Think Looks Don't Matter? Think Again

The ugly truth: The more attractive you're perceived to be, the more you earn and are respected.

By Laura Sinberg, Forbes

If you want to get a raise or a promotion, you might want to throw on a pair of heels and suck in that belly. Your looks can help--or hinder--your chances of getting a well-deserved promotion, regardless of qualifications, especially in a sour economy when advancements are few and hard to come by.

Women who advance most at work, studies agree, are more attractive, thinner, taller and have a more youthful appearance than their female colleagues who are promoted less often.