When looking for apparel suitable for a trek up the hill and a seat in a lecture hall, some students search no further than their bedroom floor. Piles of rumpled T-shirts and hole-ridden jeans can provide endless wardrobe options for students with little desire, time or cash to invest in fashion. On campus there is no requirement for how many times each week you must shower, shampoo or shave, and if you’re still wearing socks adorned with Christmas trees in August, no one will disapprove.

But when you leave the casual campus atmosphere for a professional working environment, you’re going to have to trade your sweats in for something nicer, something cleaner and in most cases something that fits in the category of “business casual.”

At Sprint, after years of keeping the employee dress code strictly “business,” the company has recently made the switch to “business casual.” But adding the “casual” doesn’t mean employees can throw out their suits and head to work in the laid-back apparel they donned during their college years. Blue jeans, T-shirts, shirts with offensive logos, tennis shoes and revealing clothing are still not considered suitable attire for Sprint employees, says Diane Shoemaker-Katz, director of human resources and employee relations at the company.

Regardless of the dress code within the office or company at which you are applying, when interviewing for a position it is imperative to dress professionally. People will judge you first by what they see and how you smell, says Tammy Edwards, director of diversity and inclusion for Sprint Nextel.

Wearing a business suit reflects your judgment and professionalism and demonstrates to the interviewer that you care about the interview and the prospective position, says Nancy Burford, staffing manager for Sprint.

First impressions should never be a deciding factor in whether to hire an applicant, says Laura Guilbault, a media production specialist at Reebok, but they do serve some purpose.

“If I went into an interview and the applicant was in sneakers, shorts or jeans, right off the bat I sense that this person isn’t taking the interview very seriously,” she says. “So I ask myself, ‘How seriously would they take the job?’” Guilbault describes the dress code for employees at Reebok as casual and “pretty lenient.” Sneakers are clearly a standard, jeans are OK as long as they are not ripped, and several men and women within her office wear multiple earrings in their ears as well as nose and eyebrow piercings, she says.

However, Guilbault says that when preparing for an interview, it’s always better to give a little more in the area of self-presentation than it is to slack off. Take the extra time the night before an interview to assemble your look and iron your outfit. Being greeted by an applicant wearing a wrinkled shirt and mismatched socks immediately alerts the interviewer that you aren’t serious about the position.

For Burford, the worst interview experiences usually involve poor personal hygiene or inappropriate clothing worn by the applicant. Always wash your hands before you enter the meeting and shake the interviewer’s hand. Because you’ll be doing a lot of talking during the interview, bring along a few mints to keep your breath crisp and fresh. Also, Burford says to remember to make sure the interviewer can see your face. She once met with an applicant who left his sunglasses on during the interview, without explaining why he was wearing them. He probably didn’t get the job.

Edwards advises that when interviewing for a job — and even after you get the position — to keep personal hygiene and grooming habits simple and tasteful. You don’t want unnecessary distractions, such as too much makeup or too much cologne, to derail your career, she says. She also recommends that skin exposure for both men and women always be kept to a minimum. For most working environments, Edwards says skirts should be no shorter than a hand’s width above the knee, shirts and blouses should always have sleeves and there should be no visible cleavage for women.

Appropriate apparel in the workplace can vary as much as individual style. A person who works at a bank will be expected to dress differently than someone working at a coffee house, Edwards says. And while dress codes at Reebok and Sprint are becoming more casual, the opposite could be happening at the company to which you are applying.

Seeking the advice of someone in your field before heading to an interview can give you a better sense of what is expected of you and your style. But, when in doubt, pick something clean, something professional and something in which you feel comfortable.

No matter how casual the office dress code, you will undoubtedly have to make a few new clothing purchases upon entering the working world. Take some advice from the experts on what every working man and woman should own.

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STRAIGHT from the Experts

Robbie Laughlin: Dishes out fashion and style advice on the E! Network’s The Daily Ten and created makeovers for Bravo’s 2005 series Queer Eye for the Straight Girl.

Kathy Swanson: Owner of Spectators, 710 Massachusetts St.

Kathryn Finney: Blogs under the alias The Budget Fashionista and wrote How to Be a Budget Fashionista.

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STAPLES FOR WOMEN:

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The business suit with accompanying trouser and/or skirt

Robbie says: Having a basic suit gives you several classic pieces you can draw upon and add to for additional looks.

Kathy says: Once you enter the professional world, you should invest in quality clothing that will last for a few years, so spend time researching the different suit cuts and colors available. There are few rules when it comes to fashion today, so feel free to choose narrow or wide skirts, long or cropped pants, high-waist or low-waist bottoms, and jackets with or without added detail. The key is to find pieces that fit your body well and complement your style.

The Budget Fashionista says: Your first professional purchase should be a basic black three-piece suit. Buying the pieces in black allows you to get a lot of wear out of the suit without people noticing you are wearing the same thing over and over again. The skirt should hit mid-knee or a bit below to accentuate the thinnest part of your leg. Avoid jackets with heavy embroidery or detail; this distinction will give away the fact you wear the outfit often.

The blouse

Robbie says: Wearing tops adorned with feminine touches such as ruffles, lace, ties or bows underneath a suit jacket can add texture to a classic look. Pair the same trousers or skirt with different blouses to create multiple outfits.

Kathy says: The color, style and fabric weight of a blouse depend entirely on the comfort level of the individual. However, you’ll get the most wear out of blouses that aren’t too sheer, fussy or trendy.

The Budget Fashionista says: Adding color to the basic suit can be done with sweaters and tops. Blouses and tops in basic and muted colors are best if you’re entering a conservative industry. But if you’re working in a more liberal environment, colorful blouses are a great way to show off your personal style.

The dress

Robbie says: The wrap dress is flattering on all women’s body types. A simple change in shoes and accessories can instantly transform the casual dress into a more formal look.

Kathy says: A dress should never be too short or revealing. Make sure to shop around and find a cut that fits your body well. Many dresses can be worn in the office if paired with a jacket or sweater.

The dress shoes

Robbie says: Pointed and round-toe pumps have never gone out of style. Buying a pair of black and brown pumps allows you to combine them with any outfit.

Kathy says: Dress flats are appropriate for work, but never sandals. If you wear an open-toed heel or flat, make sure your pedicure is a subtle color rather than anything too distracting. Save loud, bright polishes for your time away from the office.

The intimates

The Budget Fashionista says: Invest in high-quality undergarments. Go to a department store and get properly fitted. A tight bra can give the appearance of a third boob and poor-fitting underwear leaves your midsection clumpy and bumpy.

To keep everything smooth and moving in the right direction, buy shaping undergarments such as ASSETS by Sara Blakely (the same woman who invented SPANX).

Whether to wear panty hose or stockings is left to your personal style and work environment. If everyone around you is wearing panty hose under their skirts, you should be wearing them as well. If your profession permits, patterned hosiery and stockings can also be a fun — and inexpensive — way to add style and personality to your outfit.

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STAPLES FOR MEN:

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The suit

Robbie says: Single- and two-button suits are flattering on every body type. Buy your first suit in a dark charcoal or gray color. This classic color palette gives you the opportunity to dress it up and add color with a bright tie or button-up shirt underneath.

The Budget Fashionista says: The fit of a suit is a sort of status symbol among men. You should always go to a store and be custom fitted for your suit. There should be no indentations in the shoulder or armpit area — if there are, either the body or the sleeves of the jacket are too large. The sleeves should land slightly past the wrist and the pants should make a break at the tops of your shoes. Make sure that any patterns, such as pinstripes, match from top to bottom and are all going in the same direction.

The dress shoe

Robbie says: For a man in the professional world, you don’t want to go crazy with shoes. It’s always best to select a more conservative and classic shoe to go with a pair of slacks or trousers. You can never go wrong with a classic wingtip, loafer or lace-up.

The Budget Fashionista says: Men need to invest in a good pair of shoes and keep them polished and looking great.

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STAPLES FOR BOTH SEXES:

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The trench coat

Robbie says: In addition to being extremely trendy right now, trench coats really do stand the test of time. Buying them in black, tan or khaki allows you to wear them year round and with any outfit. Make sure to buy a coat that hits you just at or above the knee, no longer.

The Budget Fashionista says: All men and women should own a trench coat with removable lining, which they can wear most of the year. Buying a three-quarter length black or khaki trench coat allows you to wear it with both dressy and casual outfits.

The jeans

Robbie says: Everyone should own two great-fitting pairs of jeans. Find the cut that’s most flattering for your body type and understand that the style and cut that works best for you might not be the one on the cover of every magazine.

For men, dressing up jeans for work can be as simple as topping a pair with a stylish button-up or T-shirt under a blazer. When picking out a boot or a loafer to dress up your denim, pick a pair with a lot of style. Because you’re pairing this shoe with jeans, it doesn’t need to be as conservative as the pair you wear with slacks.

For women, wearing your favorite pair of jeans with an embellished heel or boot can instantly add style to a simple look. Wearing a fitted, feminine jacket over a pair of jeans and shirt can make jeans suitable for the office.

The Budget Fashionista says: Once you start working professionally, you don’t need to spend as much money on building the casual section of your closet because you don’t wear these clothes as much. Unless the office dress code allows you to wear jeans to work, don’t spend more than $50 on a pair.

The accessories

Robbie says: If you have extra money in your budget, spend it on accessories such as bags and watches. You can wear these pieces with any outfit.

Kathy says: Jewelry you wear to work should never be too trendy or make a lot of noise.

The Budget Fashionista says: Use necklaces and bracelets to jazz up your business suit, but don’t spend a lot of money on these pieces.