Kepcher's book

Carolyn Kepcher has just released a book, Carolyn 101: Business Lessons from The Apprentice's Straight Shooter, (Fireside Hardcover; $21.95) in which she offers tips on, among other things, becoming a good manager and employee; maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life; acing a job interview; asking for a promotion; and dealing with a difficult boss.

"After you get your entry-level job with that paycheck, take some of that money and invest in your No. 2 interview suit and then No. 3," advises Carolyn Kepcher, executive vice president of the Trump Organization and one of Donald Trump's advisers on The Apprentice.

"Always try to dress a step ahead. The better you look, the more confident you are," she says.

Kepcher says it's important to always look classy, no matter what the occasion is.

"Everything has to be appropriate, but throw in a little color and a little personality. Me, personally, I'd walk in wearing a red dress with a red blazer and a higher-heel shoe," she says.

"A little flair shows confidence. It shows a little experience."

It also pays to pay attention to detail.

"If someone walks in with a Louis Vuitton set with a wallet and a bag, it sort of sets her apart. It says you've made it," says the chief operating officer of Trump National Golf Clubs.

But again, she stresses the appropriateness of a look. "If that same girl had walked in at 18, you'd know that the Louis Vuitton was a gift."

Cotton Incorporated, an industry research and marketing company, put together the following list of staples for a working woman's wardrobe:

• Black skirt that hits just above the knee.

• Twin set which has elements that can be worn together or separately.

• Classic white shirt.

• Pantsuit in a seasonless fabric that won't wrinkle easily.

• The "right" jacket that can be worn with jeans, slacks or a skirt.

• Black pants that can be worn with a tailored button-down shirt or a sheer blouse.

• Feminine blouse, an easy way to show off personal style.

• Little black dress that can be dressed up or down.

• Black turtleneck, particularly a formfitting version that can be worn alone or under a sweater.

• High-quality pumps and loafers for shoes, and simple and subtle jewelry. A slim black belt in a smooth or textured leather also is a necessity.

Interview outfits are very important, Kepcher says, because besides the initial "hello," clothing is what forms a first impression. It's also important, though, not to let your style slide after winning a job, especially if you want to move up that company's ladder.

She says at casting calls for The Apprentice, candidates have shown up in T-shirts with goofy faces and sayings while others go the more traditional route. The T-shirt wearers get attention but then she wonders, "How seriously can I take this guy?" A man in a tie, however, is showing respect to a potential employer.

Kepcher suggests taking this "appropriateness test" before walking out the door for an interview or an important meeting with your boss:

"If you look in the mirror and your conscience at first says 'maybe,' don't stand there trying to justify it. Change, otherwise you'll regret it."