STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Mad for Plaid

I think plaid and gingham are the fashion industry’s equivalent of what a pumpkin spice latte is to Starbucks: seen October through December, quite warm and most certainly comforting. Stumbling upon this University of Pittsburgh Fashionista over my Thanksgiving break was lucky; she pulled her outfit together with all the right colors and accessories and deserves some recognition.

Her brown semi-military parka is the first thing that you notice. It fits her well and actually becomes a piece of the outfit, not just something to cover up with. It complements the gray color she is wearing underneath, and it’s clearly just a trendy coat in general. Underneath this gorgeous jacket, you’ll find her gray plaid shirt. A button-down, the blouse is warm and fuzzy (just like pumpkin spice). Flannel is really great for the cold weather. Just be sure it’s tailored and not too lumberjack-esque.

Her black denim pants are the staple item in her ensamble (as most black pants will prove to be). You could easily replace these with black leggings or jeggings, but the black color is what pulls the other pieces together. Her black boots with three buckles on the side are both spunky and classic. Choosing a black boot for this outfit was wise, as black unifies the collection. Brown or chestnut would have added too many colors to the mix.

Her gold Marc Jacobs watch completes the outfit. An accessory such as this works best on its own, and it certainly speaks for itself.

Alright, DIY time. The jacket can be found at Urban Outfitters for under $100. You can find your plaid at a lot of stores, but there are some good choices online at Polyvore. Similar boots can be found at SHOPSTYLE, and of course the watch is Heaven-sent from MARC by MARC JACOBS and can be found at high-end department stores like Bloomingdale's. If you can’t afford the $200+ arm candy, try something similar but cheaper from Macy's.

Holiday and winter styles are aplenty. You have a lot of options for holiday fashion, but most of it will be dressy and non-conducive to cold temperatures. Cue the plaid flannel shirt. Try this look for the trendiest “casual” look of the season. And if you decided to make a pumpkin spice latte your accessory for the day, I wouldn’t discourage you.

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Mad for Plaid

Breaking out your favorite plaid shirts from the back of your closet marks the beginning of the best time of the year. But why keep those bad boys locked up for half the year? If you haven’t already noticed, I am all about wearing clothes year round and breaking typical fashion rules. Which is why I loved this Fashionista’s take on making a plaid shirt wearable in a different way!

Layering a unbuttoned plaid shirt over a simple tank is a great way to keep your look casual but still in season, just like this Fashionista did. And her shorts, boots and beanie complete her outfit for a great it’s-still-hot-outside Arizona look. As the weather gets colder (hopefully), layering a plaid shirt is still an option. Wear it under a leather jacket and jeans, with a fur vest, and oversized cardigan, or even a denim jacket. Or if you have an oversized plaid shirt layer it over a form fitting dress and ankle boots. People often think that plaid shirts make them look like a lumberjack but the trick is it with more feminine pieces like a bodycon dress or skirt, skinny jeans or leggings to keep it from looking less lumberjack. Keep this in mind and your plaid possibilities are endless!

The great thing about plaid is that you can pretty much find it anywhere! My personal favorite is this sheer plaid shirt from Forever 21, it combines two trends into one and it being sheer allows you to wear it anytime of the year. I also really like this plaid shirt from Topshop. You can never go wrong with a oversized red plaid shirt.

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Mad For Plaid!

My prep school’s mascot was a Tartan, which is basically another term for a Scottish plaid. While wearing plaid skirts from the age of five until they were banned from us our Junior Year (I know long story, still bitter…), I did not really see them as any form of a fashion statement. This fall season, plaid has been seen on various runways including the designers of Rag & Bone and Sonia Rykiel. This trend of “plaid” has not been seen on the runways for many seasons but seems to be making a strong comeback.

I spotted this Fashionista embracing the plaid trend while roaming around campus and gave myself the official justification that I can still wear this pattern away from my days as a Tartan. I was instantly attracted to her cohesive look of the plaid Vince tunic, J. Crew studded belt, and Frye boots. When talking to this Fashionista, I discovered that this plaid tunic was purchased at the famous thrift store, Wasteland on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. The plaid tunic can be worn in many different ways, which is one of the many reasons why she decided to purchase this steal!

Want to create your own spin on being mad for plaid?! This can be accomplished through investing in a plaid poncho, tartan pants, skirts, shoes and shirts!

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Mad for Plaid

Fall is the perfect season to break out anything and everything that has a plaid print on it. Button-down style shirts are probably the most popular item to wear with this pattern on it. While people typically wear plaid in a casual setting, designers like Alexander McQueen have made formal looks with this typically laid back print. That being said, I encourage you to explore plaid in both formal and casual settings, and keep people guessing.

This week's Fashionista took the casual route when it came to wearing plaid. What I particularly love about her shirt is the unique pairing of the colors. It is not often that one sees grey, pink, green, blue and white paired together. Another aspect of her top that is amazing is the detailing on the back. It is such a cool and unexpected surprise to have buttons on the back and the front of a top! Though wearing a button-down shirt is my personal favorite way of wearing the plaid pattern, do not be afraid to branch out into other items. Think plaid scarves, pea coats, gloves or hats, basically anything that has that pattern on it that appeals to your style.

The denim tote bag that this Fashionista is carrying is beautiful accessory. I love that she is straying away from your typical backpack and using a unique bag for her everyday needs. A denim bag like this may be hard for other people to replicate, but the overall idea of using an unexpected bag should not be. I strongly invite everyone to use something new and different, like a bold pattern or colored bag to kick their look up a notch.

When it comes to the accessories that this Fashionista chose to wear, I am in love with her jewelry. The turquoise color in both her ring and bracelet really bring out the colors in her shirt and tie the whole outfit together. Lastly, are her ankle boots, while the color is very neutral, they stand out against the starkness of her black skinny jeans. Ankle boots are an item that should be in every Fashionista’s closet this season! There is currently a large variety of ankle boot optins out there, so you just need to keep an eye out for a style you prefer.

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Mad for Plaid

I talked about plaid last week, but couldn’t resist sharing how this Fashionisto has chosen to wear it.

Though it is not the easiest item to wear, he’s managed to pull off the plaid blazer. Not only that, but he’s also added his own quirky touches without jumping off the fashion deep end. A plaid blazer has a personality of its own, but this Fashionisto added even more character with white socks, round sunglasses, gold bracelets and a pocket chain. To top it all off, he has a very original cowlick hairstyle.

Blazers add structure and professionalism to outfits, while the plaid adds an element of uniqueness. It takes a bit of confidence to rock this look, so if you aren’t daring enough for this Fashionisto’s hair and accessories, the blazer alone may provide a large enough dose of quirkiness for you.

What really makes this Fashionisto pull off the look is a perfect fit. Spend the time to find a blazer that fits correctly because baggy blazers tend to make you look like a boy trying on your grandfather’s clothes.

Hint: Experiment dressing the blazer up and down. Black pants will make it dressier, while for a more casual look you can try pairing it with jeans and a white shirt. If it’s chilly out, you can add a simple scarf.

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Mad for Plaid

With things warming up in eastern Tennessee, more and more students are beginning to transform their closets and outfits from winter into spring.

And although peacoats and scarves are beginning to phase out for the season, one trend that I continue to see around campus is plaid. Whether it’s worn with jeans, leggings, skirts or shorts, it’s easy to say that UT’s Fashionista’s and Fashionisto’s are definitely mad for plaid!

Generally, plaid is considered to be a casual look but this week’s Fashionista mixed it up a bit and took a different yet chic approach the look. By pairing a plaid flannel shirt with a black cotton dress and a white skinny belt, she takes plaid to another level and showcases it as the focal point to her outfit.

In this Fashionista’s case, the plaid shirt seems to act as an oversized cardigan, which is different from the solid cardigans that we usually see worn over dresses and camisoles.

For a similar look, try one of these from Urban Outfitters. It comes in various colors and styles and can be the perfect complement to a pair of skinny jeans and over the knee boots or a high-waist skirt.

Not your style? Try a plaid skinny belt like this from Burberry with a pair of high-waist trousers or a skirt.

To complete her look, she adds a black patent cross-body bag from Target and a pair of ankle boots. The bag is inspired by Mulberry's luxury line of handbags, but comes at a much more affordable price, which is perfect for the Fashionista on a budget!

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STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Go Mad for Plaid

Ever since Britney Spears popped onto my TV screen wearing a school girl outfit complete with plaid skirt, I have been obsessed with anything plaid. Needless to say, I was ecstatic when this print became trendy again. Plaid comes in a multitude of color combinations and can be worn with virtually anything. It has even become fashionable to mix your plaid with other prints like stripes and polka dots. This trend can also fit into any personal style from prepster to hipster.

One of my favorite things about plaid is that everything comes in this print. Flannel shirts, pants, shorts, skirts, hats and shoes are just a few things I have seen around Austin sporting plaid. The great thing about plaid is that you can wear it as the main focus of your ensemble or work it into your outfit as an accent piece.

This Fashionisto chose to wear his plaid as his main print and keep the rest of his outfit in solid but complementary colors. Fashionistos can get a similar casual look with these Griffith shorts, or can dress it up with this J.Crew plaid sportcoat. Fashionistas can also get in on the plaid trend with a Madewell button down paired with boyfriend jeans or keep it fun and flirty with this Abercrombie and Fitch sundress. Remember that no matter how you choose to wear your plaid, always keep it fun and make it your own!