Suzanne Carillo

Every Autumn you can count on three things;

1.  The temperature drops, leaving me grumpy.

2.  The leaves change colour and fall everywhere making it impossible to see where the dog poop is hiding in the back yard.

3.  Tartan is making its annual appearance again and you’re figuring out how to wear and style plaid with your wardrobe.

This year, in a moment of weakness brilliance,  I bought a pair of plaid leggings.

What in God’s name was I doing at the age of 48 buying a pair of plaid leggings?

Trying to be an groupie for the Bay City Rollers? Those dudes knew how to style plaid!

Umm…it’s a little late!

I used to have the striped socks and would roll up my pant legs to be short.

S-A-TUR-DAY-NIGHT!

For those of you too young to know what the heck I’m writing about…check it out here. Prepare to be AMAZED.

Okay I will admit at the age of nine it took very little nothing to amaze me.

Things were different back then. We couldn’t tell who was calling until we answered the phone, the Dewey Decimal System was considered “high tech”, and women did not shave their nether regions.

It was a whole other world people!

But plaid has always been there and it has always been in style in some shape or form.

I’m ashamed to say where I bought these pants and the sweater…Forever 21 (I hate myself). I had searched high and low for a sweater like this at thrift stores and consignment stores, but here is something I discovered, it isn’t easy to find nice sweaters at thrift or consignment. Most of them are pilled, stretched out, mis shaped, or faded. I guess that is because most people are throwing their sweaters into the regular wash (instead of hand washing) and drying them in the dryer instead of air drying flat.  #howtoruinyoursweatersnoshit.

The plaid pants, well they happened to be in the store and I tried them on as a lark, telling myself that they would look hideous on my short stubby legs. I was shocked when they didn’t look half bad. Even some of the “even-less-than-21-year-old” staff members complimented me on them. Maybe they were just feeling sorry for the old gal trying on plaid leggings, but I didn’t care. At this age compliments are akin to winning the lottery and I took it as a sign, ignored my inner voice shouting at me that I was killing the world by purchasing fast fashion, and bought them. I’ve stayed away from all fast fashion for almost 2 years now, I was bound to have a relapse sometime. I will just do what every addict does, regroup, forgive myself and try harder next time.

What did my Dad say? “Do as I say…not as I do!”

Throughout the years plaid has a bit of a dual personality, both classic and rebellious depending on how you style it and how bold of a plaid print you choose to wear.

Since I like to think I am a rebel at heart, I’ve gone with a bolder print, possibly partially influenced by this lady…

Debbie from Fashion Fairy Dust who loves plaid just as much as I do and also happens to be my hair twin.

Here are some other ways  how to style plaid for Fall and Winter…

Look #1     #2       #3     #4

Look #1    #2    #3     #4

Outfit #1    #2     #3     #4

Although I don’t own a plaid scarf I love this idea and how they have styled plaid here.

image source

image source

What is your favourite way to style plaid in fall/winter?

Can I ask a favour? Can you please make sure to update my new blog address in your sidebar links? Thanks a million!

Also, don’t forget to enter my contest to win one of my handmade necklaces and all of my blogger greetings cards.

Linking up with the lovely Patti over at Visible Monday  Share in Style with Mis Papelicos