Although research has shown that physical attractiveness helps people get ahead, there can be too much of a good thing.

A study in the latest issue of Psychology of Women Quarterly finds that a sexy self-presentation with high-heels, a tight skirt and a low-cut blouse can hurt a businesswoman's effectiveness.

Men and women were shown a video of a businesswoman discussing her general background and hobbies. The script and actress remained the same, but her dress and job changed.

The sexiness manipulation had no effect on judgments of a receptionist. But a sexy manager was viewed as less competent when compared with a more professionally dressed counterpart, who wore flat shoes, slacks and a turtleneck. Sexy managers evoked hostile emotions and were deemed less intelligent.

Participants rated the woman on her competence, and estimated her GPA and how selective her alma mater was.

"Although various media directed toward women … encourage women to emphasize their sex appeal, our results suggest that women in high status occupations may have to resist this siren call to obtain the respect of their co-workers," the authors concluded.

The study's authors said a female manager whose appearance emphasized her sexiness was viewed with the perception of less competence on a subjective rating scale and less intelligence on an objective scale.