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Go ahead, get ruffled up.

The bad ruffle: a greasy potato chip that turns your fat jeans into your skinny jeans.
The good ruffle: an elegant adornment that livens up an A-line skirt or shift dress.

Like bows, ruffles tend to get a bad rap. Bridesmaid dresses gone wrong, babies, and cheeseball beauty queens have all been spotted in them, but when worn with caution and contrast, ruffles can be done right.

Ruffles are best when attached to something structured, like a trench coat or crisp white blouse. Think elegant not girlie, and keep the rest of your look simple. Like this: pull your hair back, slip on BCBG's ruffle trim halter, Sass & Bide's frayed misfit jeans, and some so-hot-right-now high-heeled booties. Fierce!

One ruffle don't:  if you want to look like a polygamist bridesmaid, do ruffles in pink.

• White Blouse: BCBG Max Azria, Ruffle Trim Halter, $146, Nordstrom.com
• Black Dress: Milly, Ruffle Party Dress, $465, shopbop.com
• Gray Dress: See By Chloe, Ruffle Pleat Dress, $495, net-a-porter.com
• Shoe: Prada, Suede Ruffle Sandal, $730, neimanmarcus.com