陳豪在北京的ABC美國公司工作。他上班中間休息，跟美國同事Amy一起下樓喝茶。
(Office ambience)
C：Amy, 你干嘛老看我的腳啊？
A：I'm sorry. I just couldn't help noticing that you aren't wearing socks today.
C：天兒太熱了，不穿襪子還涼快點兒。
A：Personally, that might be all right, but professionally that's a bad decision.
C：為什么？我見過很多人上班都不穿襪子的。
A：However, at ABC Company, professional dress is important for our corporate image.
C：我上班穿西裝，打領帶，這還不夠嗎？
A：No. Would you consider not wearing a shirt with your coat and tie?
C：我當然不會光著膀子穿西裝打領帶了。
A：Then you shouldn't consider wearing your shoes without socks. If your boss Mr. Jones sees you, he will not be pleased.
C：那可壞了。我可我沒帶襪子。這怎么辦呀？
A：Avoid Mr. Jones at all cost. Then buy some socks when you go out for lunch today. There's a department store right around the corner.
C：你說得對，我得先躲著點兒老板，中午吃飯的時候趕緊去商店買襪子穿上。I will see you later.
******
MC：午飯后，陳豪找到Amy.
A：Chen Hao, did you find any socks?
C：我正準備穿上呢！天兒熱，所以我買了兩雙白襪子，起碼比深顏色的襪子涼快點兒。
A：Oh dear.
C：怎么了？
A：White socks are inappropriate for corporate dress. They are more for athletic wear and outdoor attire.
C：啊？白襪子是跑步打球穿的，不是上班穿的。怎么這么多講究呀！好在我還買了一雙深色的。服務員一直向我推銷高腰兒的，就是可以拉到小腿肚兒上來的那一種。我覺得太熱，沒買。
A：Oh dear.
C：又怎么了？
A：You should have listened to the salesman. Short socks just won't do in the business environment.
C：那為什么？
A：It's because when you sit down and cross your legs in short socks, you expose everyone around you to the sight of your hairy legs.
C：Amy, 我從來沒想到穿襪子還有這么多講究。
A：Your business attire is extremely important "right down to your socks".
C：這么說，我穿成什么樣兒也會影響到公司形象了。看來我下班還得再去買襪子，Amy，你陪我去吧，完了事兒我請你吃飯。
A：Thank you. I'll look forward to that.
C：Amy，你能不能再告訴我一下上班要穿什么樣的襪子。這樣我心里就有數了。
A：Avoid white socks and short socks. The right sock in business is the one that covers your calf and matches your shoes and pants.
