WIND, rain or shine, our obsession with the British weather is age old, and it’s rare to find a day when we don’t swap some nuggets of meteorological wisdom with colleagues.

And now that the summer has arrived, our attention has turned to the temperature inside our clammy offices.

The temperature’s soaring and the office is sweltering. Your sleeves are rolled up and you daren’t reach for those files for fear of exposing mammoth sweat patches.

The air conditioning system is broken again and Sarah from accounts is wearing the shortest of dresses and the cheapest of flip-flops.

But what can be done if your office is far too hot and sticky to keep your mind on the job?

To remain cool and sweat free, how casual can we get?

Well, not very, according to most HR and management advisers, who in the hot summer of 2006 (remember those days?) waged open war in the press on women who neglected to wear tights with their skirts in the City.

You may not be a financial high-flier, but you can still cause offence by revealing too much flesh in any workplace.

“Of course, what you wear will be dictated by where you work.

“It will also depend on whether you work in a client-facing position or if you’re tucked away in an office,” says Audrey Hanna, adviser and writer for jobs website monster.co.uk “If in doubt, it’s always best to be slightly over rather than under dressed.”

In the first instance, check with your HR department to see if there’s a formal company policy on summer dress.

If there isn’t, don’t see this as free reign to show off your pierced navel – there’s probably an unofficial policy, meaning that company bosses will definitely frown on hot pants and killer wedges.

If you’re no better clued-up on what not to wear, or are given a strict list of rules that no one – including your boss – seems to be abiding by, then you’ll have to fall back on your common sense.

No matter how liberal your office, it’s probably best to remember the fundamental rule of balancing bare with modest.

In other words, a short-sleeved top and a smart pair of trousers is much better than a skimpy vest top and a short skirt.

Hanna says: “If you’re not wearing a jacket, then your top should always have a sleeve. Under no circumstances should you show any hint of your cleavage or midriff.

“Tights really do look better than bare legs – go for a natural shade in as low a denier as you can afford. If it’s a very hot day and you can’t face tights, then a pair of cotton or linen trousers will help to keep you feeling cool.”

And just covering up isn’t enough. Otherwise, that leopard-print sarong in Top Shop would be perfect for meeting clients. The ultra-relaxed mood of summer clothes can undermine your professional image without exposing as much as a shin.

Floor-length cotton skirts and baggy T-shirts, though great for keeping cool on holiday, aren’t suitable for the office.

Unfair as it may be, it is true that an ill-defined silhouette will make you come across as less focused and efficient than a smart, tailored one.

Hanna advises: “When temperatures soar, be aware of the fabrics of your clothes and how they are cut.

“Cottons and linens are great options for staying cool but you do need to be prepared to look after them with regular pressing and trips to the dry cleaners to ensure you look pristine.”

She adds: “If you’re off to an important presentation or interview and want to make the perfect first impression, then consider wearing a light-weight wool suit; it won’t show the creases and will keep its shape all day.

“Tight fitting clothes will crease more easily in the heat while loose-fitted clothes will be more comfortable and elegant.”

A tailored neck and shoulders can make a sleeveless, unstructured dress top-smart, so cover up with a fitted cotton jacket with three-quarter length sleeves, while a plain black sleeveless linen shift dress is perfect for the office heatwave.

Flimsy flip-flops aren’t suitable for the work environment. Instead, opt for leather sandals, which will give a more professional image and stop your feet from stinking the office out.

Finally, never be tempted to pad around the office in bare feet, no matter how scorching it is.

In short, use your discretion if you’re planning to wear something that will keep you cool and comfortable at work and ensure that it will have the same effect on the people around you.

And while you’ll probably have a hard battle ahead of you if you’re dead set on donning your crop-top and mini skirt to the office, most bosses will be prepared to allow some concessions to the temperature, such as short-sleeved shirts for the men and looser-fitting clothing for the women – after all, they do have a responsibility to look after your wellbeing.

Just remember that “You're looking very summery today” isn’t always meant as a compliment!