Plaid Shirt: Gant (Get 20% off at Gant with code “CHRISTINA20”!)| Suede Wrap Skirt: ASOS (super OLD), similar here and also found the actual skirt on Poshmark here (size 4) | Boots: IRO Paris, sold out but similar here, and found these exact ones on eBay in a size 38! | Denim Jacket: Levi’s, similar here| Earrings: Silver hoops I’ve owned since high school (no joke!), similar here
Yeahhhh, we’re mid-summer (is that calculation right? I hope I’m off and we’re only like, 1/3 of the way there), and I’m rocking plaid. What can I say? When you’re feeling a feeling, you can make anything happen.
Well, based on my recent feels, I think that summer plaid can happen. I JUST MADE IT HAPPEN. I’m honestly not a stripes kind of girl, and I’m (GASP) over gingham for now (I will admit I still do love this gingham suit, though). Now, that doesn’t leave me with many classic prints to experiment with! I gotta work with SOMETHING! That’s why I’ve resorted to plaid. With the right approach, it’s a print that can absolutely be worn in the summer months.
lean towards lighter fabrics
Really, it ALL boils down to the material. Say no to flannel, and focus on lighter, airy fabrics that allow your skin to breathe in the summer heat. This plaid shirt I’m wearing from Gant (PS – you can get 20% off at Gant with code CHRISTINA20!) is ideal for this time of year because 1. it’s 100% cotton (so no sweaty pit stains…because no one likes those) and 2. it’s loose fitting so you get some air flow. The humidity in Chicago can be unbearable, so I find myself gravitating towards loose fitting clothes because I don’t want to feel like a sweaty sausage #realtalk.
off the shoulder plaid, you know what to do!
Have some fun with it, and show us those shoulders! Styling classic pieces in a new way is my MO, and it’s so easy to do with a classic plaid shirt (as long as it’s slightly oversized!). Just unbutton a few of those top buttons, pull your shirt back slightly, and let one side fall off the shoulder. It’s as simple as that. Another thing I tend to do is purposely mismatch the buttons on a button down (similar to what I did with this sweater) – it adds a little edge to an otherwise preppy piece.
plaid beyond the shirt.
Plaid exists in many forms now, beyond just the classic shirt & the mini, which thanks to Clueless, we are all well aware of. It doesn’t sound natural or right to exist outside of what we know, but when it’s executed well it can be a super edgy and chic. I have lots of appreciation for a plaid midi skirt or a plaid dress with an interesting shape to it.
