The midi skirt has an irresistible appeal; long enough to cover all your lady parts, but not so long that you’ll step on it or get tangled in it. If you’re looking for a chic skirt option for the office, the midi is it.

But the midi skirt can be difficult to wear — style it wrong and you’ll look like you’re on your way to the convent. Here are three simple ways to make a midi look hip.

Show some skin. Pair your midi with a V neck blouse or sweater — nothing too low-cut, just something that opens up the top half of your outfit. Or opt for a boatneck tee or sweater with bracelet-length sleeves. Skip the turtleneck and buttoned-up button down — that’s the fast track to frumpville.

Show off your legs. The nice thing about a midi skirt is that it covers your legs; the difficult thing about the midi skirt is that it can cut them off and make them look short. Pair your midi with a little heel, to lengthen your legs. Pass on the flats — they’ll make you look short and stumpy.

Keep it casual. The midi skirt has a retro look that is sweet and chic. But too much dressing up and your cool retro look suddenly turns into a costume. Pair your midi with a slouchy tee or sweater, to balance the overtly ladylike line of the skirt. Choose something a little boyish to keep your look hip and young.

Are you rocking a midi this winter? What’s your strategy for making this retro look current and cool?

Photos via Madewell, Shabby Apple, J. Crew

Unless you are an actual rodeo queen, you do not need all that going on behind you. And if you are an actual rodeo queen, I have to wonder if it’s really comfortable to ride a horse with your backside all bedazzled like that.

Let’s go in for a closer look, shall we?

Whoa.

Here’s the thing about jeans with any sort of embellishment on the back pockets: your eye is drawn immediately to that spot, always. It’s the same principle as wearing a statement necklace or a striking pair of earrings or, heck, a tiara — we look at the sparkly stuff. But in this case, the sparkly stuff is on your derriere. Which means that’s where everyone is looking.

If you’re Pippa Middleton, that’s fine. The rest of us, though, would probably prefer that people look us in the face and not gaze at our bums.

Rhinestones, like flap pockets, inevitably make your tush look bigger, and while I know there are girls who lament their pancake bottoms, most of us are trying to play down the junk in our trunks. Blinging out your backside is not the way to do that.

So please, women of America, stop with the bedazzled jeans — and, while I’m at it, get rid of those sweat pants with the writing across the backside. Give your bum the respect it deserves and cover it with a pair of properly fitting, plain-pocket jeans — and save the glitz for your top half.

Are embellished jeans a trend where you live, or is this specific to the Great State of Oklahoma (and our neighbor Texas, and probably Arkansas as well)?

Miss Me Jeans, $109 at Macy’s

Recently at The Working Closet Facebook page (did you know that The Working Closet had a Facebook page? Well now you do!), Shannon mentioned that she doesn’t own a blouse. “Can you tell I never go anywhere nice?” she joked.

But here’s the thing about a blouse: when you’re wearing a blouse — instead of a t-shirt, for example — it makes everywhere you go somewhere nice.

Trading your basic tee for a blouse is the sartorial equivalent of swapping your everyday dishes for your wedding china: it changes the tone of what is otherwise a pretty normal event. Dinner served on the china is always more festive, no matter what the food is; a day where you put on a blouse with your jeans will be a little more special than a day where you just grab that same old tee.

I promise.

A blouse doesn’t have to be complicated; look for styles that flatter your shape in fabrics that work with your lifestyle. There are some terrific machine-washable options, for those of us who are still wrangling little kids with dirty hands (or just trying to cut down on the dry cleaning). And the best part about a blouse is that it’s a piece you can truly dress up or down. You could pair any of the blouses pictured here with jeans and a cardigan for a day with the kids, or with a sharp skirt and a jacket for a day at the office.

Are you a blouse girl? How are you styling your blouses — are they part of your everyday closet or do you save them for special occasions?

Pictured: Old Navy pintucked satin blouse, Zara blouse with pleated collar, J. Crew polka dot popover

Color can be daunting, especially if you’re a neutrals girl at heart (as I am). Neutrals are safe and classic, while color — especially bright hues — can feel a little over-the-top. But you can make a vibrant shade work with a neutral closet; the trick is to let the color speak for itself.

Stick with classic shapes and styles. The trench pictured above, from Banana Republic, is perfect example; it’s basic shape is totally amped up by the bright pink color. (Gap has a similar trench available now, too, for $75 less. Score.)

Pair your hot pink trench with a simple white shirt and navy pants; the neutral silhouette grounds the trench and keeps it from being too much. Plus, how fun would a bright trench be on a rainy spring day?

(Note: if you’re over 30, think twice about girly colored rain boots. A bright trench is fine, but pink boots are for kids. Trust me.)

If you’re ready to take the plunge, opt for wardrobe staples in a bright colors. A cardi is a good place to start; layer it over a tee or button down in a neutral shade, or — if you’re feeling daring — a blouse in a complimentary color. Mix colors and patterns; I love the idea of a bright yellow sweater with a navy polka dot skirt, or a basic black and white striped tee with a pink skirt. Mix colorful pieces with neutrals for a look that’s fresh and fun (but doesn’t make you look like you escaped from a clown college).

Want to take it up a notch? Layer colors in the same family — a pink skirt and a red sweater, for example, or a turquoise dress and a periwinkle cardi. Or pair complimentary colors, like orange and blue. Not sure what colors work with what others? Brush up on your basic color theory and then start mixing and matching.

Not ready for a hot pink trench? The easiest way to add color to an outfit is with accessories. A bright scarf works with all your neutrals and can change the look of any outfit. Or give your all-black ensembles a pop with a bright bag or some colorful shoes.

Are you rocking colors for spring? Will you go head to toe, or just an accent? And what’s your favorite palate? (I’m partial to the pinks and blues.)

I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions, largely because by the end of two weeks of everyone who lives in my house home from work/school and with me all the time, I’m pretty much resolving to go live in a hermitage and not talk to another person for the next 365 days. It’s hard to be rational after the holidays, people.

I do, however, like the “fresh start” feeling January brings, and I typically take a moment around the new year to think about my wardrobe. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been hiding in my closet for the past week, staring at my clothes while I try to get a little peace and quiet, or if it’s because all the stores are rolling out their spring lines, but I’m ready for a sartorial change this new year. I don’t have the energy to overhaul my whole look, though, so I’ve decided to do something simple and make 2012 the Year of Color.

I own a lot of great neutral pieces, bought with careful thought and focused intent; neutrals are practical and versatile and are easy to mix and match with everything. Recently, though, I’ve started to notice that my winter wardrobe options consist almost entirely of neutrals that I’m combining with … other neutrals. Which is a little boring, frankly.

I’m looking for ways to inject color into my existing wardrobe, for pieces that I can pair with my neutrals. I recently bought a pair of red skinny jeans and I’m still a little stunned by how versatile they are — and also by how many navy and black tops I own. I’m currently on the lookout for a bright green cardigan and a hot pink maxi skirt, among other things, both of which will liven up my navy-and-black closet considerably.

What’s your New Year’s style resolution? On Friday, we’ll talk about strategies for making over-the-top color work with your classic basics. It’s easy, I promise.

Photo via Kate Spade New York

Birchbox is like having a personal beauty products shopper right in your pocket. For $10 a month, they send you a box with 4 - 5 carefully tested and vetted products; each box is tailored to your needs by a questionnaire you fill out when you register. The sample-size products include makeup, hair care, fragrance and skin care, as well as one or two non-cosmetic treats (in November, I got beautiful letterpress coasters; this month, it was fashion tape and an energy boosting drink — perfect for the holidays). Birchbox also offers subscribers deals on orders of full-sized products — if you get something in your text box that you just can’t live without, you can score it for less on the website.

I love the test box idea. I’m not someone who goes to Sephora or Ulta and shops for beauty products; I never know what to buy and I get overwhelmed by the options. Having just a few things show up at my door is a terrific way to test things out without any stress. It’s also super fun to get a box of products every single month, especially when the products are wrapped up so nicely and delivered right to my door. And for $10, it feels like a steal, every month. So far, I’ve discovered the world’s best concealer and a lip gloss that I cannot live without. I’m also smitten with some hand cream that I never would have tried if left to my own devices. And yesterday’s Birchbox included a perfume sample, which smells divine.

If you’re still looking for a gift for your sister or BFF (or if you’re just looking to treat yourself) a Birchbox subscription is the gift that keeps on giving. Give a 3, 6, or 12 month subscription, or give her a Birchbox gift card, to spend however she likes (perfect for girls who are extra picky about their beauty products). Birchbox carries an extensive range of luxe products — there’s something for everyone.

Make it a happy and beautiful new year for her this year.

But I feel very strongly about having one good pair of jeans. I think I have two in my stash (on loan to the girlfriend), and I love them both. But alas, I don’t have them. Should I just stick it out until she has her baby or should I bite the bullet and buy a new pair? I tried a pair of full-panel maternity boot-cuts at GAP maternity, and I gasped — they looked so amazing and felt soooooo comfortable. But it was about $70 at the store. Right now, as I am typing this email, there is an online promotion for 40% off your purchase, and the jeans would be just under $40. that’s still a lot of money to me, ESPECIALLY for one item of maternity wear.

“What should I do? Any other cheap/free alternatives come to mind?”

Maternity clothes can seem like a crazy investment; we buy them knowing that we’re only going to wear them for a short time and then they will be totally useless until we get pregnant again. The temptation to scrimp on maternity wear is hard to resist, but every mama need a few good pieces in your closet to get her through.

Jane should bite the bullet and buy the jeans, for a couple of reasons. The first is practical: she doesn’t have any jeans that fit just now, and with two other littles at home, she needs at least one great pair of jeans to wear around every day. She can dress them up or down and pair them with non-maternity pieces to get her through this part of her pregnancy, which means that she can wear them anywhere.

Jane has two other pairs of maternity jeans that she likes, but until her friend has that baby (and stops wearing the maternity clothes) she can’t get them back. And honestly, it could be months before those jeans make their way back to Jane’s house. This is one of the dangers of loaning out your maternity clothes when you’re still in the baby-making years: you may find yourself wishing you had that big box of clothes back again. While Jane waits for her friend to be done with her clothes, she should snap up one new pair of jeans to get her through, rather than making due with pants that don’t fit properly or with cheaper jeans that won’t wear as well.

And then there’s the issue of fit. Every pregnancy is different, and what fit you the last time around may not fit this time around. I always found that this was particularly true with pants; I had pants that I wore all the time when I was pregnant with my first son that totally did not fit with #2. It’s possible that Jane will get her maternity jeans back from her friend only to find that they’re not as comfy as the pair she tried on at the Gap. Or that they’re looking a little worn from so many launderings. Investing in one new pair of jeans guarantees that Jane will have that perfect pair as her go-to for this pregnancy.

Finally, let’s talk about price. Jane is clearly a careful shopper, and she’s weighing her options here. But she should keep in mind that $40 for well-made maternity jeans that really fit and flatter her is a total steal. Heck, $40 for great non-maternity jeans is a steal! And as much as she’s going to wear these, they’re worth the money, even if it does feel like a splurge. Jane has nearly six more months of her pregnancy to go; she’s going to get her money’s worth out of these jeans in that time (plus however many weeks she wears them after the baby comes). Totally worth while.

What did you splurge on when you were pregnant? Or were you a borrower/bargain shopper? What tips do you have for Jane for staying chic on a budget while she waits for her baby?

Photo via Gap

“I’m going to a holiday party in a few weeks,” writes Laura, “and have a great sleeveless, knee length black wrap dress that I’m going to wear. What kind of hosiery and shoe style would be appropriate this season–not crazy about the vibrant colored tight look. As an additional note, we live near Chicago so it’s quite cold already. Any advice is appreciated.”

Let’s start with hosiery: I would recommend an opaque black tight with Laura’s dress; it’s hipper than a sheer black stocking and will create a nice long leg line. DKNY has super opaque control top tights (also available without the control top, if you prefer). I’m also intrigued by the metal luxe opaque tights, which have just a hint of shimmer — but this is a look for toned, slim legs. Trust me.

Hue has great opaque tights, too, both with and without the control top. And Hue has the best colors, if that’s the route you want to go this winter (I bought a pair in Ink Blue this week — LOVE).

What shoes should Laura pair with her tights? She has a variety of options. A basic black pump is classic, while a bootie or peep toe is a little edgy. A colored pump can be tricky with black tights, but a colored peep toe will work (yes, even with tights). And a patterned pump — in a snakeskin or leopard print — is great with black tights.

If black tights aren’t Laura’s thing, she can do a Kate Middleton and opt for sheer stockings. She needs to choose carefully, though, because cheap stockings will look — well, cheap. Find a pair with a high denier count; they will look more natural and be less likely to run. And choose a pair that matches the color of the skin on your arms, especially if you’re pairing them with a sleeveless dress. You want your legs to look flawless, not like you’re wearing panty hose.

Donna Karan’s The Nudes collection is hands-down the best sheer stocking you can buy; my one complaint is that the shades are limited, so these are best for girls with lighter skin. But these are the most natural look you’ll find anywhere — if you want a nude leg without freezing or exposing any flaws, this is the way to go.

Do not wear nude hose with open-toed shoes or slingbacks, ever; pair your sheer stockings with a classic pump or court shoe, in either a basic neutral or a fun color. Nude hose and skin-toned shoes will make your legs look super long.

What’s your plan for hose and shoes this holiday season? Are you baring your legs or covering up? And let’s hear about your shoes! They’re the best part of party dressing, of course.

Thanksgiving totally snuck up on me this year — I looked at my calendar on Monday and nearly fell over dead because how is it Thanksgiving already??? OMG.

(I love Thanksgiving; it’s my favorite holiday. Lots of eating and no gifts — hooray!)

I’m a big fan of getting dressed up for Thanksgiving dinner, but I know not everyone is. I am totally opposed to showing up at the table in your elastic waist yoga pants, though. I promise you’ll feel more thankful if you put on something more chic than what you wear to pick the kids up at school.

Fortunately, that’s an easy thing to do.

The secret to looking cute and being comfy for the holidays is the legging jean. No, I will not refer to them as “jeggings” (ugh) but I will wholeheartedly recommend them. I have a pair of GAP 1969 lightweight corduroy leggings; they’re super comfy and easy to wear, and they look great. The corduroy is soft and stretchy, but not clingy, and the color is lovely.

My friend Rita found a terrific budget-friendly alternative at Walmart, of all places. She has a pair of Faded Glory jeggings (legging jeans! legging jeans!) in khaki; they have an elastic waist, but other than that, they look like real pants, not like leggings. They’re stretchy and comfy and super cute — perfect for an all-day noshfest like Thanksgiving.

Pair your legging jeans with a longer top, something that covers your waistline; since these are skinny pants, opt for something with a little volume, to balance your top and bottom. Add a dramatic necklace or earrings to dress the whole outfit up just a little, and a pretty pair of flats to finish off the outfit. You’ll look great and be comfortable all day long.

What are your plans for Thanksgiving? Are you dressing up or going casual? And — most important — what are you planning to wear???

Photo: Gap

The holidays are coming, which means that your holiday cards need to be going out — which means that it’s time to take a family photo. While it can be hard enough to get the people who live in your house organized for a photo shoot, once you add in the grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins, well — godspeed to you.

Often the hardest part of the family photo isn’t wrangling the family on the day of but choosing everyone’s outfits ahead of time. Here are a few simple tips to make your family photo a keeper (and not a candidate for Awkard Family Photos).

Talk to your photographer — or, if this is an extended family shoot, to whomever is coordinating the whole deal. Will you be shooting inside or out? In a studio or on location? In front of a neutral backdrop or something more elaborate? Is everyone going to be lined up and posed or doing his or her own thing?

In the case of an extended family photo, be sure to ask whomever is in charge if they have any preferences about how each individual family is dressed. I’m not a fan of having each family unit match, but I know that some families like to do that. I am also not a fan of having the entire family match, or even just the kids, but if that’s what Nana wants, then you need to make sure everyone looks the same. You can do something different when it’s just your family.

(And this may be the push you need to actually have a family photo taken, right?)

If Nana wants everyone in khakis and white shirts, do your best to talk her out of it, for two reasons. White shirts aren’t flattering on anyone; you’ll all wind up looking like Twilight extras, but less sparkly. And khakis can make those of us over 40 look less slim than we may really be. If you really want to do the matchy-matchy photo, think about blue shirts (either a light chambray or a woven menswear dress shirt) for everyone, paired with dark jeans.

(But really, that’s so 1980-something.)

Bright colors are your best option for a family photo. Choose shades in the same family (all warm or all cool) that flatter everyone in the picture. One of the things I love about the Blair family photo (above) is that each one of them is wearing something that looks great, but at the same time all the colors work together to create a cohesive whole. The idea is to find a balance of your own personality and individual style with a sense of family. If you can do that, then the part where you look at the camera and smile will be easy.

What if you’re dealing with kids whose style statement is athletic shorts and a LEGO Star Wars t-shirt? (That can’t just be me, right?) Polo shirts are a simple and stylish fallback for little boys — choose bright, fun colors and pair them with jeans or khakis. If your boys are willing, go with a button down shirt, like Daddy wears — you can even put boys in shirts that look similar to Dad’s. But be wary of having all the boys dressed alike and Mom wearing something different. You want to look like a group, not like The Boys and That Woman.

Girls have lots of color options. A bright dress is always pretty, but so is a neutral dress with a bright cardigan or tights (or both). If your girls are into accessorizing, let them choose a headband or pin or necklace — but keep it to one statement piece per child. Family photos these days often walk the line between being quirky and full of personality and looking like the family raided the costume box for their shoot. You don’t want your picture to be boring but you also don’t want it to be too over-the-top.

Unless your family really is over-the-top. In that case, go for it.

If you’re buying something new for your shoot, I suggest wearing it around for a day or so before the actual session, to get used to the way it moves and fits. The last thing you want on the day of the family photo shoot is to find out that your V neck sweater is cut lower than you anticipated. And you certainly don’t want to get the proofs back and find your boobs front and center in the family holiday photo. That is unless you’re Ice Tea’s wife, in which case more power to you and your boobs.

Are you taking a family photo this season? What’s your strategy for getting everyone dressed?

Photo via Design Mom