. I’m going to be bold and vote yay, but with conditions. You have to feel appropriate wearing covered sleeveless items and the company’s business dress code has to allow it.

Throughout my fashion career I have worn covered-sleeveless items and felt professional and appropriate. For example, I will wear a classic sleeveless, high-necked sheath dress in a professional setting no problem. I will also wear a pretty sleeveless blouse or shirt tucked into a pencil skirt. Granted, the fashion environment is not conservative and there aren’t any written or unwritten dress code rules about wearing sleeves.

Obviously, no sleeveless allowed in a business formal setting. But business casual is different in my book, especially if your work setting errs on the creative and casual side. Also, you have the option of wearing a jacket or cardigan over the sleeveless item when you attend meetings, which means that you can cover up when necessary and then remove the layer when you’re back at your desk.

Do you think covered sleeveless dressing is appropriate in business casual settings, or is it best to always have a sleeve? Do you currently go sleeveless in your work setting? Let’s hear it.

Six months ago Vogue’s Accessory Guide for Spring 2010 claimed that low heels were trending. Hallelujah! Finally we’d see a varied assortment of heel heights in stores.

But while I definitely see more heel height variety in the US this year — there are flats, low heels, three-inches and skyscrapers — in my opinion it isn’t enough. Flats and three-inch-plus heels are definitely still in the majority. There is generally more heel height variety in Europe as our trip in March confirmed.

So what’s the verdict in your neck of the woods? Do you see a greater assortment of heel heights in stores this year? Or is the hard-to-find one-and-a-half to two inch heel still as elusive as ever?

These ideas might seem obvious, but a little refresher won’t do us any harm. Here are some tips on how to instantly look and feel more Summery. And you’ll stay cool too.

1. Lighten up your layers: The hotter it is the fewer you’ll wear, unless you’re subjected to arctic indoor air-conditioning.
2. Lighten up your fabrics: Summer is the season to wear cotton, silk, linen and rayon rich blends. Cotton-silk blends get my vote for favourite hot weather woven blouse fabric. These blends are also great in breezy pant styles and dresses.
3. Lighten up your silhouette: We all know that the most effective way to stay cool in the heat is by wearing an airy frock made of natural fibers. Think fit-and-flares, empire cuts, and sack-like sheath styles instead of super form fitting frocks.
4. Lighten up your clothing colours: Wearing something white and lightweight spells Summer. Think casual white dresses, jeans, shorts, clamdiggers, skirts, pants, linen jackets, denim jackets, camisoles, tops and blouses. If white is not your thing, think off-white, cream, tan, sorbet pastels or dove grey. An effective way of wearing black in Summer is to pair it with white. Wearing white with grey and citron is one of my personal favourite colour combinations.
5. Lighten up your footwear colours: Wearing flesh toned and metallic sandals is a no-brainer. Dove grey shoes are fab too. For the more adventurous there’s bright coloured footwear and white sandals. The more foot skin you expose, the cooler you’ll feel.
6. Lighten up your handbag colour: Think light neutrals like tan, grey, cream and white. Bright colours are obvious but don’t forget pastels, zebra print, basket weaves and all over patterned bags.
7. Lighten up your nail colour: It’s fun to pop extra bright or light colours onto toe and finger nails when temperatures soar. Personally, I stick to bright blue or green toenail polish – both of which are a nice change from deep burgundies, reds and plums.
8. Lighten up your hairstyle: A few light steaks or a shorter do paves the way to a Summer look.

You don’t need to do all of these at once. Some you may not do at all. Maybe you like your hair longer in Summer so that you can tie it back into a ponytail. Maybe you enjoy the contrast of a  black Summer handbag because you wear lots of white and cream. Maybe you like ventilating silk and cotton blends best in dark colours. Maybe you like black sandals with red toenail polish. It’s up to you how to make your Summer look work. But if you’re stuck, these tips might help. Have I left anything out?

Yes it’s a knit, but it’s a machine washable rayon-polyester blend.

Yes it has a ruffle, but the ruffle lies fairly flat against the bodice and the neckline is low (so don’t give up if you have a full bust).

Yes it’s a racerback, but use a bra strapper and you’re in business.

Yes it’s a little revealing, but who cares when it’s hot as Hades outside. Even modest me won’t wear a camisole with this style in a darker colour.

This is one breezy and ventilating knit top. Although I’m not wild about center front seams, that doesn’t both me here. Even though it doesn’t look that way in the pictures, the fabric floats away from the mid section and does not cling.

If you’re having a scorching Summer, then this top for $39.50 at full price is well worth fitting on. It’s available in white, blue and grey online, and in a blue and grey pattern in stores. Hope it works if you like the look.