If you’ve been reading for a while – here at The Demoiselles, or over at Broke & Beautiful or Awakened Aesthetic – you already know that the two of us are insistent that everyone needs to own the basics, including a great pair of jeans, comfortable – but sexy – dress shoes, and a well-fitting t-shirt (among other things).  Our oft-discussed favorite online boutique, Mapel, is in complete agreement, and was kind enough to offer us a new tee – the burnout by Alternative Apparel – to try out.

[Jen would like to add, before we continue, that Alternative is strongly focused on social responsibility, and that many of their items are made using sustainably-produced materials, including organic cotton.]

We got to choose our own tees – Jen picked the V-Neck Tee in Moss; Elle got the Long-Sleeve Burnout in White – to show off our individual “Alternative” styles.  So, without further ado…

Jen’s style: I am all about the t-shirt and jeans look.  Always have been.  Long before Elle indoctrinated me into the fashion world, and certainly before I bought my first designer jeans, my fallback was always the same: v-neck shirt, pair of jeans, heels.  Repeat as necessary.

Though my fallback ensemble is easy to pull off, it can also be an easy excuse to go too casual – replacing the heels with sneakers, wearing something baggy and shapeless instead of body-skimming – which ruins the whole effect.  The point of a t-shirt and jeans is to look effortless, not slovenly.  (Trips to the grocery store at 10AM on a Sunday notwithstanding, of course.)

Because of my obsession with this super-basic look, I didn’t do much with my Alternative Apparel v-neck.  I kept it simple with a black tank top (also from Mapel, also by Alternative Apparel), a pair of straight-leg jeans (Converse by John Varvatos) and some black suede platforms from
Banana Republic.  To add a little pop, I topped it off with a cameo-inspired octopus necklace (a present from Elle – aww!) and bright red lipstick.  (When a girl’s gotta vamp, a girl’s gotta vamp…at least a little.)

Alternative Apparel Burnout Tee (Size L), Converse by John Varvatos Jeans (Gilt), Suede Pumps (Banana Republic)

The best thing about this top isn’t the cute, longish, cuffed sleeves (which are awesome) or the burnout fabric (also awesome, but in an understated way).  It’s that the shirt – and the tank top too, in fact – is really, really soft. Sleeping puppies soft.  Warmly cuddling with a lover soft.  Barely-there soft.  Shall I continue?

Elle’s Style: Did I really just get a stark white, long sleeved shirt? With… a tiny bit of transparency? Are you kidding me? To the untrained eye, white is a harmless idea. In fact, it’s even considered peaceful and positive. I know. But as a heavier girl with more protrusive attributes, we are taught that white is not our friend. White will make is look fat(ter) and blah-blah-blah-something relating to Shamu in a wedding dress. Because of this deadly childhood lesson, I’ve positioned myself as far from white as fashionably possible.

Well, until I shook my head free of the societal logic chains and realized that – hey – white hasn’t done anything to me – what gives?

So when Mapel offered to send us these Alternative Apparel items for review, I knew I had to take a chance. I mean, Alternative Apparel is all about being unique, but basic – the beauty of the oxymoron is that it works. What’s more classic than a basic, white, cotton shirt? Nothing. But what’s basic about a banded, burnout top with long sleeves and a longer design? Nothing. I had to go white. It was scary, but I mustered through.

And boy am I glad I did.

Alternative Apparel Burnout Tee (Size XL), Black Cropped Pants (ebay), MIA shoes (OnlineShoes.com Warehouse sale)

Look, ladies! I’m still alive! I am a size 14 girl, standing a mere 5’6″, wearing white and I don’t look anything like a sea mammal. The beauty of this shirt falls in many categories. First of all, the white is actually white – not dulled, not yellowed, not blue… WHITE. The sleeves are extra long, and for a girl who loves to pull her sleeves down, it’s a dream because I no longer run the risk of stretching or, worse, tearing holes in the cuffs. Think this is a silly “pro”? Just take a look at what I did to my favorite high school sweatshirt. Yeah, not so silly now, is it? As for the burnout – I was a burnout virgin prior to this piece, and I have to say I love it. It shows some skin tone without showing too much else. You just get a glint of decolletage instead of the look of a bunch of holes, which many people assume burnout will produce.

Overall, I’m in love. I’ve worn this shirt so many times that I almost lost it – I’m not even kidding. I wore it to my first day at my new job, I wore it out when my Dad was visiting from Seattle, and I believe I even wore it the last time I was in Seattle… I’m obsessed – not only with burnout, this shirt, and the look – but with Alternative Apparel. The cotton is crazy soft, I’ve never felt anything like it.

All I can say: I can’t wait to get more, and I will happily pay the ~$20 per piece, any day, any time.

What’s your favorite way to wear a basic t-shirt?