How do you dress appropriately for work when the weather is against it! Here are a few suggestions:

• Switch to lighter weight fabrics. Tissue linen, voile, batiste, featherweight denim and cottons are all substitutions for heavier fabrics this time of the year. Just remember to wear the proper undergarments so that your look is not too transparent.

• Keep jewelry to a minimum. Heavy necklaces and bracelets can make you feel hotter. Avoid them completely and concentrate on earrings or opt for weightless chains or pendants on silk or leather cording.

• Forgo hosiery. It’s no longer a given in business that hosiery is a must because of a younger workforce, which has grown up with bare legs. If your dress code and legs allow it, go bare. If not, switch to lightweight, barely-there hosiery, like Donna Karan’s The Nakeds.

• Wear peep toe shoes or sandals. Again, check your company’s dress code policy. If you can wear sandals, select a pair that’s more sandal than flip-flop and make sure your feet are groomed.

• Keep layering to a minimum. The more layers you have on, the warmer you’ll feel. Yet, you don’t want your look to be too revealing. Bare arms, low cut tops and very short bottoms don’t belong in an office, so be sure not to disregard propriety for comfort.

Although I like the results of exercise, I hate to do it. For the last six months though, I’ve been addicted to spinning. However, while finding a great class is essential for staying with a plan, it’s not my secret.

My exercise outfit is. When I like what I wear and in it, look like the athlete I’d like to be, I’m more apt to work out. And there’s a lot of good stuff out there at all price levels.

So guys throw out those old gym shorts and ragged top and ladies, that pair of old tights and baggy T-shirt. Get yourself some cool gear and it will make all the difference. Some ideas:

Go techno: Look for clothes made of high-tech fabrics that wick (keep the moisture off your skin). Nike has a fabric called Dri-FIT: blends of cotton and polyester and polyester and spandex that keep you cool and dry. Avoid pure cotton, which absorbs sweat, becoming a sodden mess when wet.

Get sleek: Select a look that skims your shape, rather than hiding it. The outfit doesn’t have to encase you like a sausage, but it shouldn’t be baggy and shapeless. For women, bootcut tights are chic and flattering, topped with a fitted tank. For men, think Lance Armstrong: sleek bicycle shorts with a tank top.

Spotlight your assets: Consider cut and proportion when selecting workout wear. If you have great calves, bicycle shorts are the answer; great arms, go sleeveless. (If you don’t like your arms and can’t find a top with sleeves, buy a long-sleeved exercise T and shorten the sleeves to just below the elbows). Always wear supportive undergarments…they will also visually perfect your body.

Color up: All black is sexy and slimming, however a burst of color can really brighten your mood. Think about black bottoms with a colorful top.

Pack it in: Get a good-looking gym bag to carry all your stuff and always stock it with a clean outfit and socks.

Whoops. Gotta go to spinning class. I have on black, cropped bootleg tights with a semi-fitted dusty pink tank, which extends over my hips to elongate my torso. Best, I got it on sale.