Many nurses lament the fact that their personal flair is squelched beneath the animal and flower prints of the typical medical-practice garb.

They often feel frustrated because their matching apparel might influence their ability to receive individual accolades or promotions.

While most uniformed professionals are evaluated based on their skills and performance rather than their snazzy attire, when fashion plays a role in defining who you are, uniforms can become a major barrier in attempts to break away from the pack.

If you fall into this category – feeling fashion-challenged by your humdrum workaday wear – here are a few ideas you might use to stand out, at least occasionally, from your colleagues.

* Jewelry and accessories can make a big difference. Sweep up your hair with a fun rhinestone-studded hair clip, or give yourself a splash of color with a beaded choker.

* When the dress code is merely color coded, such as white tops and black pants (this is often the case for hair stylists and restaurant staff), revel in the fact that your fashion universe has been somewhat narrowed for you, and then find the outfit that best expresses your style. Perhaps it’s black pants with stretch and a white criss-cross top, or black jeans and a white button-down oxford.

* Occasionally, meet up with your colleagues outside your place of business in venues that allow you to show off your fashionable side. Invite the boss over for dinner, or meet the crew for happy hour. Along those same lines, arrive in style at the next holiday party or office picnic. Ladies, now is the time to pull out that new ruffled skirt – or to roar with a different kind of animal print. Guys, spring has arrived with colorful jackets and more slim silhouettes, mixing casual with elegant and feminine with masculine, so take your pick – there’s something for everyone.

* When you’re most fed up with your uniform, look on the bright side: Work wear, like all apparel, is benefiting from advances in fabric performance and comfort. Best of all, you don’t have to figure out what to wear!

Finally, remember that clothes are important, but the people who really count will see what is there beyond the uniform.

Now, for a pair of this week’s letters.

Dear Jordan:

My wife says I should pitch any suits I’ve had longer than five years. Is this a good rule of thumb? Are the fashions that different?

– Dan, Long Island City, N.Y.

Dear Dan:

I don’t think there’s a specific rule of thumb. A nice, conservative suit can see you through many years as long as it retains its shape – and still fits! If you tend to buy trendy pieces straight off the catwalk, then five years might be too long. There are no hard and fast rules, so evaluate each piece individually.

Dear Jordan:

I couldn’t believe I was the only executive at the corporate awards banquet not wearing a black cocktail dress. Instead, I wore a conservative style red chiffon and felt very out of place. Are there women out there wearing color?

– Terry, Floral Park, N.Y.

Dear Terry:

While some fashion-trend services are screaming “black is out” from the hilltops, you’ve discovered that the reality is quite a bit different. But take heart, Americans really are embracing color. It’s on the streets and in the storefront windows. Next time you wear that red dress, know that you stand out like a rose, not a lobster.

Ms. Speer is the senior editor of an apparel business magazine and has been writing about the industry for more than nine years. Readers should send workplace or corporate fashion questions to styleforsuccess@aol.com.