Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg aside, for many men, the days of wearing hoodies and flip-flops to work are over.

After a decade of increasingly casual office dress requirements (inspired by Zuckerberg's 1990s Silicon Valley predecessors), CEOs began demanding a more polished look beginning with the 2001 recession. By 2002, more formal dress codes had been reinstated by 19 percent of companies with more than $500 million in revenues, according to a Men's Apparel Alliance survey.

"The 2001 recession gave Americans a taste of the tougher job market," says Darnell Jones, a  business professional and creator of TUKZ Undergarments for men, (www.TUKZ.com), which have clasps that ensure shirts stay tucked.

"Then along came the Great Recession in December 2007 and, with it, the layoffs and high unemployment we're still experiencing. Today, if you want to get hired and if you want to get promoted, you've got to look like you mean business."

Jones notes that it's not just corporate leaders who want a more professional-looking workforce. In a 2012 survey by Salary.com, nearly 25 percent of respondents said their workplace's dress code is too lenient. Less than 10 percent said theirs was too strict.

"Right or wrong, how much care you take - or don't take - with your appearance communicates a lot about you," Jones says. "If you take pride in how you look, you probably take pride in the work you do. If your outfits are thrown-together or dated, you may be reckless with details and not up on the latest in your profession."

If you're ready to give up your office hoodie, but aren't sure what to replace it with, Jones offers these tips:

• Get a navy blue or gray blazer or suit coat: Solid colors are best, although pinstripes are fine, too. Get the best material you can afford. If wearing a jacket all day doesn't fit with your workplace vibe, keep one in your office or cubicle to have handy just in case. Whether it's a surprise visit from a client or an unexpected meeting with the CEO, slipping on a jacket is an easy way to make a good impression.

• Watch your feet: Invest in a good pair of lace-up shoes -- brown, black or, better yet, both. (The color should complement your trousers and match your belt.) Avoid square-toed shoes -- they're dated. Be sure your shoes are polished, and replace the heels when they get run down, particularly if you're going on a job interview or attending an important meeting. Of course, you'll need socks, too. They should coordinate with the color of your trousers - and with each other!

• Avoid the peacock effect: Your shirt should be a solid color - no patterns and no hot pinks. Be sure it's pressed. An undershirt is a must; it helps prevent unsightly perspiration stains and unwanted views of underlying body parts. If you're not wearing a tie and leaving the top button or two undone, make sure the T-shirt collar is not visible at your throat. If you're wearing a coat, about a half-inch of shirt cuff should be visible at your wrist.

• Flatter your face with a V-neck: A good-quality gray, V-neck pullover sweater worn over a blue dress shirt is a great look for business casual. The bottom of the sweater should stop at your belt line.

"You'll be amazed at how much more seriously people take you when you look the part," Jones says.

"The best thing is, dressing well makes you stand taller and feel more confident. That's really a winning look."

About Darnell Jones

Darnell Jones is the founder and president of TUKZ Undergarments, LLC, specializing in a unique functionality that prevents shirts from becoming un-tucked. He earned his bachelor's in health with an emphasis in management at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colo. Jones' vision is for TUKZ Underwear to reside in every household to improve appearance and build confidence in men and women of all ages. He currently serves as an investor and a Region Manager for Olive Medical Corp.

One simple yet profound quote by Emily Dickinson might summarize the position of women throughout much of the history of the United States: "I dwell in possibility."

Today, women have choices that most of their predecessors just a half century ago did not. Professions once dominated by men are open to them; they can have a successful career and a family -- or choose to remain independent throughout their lives.

"As we observe Women's History Month in March, we need to take stock of our past but also look to the future," says Elayne James, author of "Destiny's Call," the first installment of the young adult fantasy series "The LightBridge Legacy," (www.lightbridgelegacy.com).

"This year's emphasis during Women's History Month is on the STEM fields - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. I understand that the United States is lagging in these disciplines, but I join my voice with the many who feel the arts and STEM education should not be mutually exclusive. Both are equally important, and actually very complementary fields of study, for both girls and boys."

James reviews the many ways in which the arts can benefit a young woman's education:

• Mentors and outside-the-box teaching: Young girls need to learn in many different ways and by using all their senses, including their innate creativity. "Parents and educators in the STEM disciplines often have a clear agenda for kids, but mentors in the arts teach students to tap into a more personal well," says James. "That kind of individual evolution supports girls heading into their teen years by instilling a level of confidence and sense of self that traditional education doesn't always provide. They will be better equipped for the emotional complexities and challenges of being young women."

• Ample studies supporting academic improvement: Research throughout the past decade and earlier consistently show students who participate in arts perform higher on tests involving critical thinking, reading comprehension, oral examinations and various standardized tests. Studies from the Arts Education Partnership, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Rand Corp., Johns Hopkins University and several school districts reveal comprehensive benefits to arts education, including an improved ability to adjust to real-world circumstances.

• The STEM fields are not monolithic: Anyone who thinks the STEM disciplines do not require creative thought does not understand them, James says. As in the visual arts, music and literature, there are rules to follow in STEM, but advances in these fields come with inspiration and ingenuity. "What better way to illustrate creative genius than with the arts?" she says. "Women's History Month is a reminder of the strides women have made in every field - a young girl is not an island unto herself, and neither are her interests."

•  A reason to stay in school: James credits the arts for saving her academic career. "I'd fallen in with a bad group in high school my freshman year; kids who didn't care about school and thought it was 'cool' to defy authority," she says. "I began ditching class every day. If it weren't for acceptance into one of the school's musical arts programs, my life would've been very different. Instead of becoming a high school dropout, I became an honor student, going from 'F's to 'A's, from hating school to loving it. Because of music, I graduated with a 4.0 GPA, and got into a good college. The arts literally transformed my life."

"The arts programs keep kids interested and involved in school, keeps their cognitive skills sharp, and provides vital social interaction, fostering rich relationships that can last a lifetime," says James. "Art teaches the perception of beauty. It is essential humankind. Without it we would surely perish."

About Elayne James

Elayne G. James has been a lifelong advocate of the arts. In addition to being an author, she has been a recording artist, a Hollywood sound effects editor, a successfull playwright, a theatrical lighting designer, a graphic artist and a professional photographer. Through her series The LightBridge Legacy, she inspires young people to embrace their individuality and believe in themselves. She lives in Southern California.

What: International Week at Rivermont Collegiate

When: Monday, 2/25 - Friday, 3/1

Why: To celebrate the diversity of our school community!  This year, theme days will be celebrated by continent.

Mon. - South America

Tues. - Europe

Wed. - Asia

Thurs. - Africa

Fri. - Australia

Special Events with GREAT Photo Opportunities:

Zumba! - Monday, 2/25 (South America Day)

(with Rivermont parent and owner of local studio Salsa Touch Latin Dance, Bettinna Bolger)

Grades 6-12 - 1:45-2:30 p.m.

Grades K-5 - 2:45-3:15 p.m.

African Dance - Thursday, 2/28 (Africa Day)

(with Rivermont parent Karen Roebuck)

Grades K-12 - 8:20 a.m.

International Food Festival - Friday, 3/1

A Carnival of Continents - take your tummy around the world with cooking demonstrations, parade of nations, and more - see attached flier!