Go ahead and wear low-cut tops to work. Just don't mope over getting passed over for promotions, says business etiquette expert Barbara Pachter.

Yes, it's summer and it's hot. But "it's still business, you're still at work," she said.

More sartorial advice:

n Keep skirts and dresses at top of the knee or longer.

n Stay groomed. For a woman, shaving your legs may be a personal choice, but if you want others to talk about your work and not your body hair, it might be best to conform, Pachter said. Men should not let nose and ear hair get wild. And everyone needs deodorant.

• Clothes should not be tight or too big.

• If you can't dress yourself, find help. Pachter advises fashion magazines, coaches or personal shoppers. "Nobody needs to have ugly taste."

• Keep accessories minimal.

• Leave flip-flops for the beach. To summer-ize your wardrobe, work in lighter colors and lighter fabrics instead. Shorts, for men and women, are usually only appropriate for the most casual work environments.

• Women should honestly assess their legs. Bottom line: If they're unsightly, wear pantyhose.

"If you want to play in the corporate world, it's usually best to wear the uniform," Pachter said.

Fight fuel costs with a used car

Commutes are getting longer and gas is well past $4 a gallon. New hybrid cars have impressive fuel economy. But it'll cost you. The 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid, for example, has a suggested starting price of $22,600. A bare-bones Toyota Prius from this year has a suggested retail price of $21,500.

You might consider a used car with good mileage instead. The July issue of Consumer Reports magazine lists these used cars with the best gas mileage, according to its tests.

Under $10,000:

• 2000 Honda Insight (manual), 51 miles per gallon, pictured below.

• 2001-02 Toyota Prius, 41 mpg.

• 2000-05 Toyota Echo (manual), 38 mpg,

• 1998-2002 Chevrolet Prizm, 32 mpg.

• 1998 Mazda Protege LX, 32 mpg.

• 1998-2000 Toyota Corolla CE/LE, 32/31 mpg.

Between $10,000 and $20,000:

• 2004-06 Toyota Prius, 44 mpg.

• 2003 Toyota Prius, 41 mpg.

• 2006-07 Honda Civic Hybrid, 37 mpg.

• 2003-05 Honda Civic Hybrid, 36 mpg.

• 2007 Honda Fit Sport (manual), 34 mpg.

• 2007 Toyota Yaris Liftback (manual), 34 mpg.

— The Associated Press