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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Building a functional wardrobe means making smart choices about where to spend and where to save. A basic rule of thumb is this: Anything with a short shelf life should not be a splurge; save your money for pieces that will last more than one season.

So where can you cut corners?

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It’s inevitable - when planning an outfit for an upcoming event, I always go shopping for something new to wear. This behavior doesn’t do my pocketbook or the slew of clothing in my closet any favors. Truth is, I have plenty of clothing items to wear, but many of them just don’t fit exactly how I want. (A gaping waistline, the wrong inseam length, etc.)

Most of the items in question were found on sale, thus my “it’s not perfect, but it’s such a good deal” mentality. Yet these items end up gathering dust for reasons that, with the right tailor, could be very easily fixed. A snip here and a tuck there can instantly make a huge difference!

InStyle magazine recently published a piece on tailoring for perfection. Here are some tips for finding a skilled tailor, as well as what you can do to common items of clothing to create the perfect look.

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