Perfunctory Plaid

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Victoria

What kind of plaid are you?

vintage coat (similar here & here) | vintage vest | vintage blouse (similar) | Levis jeans (similar) | J. Crew boots (similar) | vintage Dooney & Bourke purse (similar)

Tartan – Michael Kors Fall 2018/Winter 2019

Windowpane – Gabriela Hearst Spring 2018

Buffalo Check – Carven Fall 2018

Glen Plaid – Fendi Resort 2018

Madras – Thom Browne Resort 2018

Gingham – Balenciaga Spring 2018

Houndstooth – Balenciaga Fall 2018

The defining characteristic of a plaid pattern is a crisscrossing vertical and horizontal striped design. A perfectly perfunctory definition at best, plaid can come in many forms, be it gingham, tartan, windowpane, or Glen, just to name a few. And although I would say it’s hardly a pattern that dominates my closet, my blog posts over the years beg to differ.

Mar. 2013: Windowpane

Dec. 2013: Preppy Plaid n’ Pleats

Jan. 2014: The Mystery in the Woods

Feb. 2014: Textural Context

Oct. 2014: Illulstrious Luster

Apr. 2015: Burlap Gingham Girl

Aug. 2015: Picnic Chic

Oct. 2015: Girl in the Hood

Plaid through the years: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

To avoid a queasy throw up of mad plaid disease, an easy way to wear plaid on plaid (or any other pattern on pattern) is to stick with similar hues. The warm earth tones of this 70s vibes coat keep me cozy, while a peekaboo of my blouse’s plaid pussy bow in similar colors offers some double plaid action without clashing. A magnificent vine leaf covered wall in an autumn ombre provides the perfect foliage backdrop that happens just once a year.

Houndstooth, buffalo check, or Madras? I’m a pretty plaid, I might add.

Illustrious Luster

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Victoria

Miss Mary Mack ain’t got nothin’ on my gold buttons.

This jacket was a recent acquisition from my vintage shopping adventures in Portland over the summer. The babydoll-esque silhouette and statement buttons tells me that this piece could possibly date back to the early 1960s. I immediately fell in love with the shiny gold buttons, and while the chest pocket is too tiny to hold anything, it adds a small amount of charm to the jacket nonetheless. The jacket’s lightweight hand and classic ivory color will make it a perfect companion for many dressy occasions to come. It definitely deserves to be worn with something equally pretty, luminous, and rad – perhaps a little plaid?

I often associate plaid with button up shirts and preppy pleated school girl skirts, but this sheath plaid dress proved me wrong. I rarely fancy a pastel palette, but the lustrous sheen of the silk shantung made this dress rather fancy. Although not quite as fitted as a sheath should be (oh the downsides to shopping vintage!), it’s no problem that a simple belt can’t fix.

To show off the dress or the jacket? That is the question. But buttons this big are virtually fumble proof. I guess I should loosen up my buttons and show off my guns. And no, I ain’t frontin.

Oct. 2014: Illulstrious Luster

vintage jacket (similar) / vintage Erez Levy dress (similar) / Nina pumps / vintage purse (similar) / vintage crystal bead cluster earrings (similar) / vintage crystal bead necklace (similar)

Style 101: Preppy Plaid n’ Pleats

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Victoria

I recently visited my alma mater where I studied my dura and pia mater, but none of that matters anymore, as it has no bearing on what I do at my 9 to 5. Psych!

It’s been a while since I’ve been on the UC Berkeley campus, but my visit reminded me of how beautiful it is. I love the architecture of the lecture halls and buildings. Red bricks somehow remind me of all things academic, which inspired my next look.

I’m a Professor Mix A Lot of sorts when it comes to mixing and matching patterns and textures. Case study: the almost tonal plaid skirt serves as a neutral canvas, allowing the vibrantly colored plaid blouse to dominate. However, one must also take into account the confounding variables of different fabrications and textures, such as the pleats and sheen of the skirt, the delicate lightweight cotton shirt, and the ruffled edge of the cardigan. In the place of schoolgirl knee high socks, I opted for the grown up version in the form of ooh la la nude fishnets. All of these add layers of interest to my outfit. Instead of following the crowd, I like to be an outlier sometimes. There is no regression toward the mean for me!

As my age gap closes in with the older folk, suddenly the undergrads look like such youngsters and the grad students seem mighty attractive. Excuse me Professor, when are your office hours?