The t-shirt is a staple  a staple for babies, a staple for grandparents and a staple for women. There are lots of reasons why a good t-shirt should be in every woman’s wardrobe, but the main reason is the quality.

I may begin to sound like a broken record, but this is this same type of thing as heels. Invest in high-quality, luxury pieces, readers! It saves you in the long run!

Of course you can spot a cute top at a store like Forever 21 and think it looks great, run out and then wash it once or twice and think, “That looked good on me once?”

But, if you follow a few simple rules, you should be able to avoid the dreaded “bad t-shirt” dilemma.

Tip #1: Find a good fit. A t-shirt is like a pair of jeans, if you find a shirt that fits, buy in bulk. Not Sam’s Club bulky, but two or three colors will do. You never know when that store is going to run out your size, have a sale, or someone else is going to find the secret “perfect” tee.

Tip #2 : Accessorize: A t-shirt can be dressed up or dressed down very easily. The same tee can easily be taken from day to night by pairing it with different accessories. Using necklaces, earrings, scarves, and earrings are great ways to start. However, don’t accessorize with a side of crazy like Amy Winehouse in this bright pink shirt.

Tip #3 Find a good quality shirt. Even if the shirt fits, it doesn’t mean it’s good quality. The shirt could be magic money the first couple outings, but after a few washes, because you didn’t buy it at a higher end location, it’s going to stretch, fade, and just be gross. Start with stores like The Gap and Banana Republic, if you’re still not sure how good of a quality you need.

If you’re more of an online shopper like I am, look at Bluefly.com. The Monrow Marine Cotton ‘Bold Stripe’ Crewneck T-Shirt looks like a great place to start.

Hopefully, these tips will come in handy for all of you as you look for your perfect tee! I know I use them every time I go shopping!

Photos from: Bauer Griffin

Ashley Shute spends eight hours a day working as a blue jean and t-shirt wearing community organizer in San Antonio. The other 16 hours are dedicated to dreaming about and shopping for the latest luxury fashions. Her style icon is Jacqueline Kennedy; classic, clean, and always professional. You will never find a fake bag in her closet and she wants a collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes before she turns 30.