Trendy Wednesday - Plaid

For twelve years, I wore some variety of plaid five of seven days of every week. That is what happens when you grow up in the Catholic school system of New Orleans. For those of you picturing the Britney Spears variety of Catholic school girls, think again. We wore Peter Pan collared white button downs (monogrammed on the left collar) paired with knee-length brown, khaki, and white check skirts.

How can you enforce the length you might wonder. The answer is easy. At any given time, on any given day, you direct an order over the loudspeaker whereby each girl kneels aside her desk while her teacher ensures that the skirt rests nicely on the floor. If it is shy by the smallest margin, you have the girl call her parents saying she must go home for the day or be brought a skirt of appropriate length. On the final day of senior year, every girl would rejoice in the thought that she would be going to college, where she would never again see plaid.

Not this year. It's everywhere you look. From crop vests, to wool skirts, to mini shirt dresses paired with leggings and booties. Maybe after all this time I'm ready to embrace plaid once again. I have to say there are some really cute looks out there.

I love the look of this Quicksilver plaid mini dress. Perfect for a pair of leggings!

This Joie "Fara" Plaid Tuxedo Shirt would be great with a black blazer and dark denim.
For the girl willing to take a risk, this plaid vest from Anthropologie is amazing...

It might be a bit parochial, but plaid can be the perfect thing to add interest to an otherwise ordinary outfit. These pieces are a perfect way to start.