I'm going to let you in on a secret you might not know about the fashion industry: It's full of really nice, sensible folks.

When I moved from tech journalism to running an assortment of consumer Web sites that included ELLE and ELLEGirl, I didn't know what to expect. (My household watches all the design shows on Bravo, after all.) Divas? Hot messes? Tantrums and tiaras?

In fact, I met some wonderful people with a great deal of common sense about how real people on real budgets can make it work, fashion-wise.

One of those writers — Joyann King — brings that real-world savvy to this week's editorial package on dressing for networking opportunities a little more subtle than a traditional, suit-and-tie interview. What are the latest rules for every occasion, and how can you play with confidence — and even a little flair?

Haute couture may be a fun spectator sport, but understanding today's basic style mores means you can network confidently without denting your image or your bank account. Have fun mixing it up, and please send me your work-wardrobe stories!