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.

In other words, I have A Look.

I like my look, but fall always seems to be when I find myself tumbling into a closet rut. The weather where I live swings wildly between warm and cold all the way up to Thanksgiving, which makes it hard to get dressed each day. Fall is also a transitional season, which means that we’re inundated with new trends and styles, which in turn can make even the most carefully chosen closet seem shabby and out of date. If you’re a mom, the advent of fall — kids in school, weather cooler, a little time to yourself each day or week — also means an opportunity to wear more than just shorts and a t-shirt every day. All of that often translates into a desperate need to shop.

Right now, though, not shopping is the new black — and of course, shopping your closet is the perfect alternative. Taking photos of what you have in the closet is one way to see what works and what doesn’t, and to identify what should stay and what you need to bring home from the mall. Sharing those photos with the group is another way to get feedback on your wardrobe. And committing to a photo every day makes you think harder about what you put on, which is the first step toward a defined personal style. Although it doesn’t mean you will automatically stop opting for yoga pants and a ball cap.

For the month of November, I’m recommitting myself to photographing my outfit every single day. I’ll be sharing those photos at The Working Closet Flickr pool, and looking to see what you all are wearing, too. And I promise that at least once in November, I will spend an entire day in yoga pants and a baseball cap. Seriously.

Want to see what’s in your closet? Commit to thirty days of The Working Closet! To participate, upload your photos to The Working Closet Flickr pool — it’s that simple. Think of it as the 30 Day Shred for your wardrobe — photographing your outfit every day gives you a chance to see what you’re really wearing and how it really looks; it also gives you a chance to see what other women are wearing, which can be a huge source of inspiration.

Plus, it’s a lot of fun. I promise.

Plan to do it every day from November 1 to November 30. It’s easier than NaNoWriMo, and a picture of your outfit totally counts as a NaBloPoMo post (at least in my world it does). During the month of November (and into December, possibly!) I’ll be featuring photos from the Flickr pool here at The Working Closet — so get yours in now.

While you’re showing us what you’re wearing, tell us where you’re shopping. What are your favorite brands? Where do you go for jeans? Dresses? Bras? Having a hard time finding what you want? Ask the group! They’re an excellent source of information. It takes a village to raise a child and to find the best jeans, really and truly.

So who’s in?

Now you’re skeptical, aren’t you? But really, you can wear your flat boots with pretty much anything in your closet.

Hartford Tall Boot, Ann Taylor Loft, $168

You know you can wear your boots with skinny jeans; for a great casual Friday look that doesn’t involve jeans, substitute a pair of skinny corduroys. Not a skinny jeans girl? Pair your boots with a skirt or dress.

Journee Collection Slouchy Microsuede Boot, Target, $36.99

The hem of your skirt or dress should hit somewhere between the top of your kneecap and the middle of your thigh, depending on your age and comfort level. The closer you are to 40, the closer your hem should be to your knee. Trust me on this.

No matter what your age, steer clear of the long long hemline with your boots; show a little leg between the boots and the skirt. Fill the gap with tights that match your boots, for the longest leg line. Add a slip if needed, both to keep your skirt from sticking to your tights and for extra warmth. Or look for tights with some shine to them — the higher spandex content will make them less likely to latch on to your skirt.

Unisa Riri boots, Piperlime, $99

Coming next week: It’s nearly November — are you ready for thirty days of The Working Closet Flickr pool? Get out your cameras and get ready to snap your outfits every day for a month!

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!


Beaded Bow Cardigan, Boden USA, $88

Merona Collection Wrap Cardigan, Target, $39.99

Ruffle Cardigan, Banana Republic, $79.50

Long Wool Blend Cardigan, Gap, $79.50

Toggle-Front Cable-Knit Sweater Coat, Old Navy, $49.50

Loop Button Cable Knit Cardigan, Avenue, $37.50

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.

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.

I typically pair my short funky hair with more conservative, classic wardrobing pieces, rather than with anything trendy or edgy. It’s not a look I thought out in any great detail, but it works for me; I’m not especially compelled by provocative or trendy looks, and I like to be comfortable. Also, I am lazy, which gets us back to my hair.

My look works for me because it translates practical concerns (lazy, unable to wield a curling iron, flat chested) into a distinct style, one that is not like everyone else’s (or, in Oklahoma, anyone else’s really). I already stand out because of my politics (I am a blue dot in a red state) and my job (”blogger” is hard to explain at dinner parties) — if my hair sets me apart as well, I’m good with that.

This week, the incomparable Gwen Bell got her hair cut, and it left her wondering, “What’s your hair saying about you?” At her salon, she overheard the following: “your hair is 52% of your look. You could be wearing sweats but if your hair looks hot, it doesn’t matter. Put it in a ponytail and suddenly you’re not looking so hot.”

Yes — and no. A great cut, no matter what your hair style, can change your look, even when you’re running around in sweats. But I think your hair is only one piece of the puzzle.

One of my favorite parts of What Not to Wear is the descriptions of the participants’ “before” looks; various friends and family lovingly say that their sister or wife or bff looks like a hippie cat lady or a demented preschool teacher or a troll doll on crack. The phrases are hilarious and accurate and never flattering. The participant, of course, is mortified by the revelation that her friends think she looks terrible, and it motivates her to change her look.

But they beg the question: What is your look saying about you? Not just your hair (right now my hair is saying, “has not had color since JULY omg look at those ROOTS!”) — your whole look. What do you wear on a normal day? Are you putting your best foot (and face and hair) forward? If not, why? And are you good with that? Or would you like to change your look?

Not sure what your look is saying? Ask someone you trust. Yesterday a good friend described my look as “impeccable 50s housewife,” and I had to laugh out loud. Because yes, that’s pretty much it. Although ironically, my house is a mess and I haven’t cooked in days.

But the look is working.

Gap boyfriend destructed jeans, $59.50

Boyfriend jeans are a classic college girl look — so how do you wear them if your last day on a college campus was 20 years ago?

Fit matters. Boyfriend jeans are meant to be loose, but they still need to fit. If you can pull them off without undoing the button, they’re too big — make sure that they fit properly through the waist, and that they’re not too baggy in the thighs.

Structure helps. Pair your baggy boyfriend jeans with a fitted tee or woven shirt. An oversized tee or sweater is too much with these jeans, especially if you’re over 35.

Be girly. Pair your boyfriend jeans with feminine pieces — a floral appliqued tee or a ruffled blouse.

Add a belt. A wide belt will give your waist definition and help balance the looser silhouette of the jeans.

Keep cuffs messy. The cuff on your jeans shouldn’t be crisp, it should be more of a roll. Don’t try too hard to make this perfect.

Finally, remember that boyfriend jeans are a casual look — there’s no way to make this work-appropriate. This is for kicking around on the weekend, not for going to the office.

No sure you want to pay $60 (or more) for pre-weathered jeans? Buy some real boy jeans instead! Or just swipe a pair from that special guy in your life. I sprung for the Gap jeans, because I’m 5′6″ and my husband is 6′5″, so there’s no borrowing anything from his closet. Ever. Sadly. But I’m thinking I would like a second pair that’s not weathered; I’ll be checking out Old Navy’s men’s jeans for that.

Would you wear boyfriend jeans? Or is this trend just too young and slouchy for you?

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.

Pamela asked what I hand wash. “I don’t really do much of anything,” she said, “except for things that say ‘dry clean only’ but am thinking that I should be doing a lot more to save my clothes.”

Here’s a short list of Things I Hand Wash (I really should have called this post The One Where You Decide that Susan is Insane):

Lingerie and shapewear: Be nice to your bras and they’ll be nice to you. Same goes for your Spanx and and your tights.

Anything with embellishment: Beading should never go in the wash, and embroidered or appliqued details can shrink in the dryer.

All of my J. Crew cafe capris: I own a half dozen pairs of these pants, in a range of colors. I hand wash all of them because for what I paid, they need to last forever.

“Fast fashion” pieces: I have two great white blouses, one from Forever21 (I know! But it’s totally cute!) and one from H&M. Hand washing extends the life of these pieces.

Anything that might fade. My navy cotton shirt dress, my coral linen skirt, all my black pieces. Cold water and gentle detergent keep colors crisp.

I hand wash everything in my kitchen sink (one day, I will have a house with a utility sink!) in cold water and Woolite. Scrub the sink out thoroughly, fill with cold water and a little bit of detergent; wash like colors together, to prevent color transfer. Gently squeeze soapy water through garments but do not wring, ever — this will stretch your clothes out. Soak for three to five minutes, then rinse until the water runs clear. Gently squeeze out extra water and roll garments in a clean towel; hang woven fabrics and dry anything stretchy flat. So easy!

What goes in the washing machine? My jeans, although I turn them inside out and hang them to dry. My woven cotton shirts — again, hang to dry. In other words, not much. My guest bathroom is constantly hung with laundry. Makes you want to visit, doesn’t it?

Alex asked another smart question: “Are there any good solutions to the problem of yellow deodorant stains?” I have two suggestions (other than reminding you to toss things once they have yellow stains, of course).

Rethink your deodorant: Instead of layering on the Degree every morning, switch to a clinical strength formula, one that goes on at night. CertainDri is the classic, but it can make your armpits itch (sorry, but it’s true!). Dove Clinical Strength is a nice alternative; it goes on creamy and smells fresh and clean. You apply clinical strength formulas at night, and the heat of your body activates the ingredients. And then — here’s the crazy part! — you can skip the daily antiperspirant, at least on the days when you’re wearing a white shirt.

Not a fan of that idea? Here’s another!

Spot treat, every time: Each time you wash your white shirts, spot treat the collar and armpits with a pretreater like Shout or Oxyclean. Don’t wait until you see stains — do this every time you wash your white shirts.

Speaking of washing your white shirts — Lisa had a great suggestion: “White clothes should be washed EVERY time they’re worn. Even if you only wear that crisp, white button down for a short meeting, the oils from your skin — and perspiration — will work to discolor the white.” She’s exactly right. Thanks, Lisa!

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

Saucony Jazzy Lo Pro, $53, Adidas Sailing Light, $70

Asics Ultimate 81, $65, Asics Ultimate Tiger, $65

A couple of tips about athletic-inspired shoes:

These are not actual athletic shoes; if you’re planning to run or walk in any way that is more serious than chasing down an escaping toddler, these are not the shoes for you, even though most of them are made by athletic shoe companies. For power walking or running a 5K, get some proper workout shoes. Please.

Athletic-inspired shoes are not meant to be work with skirts or dresses. Ever. The end. Pair these with some great jeans or a perfectly fitting pair of yoga pants (if you must), but don’t toss them on with a skirt. Athletic shoes are meant to be worn with casual, athletic clothes; that might be whatever you tail gate in, or it might just be whatever you’re wearing to wrangle the baby. It’s not a dress, though.

(Although now I feel compelled to say that yes, you can wrangle a baby in a dress! Just not in a dress paired with a cute pair of Adidas.)

What should you look for in athletic-inspired shoes? Many of the same things you look for in other types of flats: Cute colors, flattering shape, comfortable fit. Don’t default to your ratty old running shoes; round out your casual wardrobe with actual casual shoes. Keep the old New Balance runners for gardening.

I must admit, there was a time when I wasn’t so keen on white shirts. I had quite a messy baby and frankly, didn’t know if I would ever wear white again. However, now that he’s in preschool, I have more chances to put on a crisp white shirt and not fear immediate baby-induced staining.

Why is a white shirt so fantastic? Well, let me count the ways. You can dress them up with suits for work. You can dress them down with jeans and flats for the weekend. In a nutshell, white shirts are the epitome of cool, classic and sophisticated.

I’ve scoured the internet for some of the best white shirts out there. Enjoy!

$65, Ann Taylor

$59, Banana Republic

$24.50, Old Navy

$24.50, Ann Taylor Loft

$69.50, Martin + Osa

$70, Banana Republic

$19.80, Forever 21

$69.50, J. Crew