Advanced Layering

One thing I will say for Pennsylvania winters, they've forced me to up my layering game.  I now feel fully confident in saying that I've progressed to advanced layering.

This outfit is a perfect example of that:

It's a sweater dress layered over a turtleneck topped with a vintage plaid cardigan.  Oh, and there are tights and a slip under there as well.



Layers, Folks.  All the layers.

All the layers, made better with vintage plaid:

Dress: thrifted vintage  Turtleneck: Old Navy (similar)
Cardigan: thrifted vintage (similar save, splurge) Tights: Spanx  Boots: Franco Sarto "Eminent"

And pockets.  Pockets also make layers better.



Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Double Plaid and a Big Ol' Tassel

It's true.  I'm wearing double plaid and a big ol' tassel:

Quite possibly the biggest of big ol' tassels, but, I can't help it, it makes me happy.



Especially when paired with double plaid:

The skirt is vintage wool, thrifted, of course and I think it pairs perfectly with this plaid shirt:

I finished the look with my trusty riding boots:

Shirt: Banana Republic  Skirt: thrifted vintage
Scarf: La Fiorentina (also in red) Belt: Michael Michael Kors (similar) Boots: Born Crown (similar)

And, of course, the big ol' tassel.  As one does.


Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Five for Fall: Plaid

As I mentioned earlier this fall, I'm doing a series of posts on trends that I'm excited for.  The first was Animals and the second is Plaid.

That's right, plaid is big again this fall and I, for one, couldn't be more thrilled.  One of the reasons I like plaid is because it's both classic and on trend, depending on the colors and application.  Another reason I like it is because it works for those who love color and those who prefer a more somber palette.  And I love it because there are options other than flannel shirts in case "lumberjack chic" isn't your thing!


Here are some of my favorites for this fall:

Clockwise from the top:

Gap Festive Plaid Car Coat - I love this coat for winter, it's a classic print but the solid sleeves make it modern.  Available in Tall as well.

Dear Creatures Dress - I love the mix of plaids on this dress and the tasteful cut-outs.  Available in sizes up to 4x.

Gap Plaid Always Skinny Jeans - I have these jeans (worn here) and highly recommend them; they are super comfortable.  Available in Tall as well.

JOA Brushed Plaid Vest - Sleeveless coats, i.e. vests, continue to be popular this season and this one is perfect to wear with skinny jeans and boots.

Press Plaid Peplum Coat - This is a great example of a modern plaid piece.  The bright colors and the peplum cut are very now and very cute!

Kohl's Plaid Scarf - I know I poked fun at oversized plaid scarves, but I couldn't resist this one.  It's blue!

ModCloth Plaid Flats - If you have mild winters and love adorable flats, these are the shoes for you.

Betsey Johnson Fit & Flare Sweater Dress - Quite possibly the best sweater dress ever.  Not a lot of sizes left, but what sizes there are are on sale!

And for more of my favorite plaid pieces and inspiration on how to rock it this fall, check out my Mad for Plaid Pinterest board!

What about you, Reader Friends?  Is there any plaid in your wardrobe this fall?

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

How It Works

My sister looked at today’s outfit and said “I don’t get it”:

I said, “What is there to get?  They’re both plaid.”

She responded with, “I don’t think that’s how it works.”

I responded by laughing really loudly and saying “That’s exactly how it works.”

The thing is, I honestly do think this outfit makes perfect sense.  I’ve had the skirt for a while but the sweater vest is a recent thrifted acquisition.  But, when I tried the vest on, my immediate* thought was that I would wear it with this skirt.  

For me, a plaid with a plaid is nothing but good, especially when the other rules of pattern mixing are followed; these pieces have a similar scale and they share a predominant color.

Vest: thrifted vintage   Skirt: thrifted vintage  Tights: Spanx  Belt: Gap, similar  Shoes: Naya "Jada", similar

Okay, so I guess both pieces being plaid isn’t what makes these pieces work together, but I still maintain that they do work.

Happy Thursday, All!

Gracey

*Okay, that’s not entirely true.  My actual immediate thought when trying this vest on was “holy side-boob!” as it’s open basically to the waist.  But, my second thought was to pair it with this skirt.  I swear.

80s + Plaid = Love

This sweater is one of those fabled plaid pieces I thrifted this summer in anticipation of cooler weather:

Sweater: vintage, similar   Scarf: DIY   Jeans: Banana Republic   Boots: Nine West "Darsy"

 Well, cooler weather has arrived, and I finally (finally!) got to wear my beloved plaid cardigan.  And it was a delight.

Except that the super-low-v neckline gave me a bit of trouble.  It's not as though the girls popped out and waved at folks, but I could feel them thinking about it.  I tried to mitigate their overwhelming friendliness with a scarf, and I think that worked, but I was awfully warm all day.

I tell you, Friends, it's a rough day when a gal has to choose between sweating and flashing people.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Mad for Plaid

If you follow me on Pinterest, you know that I've been pinning the heck out of plaid looks for this fall.  I have, so far, resisted the urge to run out and buy/thrift a bunch of plaid but I'm no longer able resist wearing the plaid items I already own.  Like this plaid skirt:

I thrifted this skirt a couple of years ago but, apparently I wasn't that in to plaid a couple of years ago because I rarely wore it.  I'm planning on making amends for that this fall because I am currently absolutely mad for plaid.

Today I wore the skirt (similar) with a chambray shirt (Caslon, similar), my much-loved Born Crown riding boots (similar) and a vintage ram belt.

I finished the look off with a ball-tasseled (basseled?) scarf (LOFT, similar):

What about you, Reader Friends?  Are you mad for plaid?

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey