I recently suggested that a slip was an easy way to keep a light weight skirt from sticking to tights; Darla asked, “where do you find slips anymore? I don’t think major department stores carry them anymore… or am I just not noticing them?”

Good question.

A slip serves a couple of functions: It will keep your unlined skirt from clinging to your tights, for one, and it will act as a lining for lightweight pieces. Do you ever see those articles about how to make a summery dress or skirt work with your fall wardrobe and wonder how on earth they’re wearing that light cotton dress with sturdy tights and boots? The trick is the slip.

A slip will also help keep your skirt in place; rather than grabbing onto your tights and hiking up, your skirt will lay where it’s supposed to. And if you’re someone who favors a shorter skirt, this is especially important; we’re all trying not to pull a Paris Hilton when we get out of the car.

What kind of slip do you need? The most basic is a half slip; I would suggest an 18 inch length, as this is the most versatile (it will work with shorter and longer skirts).

Clockwise from top left: Vanity Fair half slip, $17.00, Vasarette Body Curves slip, $16.99, Vanity Fair Body Fresh full slip, $30.00, Farr West 21 inch full slip, $58

A second option is a full slip, either a shapewear slip (one that will smooth out the bumps) or a more traditional silky slip, designed to keep clothes from clinging. A full slip is perfect under a sweater dress or lightweight unlined dress.

No matter what kind of slip you choose, be certain that it fits properly; a full slip needs to fit through the bust, and needs to fit over your bra without straining or pulling (the slip itself won’t offer any support, of course). It should skim your hips, rather than being tight, but should also not bunch up under your dress. If you’re really thinking about a full slip, I would suggest one that also works as shapewear, not because you necessarily need to be shaped, but because a shapewear slip will be more structured and more likely to fit well and give you a sleek, clean line.

A half slip should fit well through the waist, so that it’s not turning around during the day; it should have a notched slit that you can turn to line up with any slits in your dress or skirt. Lacy trim is fine, if you like that, but be sure it’s not showing (unless you really mean for it to show, in which case the slip needs to fit well enough that the lace peeks out evenly).

Where do you find a great slip? Department stores still carry slips, although they’re often buried in a corner and sizes can be limited. Online retailers like Bare Necessities will have more size and style options, at a variety of price points. But my favorite place for simple, basic slips is Target; they have a nice selection of very basic Vasarette full and half slips, in a good range of sizes, for under $20. If you’re looking for ways to make your existing closet go further, a simple, inexpensive slip may do the trick.

What are you wearing this week? And — more importantly — have you shared your outfit with The Working Closet Flickr pool? It’s so easy, and so fun; it’s also a great way to get inspired and feel good about what you already have. The Working Closet isn’t about making you feel bad about what you don’t have; it’s about making it work with what you do have.

Although there’s a little bit of shopping enabling, I won’t lie. Because these girls have great taste. So be prepared.

Speaking of shopping and Flickr, Jerilyn is curious about where we’re all getting what we’re wearing.

I’m interested in hearing your theory on budgeting and clothing-expenses…are these pieces that are new or pulled from the back of the closet? Do you have a monthly budget that you follow? I would love to dress super-cute, but find that I don’t want to spend the money (yes, I’m a cheapskate…) I work in an artistic in environment with a lot of men, so jeans, t-shirt and sneakers are the norm, thank god!

It’s a good question; I’ll tell you what I do, and what I recommend, but I’m curious about the rest of you.

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The t-shirt is a staple of all our wardrobes; it goes with everything and can be styled a million ways. Tees are easy to find and easy to wear, but your basic tee can get boring fast, especially if you’re pairing it with jeans every single day. And despite it’s versatility, let’s be honest — a tee is not dressy clothing.

Unless you fancy it up a little. Or a lot.

How cute is this tee? And you can make it at home!

An embellished tee is an easy way to take your ho-hum uniform and turn it into something special — without losing anything in terms of ease or comfort. But embellished tees can be expensive, and there’s no real reason to spend a fortune on a tshirt.

Thanks to Amanda from The Tipsy Society, you don’t have to! (That’s Amanda, pictured above — isn’t she adorable?) Don’t you love her t-shirt? We certainly do! And now you can have one just like it: Amanda has posted a super easy tutorial for making your own ruffled tee at The Tipsy Society (check out today’s “$50 Fridays” post for tips on how to get the “Glee” look for less).

You’ll need a few things to make this tee: “a tee (any neck will do), approximately 2 yards of ruffled or pleated ribbon or blanket/quilt binding, pins, and a needle and thread (you could definitely do this on a sewing machine as well).”

Follow Amanda’s easy directions and soon you’ll be at Step 6: “Step back and admire your work.” I like that step.

Still feeling crafty? Mighty Girl Maggie Mason embellished a vintage cashmere sweater, in imitation of a J. Crew jacket. Her tutorial makes this project sound like something even I could manage (which is saying a lot, you all). A project like Maggie’s or Amanda’s is good if you’re worried that ruffles and flowers are a passing trend — decorate a tee rather than splurging on an embellished jacket or sweater. Chic, easy, and totally affordable.

Not feeling crafty? Pins are a nice alternative. Choose a pin that is lightweight and won’t pull your shirt askew; simple silk or velvet flowers are a nice option. Cluster an odd number together for a corsage look, or opt for a single oversize bloom for a pop. Browse around on Etsy for options, or check your local department store.

And once you’re done embellishing your tee, post a photo in The Working Closet Flickr pool! November is a great month to take pictures of your clothes, girls. Really.

I’ve been photographing my outfits on and off since March of 2007; the resulting Flickr set is over two and a half years of the good, the bad, and the OMGwhatwasIthinking? It shows that I wear the same things over and over again, and also that I tend to buy some pieces in bulk (hello, multiple pairs of the exact same jeans).

In other words, I have A Look.

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This fall, cardigans are everywhere. A great cardi is a simple way to update your wardrobe; cardigans are practical and versatile, so this is one trend that will last beyond this year. Choose a silhouette that works both for your body (wraps are great for curvy girls) and your closet (a slightly dressier sweater is terrific with both jeans and a skirt).

Here are five great options, all for under $100 — wear them for dress and casual, day and night; layer them over other sweaters or tees or blouses. A long sweater coat over a turtleneck and jeans is a great weekend look; for work, wear the same sweater over a dress or skirt and blouse. Add a belt or a pin to give your cardi a personality.

Which cardigan will you opt for? I want them all!

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I have to confess: I sleep in a pair of yoga pants that I bought between pregnancies and a men’s undershirt. The pants are stretched out, the tees are slim but not tight, and both pieces are super soft.

It’s fine for getting in bed and going to sleep, but it’s not exactly pretty. Or presentable.

The holidays are just around the corner, which raises the odds that you’ll find yourself making coffee for your inlaws in whatever it was that you slept in. Instead of scrambling around trying to get dressed or covering up in a bathrobe that’s older than your marriage, invest in some new lounge wear this fall.

Victoria’s Secret is having a sale — and no, I’m not suggesting that you make eggs in a WonderBra. Skip sexy and opt for cozy, with this great cashmere blend wrap. Available in ten shades, it can be styled six different ways. Or just wrapped around you like a snuggly blanket.

Soft and Sexy Wrap, originally $58, now $39

Layer your snuggly wrap over a pair of soft, stretchy pants; opt for a drawstring or wide elastic waistband for comfort, but don’t go too low waisted — you’re looking for pajamas that can leave the bedroom.

Gap Supersoft Cropped Pants, $34.50

Add a pretty tee, one that covers everything up, and you’re all set. This one, from Old Navy, comes in eight colors and has a sweet lace trim. These tees are on sale now for $2.99 - $4.99.

Old Navy Lace Trimmed Lounge Tee, originally $10.50

No matter how cute your lounge wear is, don’t fool yourself into thinking that you can leave the house in it — these are still pajamas, after all. But for those long days when getting dressed just doesn’t seem all that important, treat yourself to something cozy and pretty — and then while away the day curled up on the sofa in your comfiest jammies.

I have a hair appointment next week; as usual, I am obsessing about what I will have my stylist do for me. My hair is already short, so my options are sort of limited. This time, we’re doing color — I’m going darker, which is a new thing for me. I’m really excited.

My hair is an important part of my look; I’m That Girl with the Pixie Cut. I live in a part of the country where big hair is still the norm, so having short hair here is a statement. What does my hair say about me? Lots of things, starting with I am lazy, and also I am styling challenged. The trick, of course, is to get a cut that says something more than that, though — like I’m edgy or quirky or unconventional.

This is my dream hair. Although part of the dream would be looking like Michelle Williams.

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A few weeks ago, I wrote about the importance of proper laundering. I’m a big believer in developing good laundry habits; even the least expensive pieces will last longer and look better if they’re properly cared for.

Seriously.

You all had some questions, though, about hand washing and stain removal, and because I care (I do! I do!) I’d like to answer them. Because seriously, you all, you need to be doing the laundry the right way. Otherwise it hurts me.

Ok not really.

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Emily is looking for “cute, casual, athletic-inspired sneakers for fall,” and I am happy to oblige. (You should know that I take any sort of please-help-me-shop question as a challenge; I love to spend other people’s money help nice people find cute clothes.)

Here are six options, all in the mid-range in price, all practical and comfortable. All six pairs are available at Piperlime, which offers free shipping (toss pieces from other Gap Inc. stores in with your shoes and they will ship free, too).

Puma Cabana Racer, $65, Puma Speeder Mesh II, $62
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We all know that it’s important to take good care of our investment pieces — because we’ve spent so much money on them, of course — but if you take proper care of everything in your closet, your entire wardrobe will look better. In fact, if you’re extra careful with your less expensive things, they will last longer and look more pricey than they will if you ball them up and toss them in the wash without thinking.

The key to making your clothes last and look great is to know what the best choices for laundering are. You have a limited set of options, really: hand wash or machine wash, line dry or tumble dry, dry clean or … not dry clean. But the simplest options — machine wash, tumble dry, dry clean — are the ones that will ruin your clothes.

To keep your wardrobe looking great at every price point, try these laundry alternatives. You’ll be glad you did.

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