Style Crash Course: How to take any item from day to night

Get double the wear out of everything in your closet (yes, even super-casual graphic tees and your fanciest sky-high strappy heels) with these tips.

THE WHITE BUTTON-DOWN

The quintessential 9-to-5 shirt can extend its working hours by getting tucked into a formal skirt and worn with sleeves unrolled and buttoned at the wrist. Jessica Alba chooses a sequin maxi, but it pairs just as well with a sparkly mini.

THE MOTO-JACKET

If you restrict your leather jacket to jeans, skirts and the occasional dress, you're missing out on one of the best ways to wear it--with a gown. The closet staple looks killer with black-tie attire and way cooler than an expected blazer (Miranda Kerr demonstrates).

STRAPPY JEWEL-ENCRUSTED SANDALS

If you take out your pair just for weddings, it's time to open your eyes to their versatility. While you shouldn't don them for interviews and Sunday fundays, they work when the sun's up, as long as the rest of the outfit is casual, but polished. (Sandra Bullock's heels with skinnies, a tee and a blazer)

THE STRUCTURED BLAZER

What you wear it with (pants vs. a silk dress) has much to do with how you wear it. Olivia Palermo styles it as a cape, which how women signal in the wild that they're fashionistas.

THE GRAPHIC TEE

You know how you keep yours in your gym drawer with your running shorts and yoga pants? Take it out next time you have a date. It dials down the uptight vibe of a black shirt and pumps. (Just be sure to tuck it in completely as opposed to doing the half-tuck Olivia Wilde demonstrates at left)

RED JEANS

It's all about changing up the accessories. Hilary Duff ditches the casual beaded necklace for delicate gold jewelry, replaces her tote with a clutch and puts on heels instead of booties. And of course, tucking in the top instantly makes any look more polished.

CHUNKY BLACK BOOTIES

We knew these kicks played well with skinnies, but Ashley Tisdale convinces me to try them with party dresses and fancy separates. The key is to pick a hemline on the higher side so your legs don't look stocky.