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Imagine this: You walk into a prominent, international business office, up to the receptionist's desk - and you see she's wearing flip-flops and blue jeans with holes in them. How do you react to this? I bet your opinion of that business just dropped quite a few notches, right?

Do you think this is an extreme example of some people's taking Casual Friday too far? Do you think it would never happen in your office?

My husband didn't think so - until it did happen in the office of his place of employment, an international, very prosperous company.

He's told me several stories of the inappropriate attire the receptionist has worn to work on Casual Friday over the years such as the aforementioned flip-flops and ripped blue jeans. Also she's shown up wearing a feather boa, tight T-shirts, shorts (during the summer), and miniskirts, among other unacceptable items of clothing.

And it's not just his workplace. I've seen many other examples of this type of dress in other places of business. I admit I may be too old-fashioned, but it seems very wrong to me when I am much more better dressed than the receptionist working in the office I'm bringing my business to. I don't care if it is Casual Friday; if the receptionist looks like she just rolled out of bed and threw on whatever was laying on the floor, that business just lost a customer in me. Right or wrong, it is indisputable that how a person dresses will affect another person's opinion of that person, and in this case, the company also.

The receptionist is the first person one sees when entering a business office; she is the image of the business. It doesn't matter in the least what all the other company workers wear on Casual Friday. The receptionist, as the spokesperson for the company, should always be appropriately dressed and well-groomed.

I'm not saying she must always wear a matching jacket and skirt, but I do believe she should never wear anything more casual than what she'd wear to church. In other words, a non-revealing dress or slacks with a dress shirt.

And, please, don't forget the pantyhose, and leave your sneakers in the closet.