Apparently, you're not the only person who has trouble deciding what to wear every morning. Accounting firm Ernst & Young recently revealed that 400 of its female U.K.employees attended voluntary dress-for-success workshops in September and October. The take-away message? Don't show off your knockers to get the corner office. (We're shocked.)

Fleur Bothwick, head of "diversity and inclusiveness" at the company, claimed the events, hosted by image consultants, weren't held because women are necessarily dressing, err, loosely. She says the advice is integral to their personal and professional development.

The Basics
"You don't want to be remembered as the woman with red lips, or leave people wondering 'how does she walk on those heels?'" she told Personnel Today. Other tips included going easy on the perfume, avoiding risqué tops, and wearing colors that bring out the best in your skin tone and hair color so that the bosses can focus on your skills and take you seriously. Sounds like this book. Gag.

More and more research is showing clothes do, indeed, make the woman. A 2005 Tulane University study said women who wear short skirts to work were less likely to get promotions. Yes, decency is crucial, but we also think there's something to be said for owning your sexuality at work.

Clothes Make the Man, Too
So now you're thinking, "What about the men?" Rest assured, they get judged on their looks, too. Studies show sporting an unshaved mug and untucked shirt can be as detrimental as flaunting cleavage and thighs.

A CareerBuilder.com survey done last summer found that 41 percent of employers said both male and female workers outfitted appropriately tend to be promoted more often. The industry you work in matters, too: 55 percent of workers in financial services companies like E&Y and 51 percent of sales representatives claimed the well-dressed more often got bumped to a higher rank.

Tell us: Does your boss care whether you're schlubby or snappy at work? What's the worst dress-code violation you've seen on the job?

Also on Lemondrop: Click here to check out our holiday guide to being popular at the office. Then click through the photos below to see some classic co-worker types to avoid.

The Most Annoying Co-Workers

    Insistent Instant Messenger: No matter how much time or miscommunication could be spared by talking face-to-face, this person insists on talking virtually, via IM or email. If they're a superior and you're not online, they send you an email to ask where you are (meanwhile you're at your desk, ten feet away).

    Cycle Sister: This is a person you're not particularly fond of, but for whatever cosmically twisted reason, your daily routine is synched up -- you walk into work at the same time, and from there, you see your Cycle Sister in the bathroom, on your smoke break, at the vending machine, and on the way out. Even if you do like this person alright, the sheer coincidence makes things creepy and awkward.

    Mr. Flibble, Flickr

    The Get-a-Lifer: This person asks you out to post-work drinks on a regular basis, despite the fact that you always decline. And the one time you went to a party at their house, it ended up being the two of you playing Taboo. The Get-a-Lifer is often the same person who plans meetings at 6 p.m. on Fridays, not realizing that everyone else goes out with their friends on the weekend.

    bealluc, Flickr

    Listserv Leech: If someone has taken this person's lunch out of the fridge, the entire staff will be notified via the staff listserv, which everyone else uses exclusively for professional communication. Alternately, this person may use the listserv to let everyone know about the lack of toilet paper in the bathroom, a party they're throwing, or to ask who took that package off their desk.

    Angry Typist: The Angry Typist pounds on her keyboard with the vigor of someone hitting their ex-boyfriend. The violent clacking leads to many misunderstandings, as this person is often unaware of their problem and is not actually pissed.

    .faramarz, Flickr

    The Toilet Mouth: You're on the pot midstream (or worse) when the Toilet Mouth strikes up a conversation. This person also likes to chatter at the sink for before and after they go, giving no one in the bathroom privacy to do their business.

    Megan *, Flickr

    Monday Manic: The coffee hasn't hit your bloodstream yet, and the Monday Manic is flittering about, imbued with an unnatural amount of energy and optimism. They're telling stories about how freaking great their weekend was and so stoked about the work they get to do that day.

    Old News Hound: OMG, did you hear that Lindsay Lohan is dating a girl!? The Old News Hound is always the last to know about everything, but the first to belt out at a stale headline at full-volume to their surrounding coworkers.

    Rash Revealer:This person has no shame getting on the phone with their doctor, their spouse, their aunt, or their mom to discuss a rash, a yeast infection, and any other personal bodily defect or medical issue.

    maydaFUNKbewithu!, Flickr

    The Chit-Chat Blaster: If this person catches you in the break room or on your way out of the bathroom, you're done for a half an hour later they're still yammering away about the paint samples they're considering for the livingroom, the deli they ate at for lunch, the meeting the boss called earlier, the diet they're on. The Chit-Chat Blaster also doesn't notice you inching away, and generally lack the ability to pick up social cues.