Dressing professionally can be a challenge during the summer months. When the heat gets up to over 80 degrees, and the humidity is high traditional business dress can really be a drag. Whether you are or a male or female professional, trying to figure out how to look good and fit in with the business profile, and wear something that's going to be comfortable in the heat can be a challenge.

In general, the northeast and Midwest regions trend to dress more traditionally in professional surroundings, regardless of the heat. If you live in the western or southern states, conversely, tend to dress a little bit more casually or more relaxed than the traditional dress side.

Regardless of which region you live in, there are things that you can do when the heat index rises to be able to deal with looking good and being hot. The challenge is not when you're in an air-conditioned are, the challenge is what you get outside whether you're doing sales calls, or meeting people in the general public.

Remember that your dress sends silent messages to others. It is your visual image that people tend to notice first when forming impressions of you. Make sure your summer look is credible and polished to attract more clients and gain greater career growth. Here are some tips that women can follow to look professional, but still stay cool in the heat of the summer.

For starters,wear a professional solid color dress with an open-weave sweater as a jacket or opt for a dressy cotton blouse, and work skirt worn at the knee area. A dress or skirt is always cooler than wearing a pantsuit. It's pure physics, you're able to get a cooler draft from the opening in the dress or the skirt. Remember that a light to medium color is always more professional than a dress or skirt in a bold, wild print. And, where lighter colors because the white reflects heat were dark attracts heat.

Consider the material that you're wearing. Select blouses made out of the natural fabrics like cotton, silk or linen. Linen and cotton are great choices for the summer because they are natural fibers and they breathe nicely. You want to make sure you are wearing something that can transfer in a wick away the moisture. Looser fitting fabrics also allow the air to circulate and are cooler than tight fitting fabrics. When you also add a lower stylish neckline like a v-neck, scoop neck, or square neckline you will avoid having anything up by your neck, allowing more airflow. However, be cautious that you do not bare too much skin or cleavage. Conservative is the key, make sure you're wearing something for work, not for dinner.

The same thing goes for jackets. If you have to wear a jacket, again, use a jacket that has natural fibers in it so that it is cool, and gets good airflow. Then it works great although it may wrinkle. If you pick a color that's neutral, you can use the same jacket over an overweight different tops.

If your dress code allows you to go barelegged and your legs are flawless, you can do so, but remember you will lose a little credibility here. If you do decide to go without wearing hose, it's a good idea to tan your legs, or get a self tanning lotion. The enhanced darkness of the skin tone will make it look as though you are wearing hose.

If you do have to wear hose at work, there are things you can do. Here are a few shortcuts to keeping cool if your dress code at work requires hosiery. Try wearing dress trousers with knee-hi hosiery, or select a dress or skirt which, when worn with hosiery will be cooler than a pantsuit. Remember, you don't need to wear hose that gold all the way up.

When choosing footwear, some of the same concepts will apply. The lighter the color the shoe, the cooler it will be. Take shoes that have open until, or are more strapped like. Of course, you need to make sure you pick something that makes sense for the office, but the more air that you can get flowing through the shoes the cooler you will be.

For those of you that must wear full suits, take a look at the lining. Typically, suits made for summer have thinner lining sometimes no lining all. The thinner lining is again allow for air to flow through easier. For suits and core wardrobe pieces, stay away from dark colors and black, which absorb the heat. Select lighter-colored fabrics like eggshell, camel, tan, taupe or light grey. Another tip is to search for bracelet sleeves in suits, which expose the lower portion of your arms.

Consider getting a shorter haircut. Or getting a hairstyle that's layered. Approximately 20% of their body heat that you have is transferred through the top of your head, so the more hair you have on your head the more you insulate that heat from being able to escape. If you love wearing your hair long, you will want to wear it up in a smart, stylish hairstyle to look professional and get it off your neck in the heat. Consider wearing a classic ponytail or the front part pulled up and off your face. However, be sure that your hairstyle is not too casual. If you wear a weekend look like a messy bun, it does not blend in with the professional message that your clothes are sending.

Applying these tips will make sure that you don't sweat it too bad during the summer and you still look great.