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Plain, long-sleeved shirts have their place and are great for layering when it gets cold outside. But on their own, they can be just too boring. Don’t fret -- you can decorate your long-sleeved shirts with pretty much any pattern or design you can think of to suit your style. You don’t have to be an artist either -- there are premade items and designs you can apply right to your shirts to give them a little bit more flair.
Removables
Buttons and pins are an easy way to decorate a plain, long-sleeved shirt, especially if you’re just trying to add a splash of color or a bit of interest to a plain shirt beneath a blazer or sweater. The best part about buttons and pins is that they won’t permanently change your shirt. Most buttons and pins are super-casual, so reserve them for nights with friends or parties. Basically, removable buttons and pins, especially those with words, are not safe for work unless you work in a really casual environment.
Iron-On Transfers
You don’t want to look like you’re wearing a grade-school art project, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun and take some cues from art class when decorating a plain shirt. Iron-on transfers are basically thin sheets that you can run through your printer to print out nearly any design you can find. Once you print them, you simply iron them onto the shirt with -- you guessed it, a regular household iron. The only hard part here is figuring out what you want to put on your shirt to express your style.
Sparkles, Glitter and Shiny Things
If you down mind getting a little crafty, you can make your own designs with fabric glue, sparkles and glitter. Start by drawing your pattern with the fabric glue. It doesn’t have to be something recognizable -- think of your shirt as a work of abstract art if you want. Once the glue is in place, sprinkle sparkles and glitter onto the glue before it has a chance to set. Let the shirt dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions before you move it. If you move the shirt too soon, your shiny things will end up on the floor instead of on your shirt.
Draw On It
If you’ve got a little bit of Picasso in you, grab some laundry markers that won’t come off in the wash and draw a free-hand design on your shirt. Laundry markers are made with special inks that won’t come off in hot water, and they come in a wide variety of different colors. Laundry markers are also excellent for theme parties where you might want to show off your message in words.
