Old School Plaid

A true child of the 90’s, I’ve had a long-term, rocky love affair with plaid shirts.  Up until recently, anytime that Oasis or the Goo Goo Dolls popped on the radio, I would be haunted by my cringe-worthy, “grunge” outfits of middle school years past.

Does this happen to anyone else? When I was 13 years old, I used to sneak off to school wearing baby-tees, cargo pants that were 4 sizes too big (to the point that they paper-bagged at the top when I cinched them with a studded belt to keep them up… sigh), metallic Sketchers (these were actually AMAZING), all paired with…you guessed it, a loose fitting flannel shirt. It was SO not cute.  Thankfully, that phase was short-lived, and I went the preppy clothing route when it came time to go to high school. However, at that point, the damage was done, I was so traumatized by my past fashion faux-pas in fact, that I took a 10 year break from plaid button-down shirts completely.

My plaid shirt PTSD began to finally subside a few years ago, and I’m happy to report that nowadays, we are more in love than EVER.  The solution to overcoming my plaid phobia; (which sounds glaringly obvious now) was simply redefining how I wore these shirts. So what is my perfect plaid shirt cocktail, you ask? Must be fitted, consist of a more subtle plaid print, embellished (a bonus, but not a deal breaker) and must be paired with something crazy feminine. Believe me, I totally admire a plaid, off-duty androgynous look on literally everyone else, it’s super chic. It just doesn’t mesh well with my personal style.

This particular Gryphon plaid button-down shirt (although a few years old) is just what I needed to get me back in the game. Consider it my ‘rebound’ plaid shirt.  It was a true “10”; curve hugging and enhancing, lightweight, chain-link mesh edging, all in a pretty color palette. Once I threw it on, I was obsessed, and the spell was lifted. I like to think that even my thirteen year-old self would be proud.

Did you ever have a grunge phase, or a wear outfits that you’re not so proud of? Tell me I’m not alone.  Be sure to share it with me in the comments below!

*THE APPAREL*

Shirt: Gryphon New York [sold out, but similar here]

Skirt: Forever 21

*THE ACCESSORIES*

Sunglasses: Gucci

Bag: Chanel

Shoes: Tory Burch

*THE JEWELRY*

Necklace: Forever 21

Earrings: Forever 21

Ring: Lauren G. Adams

*THE BEAUTY PRODUCTS*

Lipstick: Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte #17 in Red Muse

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“But in a city like New York, with it’s pace and it’s pressures, sometimes it’s important to have a 13 year-old moment – to remember a simpler time when the best thing in life was just hanging out, listening to records and having fun with your friends…in your very own apartment.”

*Carrie Bradshaw, Sex & The City*

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