Cami

You'll have to look through a lot of wardrobes to find a piece of teen girls' clothing more useful and versatile than a cami. Whether it's an extra layer, a base under a transparent top or a top all on its own, this handy garment really is one a girl can't be without. In fact, most girls find their wardrobes chocked full of camis and feel all the snazzier for it.

The Sole History of Camis

The word "camisole" derives from Latin, French and Italian and originally referred to a negligee jacket or a garment worn under a transparent top to conceal what back then would have been a corset. Bras, up until about 1915, strongly resembled loose camisoles. Now that many camis come with built-in bra shelves, history has come around.

Underwear, Outerwear

A slim, usually close-fitting sleeveless top, often with spaghetti straps, the cami has come into its own in recent years. It is still worn as underwear but is more likely to be used as a base for layering. It's great under a sheer or skimpy top, preferably if the color contrasts. It adds smoothness, which makes it an ideal undergarment for a form-fitting blouse. If you need to look a little more dressed up, but still want to be casual and cool, a plain cami works well under a jacket or sweater.

On a scorching summer day, however, who wants layers? A cami makes a great top on its own, and there is no end of cute styles from which to choose. A tiny initial sampling includes:

• Fitted spandex
• V-neck
• Buttoned
• Ruffle front

That's just the beginning. Go into any shop like Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie and you'll see row upon row of camis, enough to outfit you for every day of summer. That said, one of the great things about a camisole is that it doesn't cover your underarms, so if you're not sweating, you can wear it a few times before you have to launder it.

Make It Your Own

Dozens of the same model top are available, but cute as it is, do you always want to wear what hundreds of other girls are wearing? If you knit or crochet, or are interested in learning how and want a project, a cami is a great piece to work on. Its small size and lack of sleeves make the finishing process easy, and a simple pattern knits up very quickly. You can get a funky yarn in an offbeat color and, depending upon how fast you knit or crochet, within a week you might be wearing a top that's similar and yet oh-so-different from what everyone else is sporting!

A lot of free knitting patterns are available online, or if you're really into it, the book Sexy Little Knits has a lot of fun patterns, although sizes don't go above a size 8. This means if you love a pattern but wear a 14, you need to learn how to resize before you get needling.

Yours, With Less Effort

You've just bought four camis in multiple colors at Target and you haven't spent much money, but, although they're pretty, they are a bit too basic for your style. You don't need to buy an expensive beaded camisole, nor do you need to learn to knit or sew. Just take a trip to your local fabric shop and explore the notions section. You can buy ribbon, sequins, beads on a string, buttons, appliqués or ruffles, all for very little money, as you can do a basic stitch. It won't take you more than an hour to turn a generic top into a fun and fabulous little number that's yours and yours alone.

One issue to bear in mind, however, is that depending on how you've trimmed it, you may now need to wash your cami by hand instead of throwing it into the washing machine. Fortunately, they're small enough that this won't take long, and it's worth it to have something a bit more unique.

Summer and Beyond

Interested in eco-chic? Although they cost more, it's worth it to your body and the planet to buy organic fabrics. When you want to treat yourself, look to Stewart+Brown or Gaiam for a more responsibly made garment that will last as long as you want to wear it, making for the ultimate endless summer!

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