The sun is blazing, the sky is blue - and you're trapped in a pair of too tight polyester trousers. To top that, the faded flip-flops which complete your outfit aren't doing much to improve the 'stylishly summery-meets efficiently businesslike' look you were aiming for. Sound familiar?

Maintaining a professional image in soaring summer temperatures can seem an impossible task, but the experts say it can be done.

Stylist Ceril Campbell of www.redcarpetglamour.com says many people make the mistake of blending summer holiday-style clothes with their usual workwear - with disasterously unstylish results.

She points out that looking like you've just switched a sun lounger for an office chair can undermine your professional image and affect your performance. The worst mistake is 'letting it all hang out', says Miss Campbell.

"Being cool in the summer is not undressing. The look you absolutely don't want is to look like you've just come off the beach."

Amanda Slader, chief fashion advisor for John Lewis, says that dressing for success in the summer is picking appropriate clothers.

"It all depends on what you're doing in your day," she explains. "If you work in a relaxed atmosphere, it will be a lot easier than if you have to look more formal." But she says that flashing bare flesh should be avoided if you want to maintain the respect of your colleagues.

"It gets hot and we all strip off, but it doesn't look nice or appropriate. Bear in mind your workplace and the people you work with."

Tight clothes are another no-no - they're more likely to show the sweat and feel uncomfortable.

Natural fibres and loose, but not floppy, clothes will help you beat the heat in style, says Ms Campbell.

"Cotton is good, silk is very cool, but stay away from pure linen.

"Most people think of wearing it in the summer, but it's not good for the office, unless it's a linen mix, because it crushes. You don't want to look like you're wearing your pyjamas."

For her, the key to a cool summer work wardrobe is taking something fashionable and turning it into a sharp new look