2 December 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.Sources:
- Brown Vest – American Eagle
- Black Belt – Gap, from Sal
- Plaid Shirt – Urban Outfitters
- Cords- Gap Outlet
- Orange Flats – Old Navy
- Earrings – Gift
Endnotes:
When I was younger I wore plaid all the time – almost as often as I wore overalls (yes, I did spend much of my childhood looking like a farmer and or train conductor). Then in junior high, I wore flannel shirts and corduroy because my older sister was testing out grunge. I also wore a plaid uniform for 12 years! So, when I made it to college I gave up plaid for quite some time. I’m always finding myself drawn back to plaid, as much as I try to pull away.
Belted Vest, originally uploaded by academichic.I now own a few plaid throws, scarves, and even a plaid belt, but only recently have I started trying on plaid shirts and even skirts! In fact, there are a few plaid items on my Christmas list, including this plaid jacket, which looks suspiciously like the pattern from one of my grade school uniforms.
Floral and Plaid, originally uploaded by academichic.I’m still not sure how to style this new plaid shirt without falling back into either junior high grunge or childhood farmer, so I’m taking another cue from J Crew and belting my puffy vest and pairing it with flowers and a slightly dressier bottom half.
I know, I know, I’m belt crazy! What can I say, it’s what I do! :)
A.
2 December 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.
loving the cold-body-warm-arms belted vest look. nice jcrew riff indeed.
Wow I never would have thought of that! Looks great! lizzypunch.blogspot.com
Such a good idea! I love your belting everything! and those shoe are ace.
A., I really love this outfit! I never would have thought to belt a puffy vest, but somehow you pull it together perfectly.
This looks awesome! I love the belted puffer vest!
Love most of the look, but not sure the color and texture of the flats translate well in the picture. Have you considered wearing this outfit with your brown peep-toe wedges to bring that dressier feel to the look?
A, your casual looks are always so fantastic. Laid back but polished.
i’m a big fan of plaid as well, but it can be difficult to dress up.
i love the belted vest…i’ve got to try this again. j. crew does it so beautifully.
I tried belting a puffer vest a
few weeks ago and had to abandon the idea, for it looked like two sausage links, overflowing their casings. Glad to see it done successfully. I might have to give it another go with the less puffy puffer vest my mom just gave me. Bonus– it’s plaid!
I love the new plaid trend. I am old enough that I was in college during the height of grunge – I lived in vintage jeans and plaid shirts from thrift shops, ox-blood doc martins. I even had a shaved head and a nose ring. Good times.
The new plaid trend is different, though. The shirts have a feminine cut, and are longer in the torso. I like what you are trying to do here, but to dress up this look I would modify it with a longer plaid shirt and pair it with a boyfriend cardigan in a complimentary color instead of the puffer. Surprisingly, I’ve found that plaid and boyfriend jackets work well together too, for a dressier look.
I really disagree about changing the shoes. I love the mix of patterns with the shoes and the plaid shirt. And a love the pop of red in the shoes.
You look fab in plaid… and belting a puffy vest is genius! I always feel kinda blobby in my old jcrew number… now I know how to revive it! yes!
Great look on you. I love the belt over puffer vest idea. I’ll try it soon.