Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Style Wednesday: Mad for Plaid

I confess:

I become somewhat of a traditionalist as the holiday season approaches.  For me - the period between November 1st and say January 25th (Robbie Burns Birthday) is best swathed in plaid. 

Put me in this house, please:


http://tartanscot.blogspot.ca/2012/04/national-tartan-day-2012.html
Source
Wouldn't you like a buffalo plaid tote from Talbots to take with you while Christmas shopping?

Buffalo Plaid Tote

You can wear this cardinal red toggle coat from Talbots with it and it is the perfect item to wear to pick out your Christmas tree:

Toggle Coat


Unless of course you cut your tree down yourself, and then I highly recommend this vest from Lands End:



A little red plaid under the tree says "I Love Christmas!"

http://tartanscot.blogspot.ca/2010/12/although-its-been-said.html
And we need some plaid trousers!

I will be wearing these red ones from last year:



And I have this blackwatch plaid skirt from Talbots that I wore a couple of Christmases ago..



There is just something about plaid.  In the next couple of weeks all of the retailers will have their plaids, their sequins and their velvet things out and I will be in heaven!!!

So I was looking in an old shoe box recently for the journal I am doing for Brene Brown's online course and came across this picture of myself on Easter Sunday in 1967.  It was northern New Brunswick and there was still snow on the ground.  But I was so proud of that hat and that little purse and see - I am rocking a black watch plaid coat!  Of course I was!



This was the picture that I chose as representing the essence of Wendy!

What about you - will the holidays see you channeling your inner plaid-ness?  Do tell?  Have a great Wednesday - and stay safe out there!

59 comments:

  1. I love the coziness of plaid/tartan at Christmas. Such as scarves on men, skirts on little girls, and blankets by the fire and in the car. I also love the way that they can all be thrown together, no matter what the pattern, and they all get along famously together. I have one Black Watch blouse that I pull out about once or twice every December...can't seem to resist the pull of the plaid. Love your trews! Reminds me of the Bay City Rollers in a good way! :) Very happy and cheerful, with a good dash of humour! Now I shan't get "Saturday Night" out of my head all day!

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    1. Oh I loved the Bay City Rollers! I still have a crush on Woody, though he is likely in jail somewhere!

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  2. So I have your permission to wear plaids though it will be 80F tomorrow? Our season for tartans is so short and before I know it, it feels wrong to wear them. And I love them too and have too many trousers in that pattern. Sigh.

    That LE vest is so cute, may just "need" that. You look so cute in the sequin top and red plaid trous. And absolutely adorable in your black watch coat and hat and purse!

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  3. Omg you haven't changed! You still have the same smile! I love that pic!
    I also love tartan, although I rarely wear it here - it just doesn't seem right for the Aus climate. I adore black watch - such gorgeous colours!

    Those pants are fab, Wendy. Will you be wearing them this festive season?

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    1. Hi Ruth - I hope to wear the plaid pants a lot and am looking for more plaid - I saw a pair of black watch skinnies at the mall that I may have to go back for. Since I am not working, I could deck myself out like some Ralph Lauren lifestyle ad come December! Wear the plaid - think how they would look with the circle top!

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  4. What an adorable pic! So true that ones essence doesn't change and that image seems to capture it!

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    1. Nor, apparently, does one's fashion sense! Plaid and sensible shoes!

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    2. Wendy I recall you said you have Scottish ancestry? You should look up the plaid of your former clan and get something made in that??

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    3. Oh we know out dress and hunting tartans and have some items, including kilts. I need to have a new kilt made for sure!

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  5. What a nice pic! You look lovely, very cute. I also love Tartan Scott... It is always a pleasure to browse his blog.
    I love tartan but own neither a tartan skirt/trousers. Somehow it is on my list... I agree with you it is so winter, so Christmassy... Your trousers are nice... I am looking for something with more navy in it. I love the ones they had at Hobbs, but I let them go. They had the jacket and top coordinated ;-)

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    1. You would think Brora would make a nice plaid trouser? I like a navy pair myself too!

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  6. It's funny, we never wear it here, being Scottish and all that, it's taken seeing it on "Americans" at Christmas to make me love it, now I see how festive it can be.

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    1. Funny isn't it? Probably the equivalent of a sou'wester in some parts around here!

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  7. We wear plaid all fall/winter here...we call it flannel. Your Talbot and LE picks are great. Your own tartan party ensemble is perfect. The little girl named Wendy, adorable.

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    1. Interesting - for us flannel is just the material - people have lots of flannel shirts that are solid coloured as well, I love how different areas name things differently.

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    2. All flannel is plaid...I'll take a picture of Hunter's closet and you'll see what I mean. He uses the for work shirts and has quite a collection, stained, with holes, it's all good.

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    3. I need a "like" button for all Olof BB's comments. She cracks me up.
      I love your childhood picture Wendy. What a great smile! You haven't changed!

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    4. she is pretty much a hoot, isn't she?

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  8. Just not a plaid/tartan person, however when you get into the velvets I will be swooning. Great photo, you were (and are still) such a little cutie.

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  9. OMG, that's too much cuteness for the morning. Such a young fashionista who knows her pose and loves the camera. I'm mad about plaid too. I have so many plaid shirts I think I need an intervention. I am looking to find a plaid tweed skirt this season.

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    1. I would love a plaid tweed skirt that doesn't bind at the wasist - too much to ask?

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  10. Be still my heart that picture is too adorable! As Ruth said you haven't changed at all. My gosh I love that, thanks for sharing it with us Wenders.
    I love plaid, I was just thinking yesterday that I'll be wearing my red plaid Maine Hunting Jacket from LLBean all this winter, it's my warmest coat. I love that thing, it's so sturdy too. I have plaid Bean boots I like to wear with it. What will you wear for your walks this winter?

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    1. Is that coat warmer than down? I am curious! I wear Ugg boots that are like sorels of LL Beans - shearling lined and still cold after being out in 2 degree temps standing around this morning!

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  11. Wendy that could possibly be the most adorable picture of you ever, definitely an "essence" one! So cute!
    I don't think I own anything plaid, but my husband has tons of iterations in his closet, with a few exceptions, most of his shirts are gingham, tattersall, etc etc, does that count?You look fantastic in your plaid pants and sequins, and I am mad for that full skirt. add it to the list of items to borrow when I come visit!

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    1. AB - you may be in real luck as it is TIGHT right now... sigh....

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    2. Keep 'em coming, friend! Maybe you should make an AB "pile" and put it next to the cookies :)
      I have decided you need a tulle skirt to go with the Kikis in glitter. I have started practicing but my tulle sewing and gathering skills are not up to snuff just yet. If I keep practicing, maybe a few years down the road, you may get a Xmas package from me.

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    3. And of course, I can make the waist stretchy ;)

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    4. oh - more kikis have arrived. IT could be called a problem, but since there are no Kiki Anonymous Meetings, it really can't be...

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    5. stretchy is my friend. I am copywriting that!

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    6. Ok, holy typos. I meant you can put my pile next to the Kikis, but cookies works too because isn't that what we're making when I come visit?

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    7. Ok, so about this Kiki thing, I tried them on in store and found my usual "street" size big, but sizing down rendered them a smidge tight in the toe box. How much do they stretch? My usual 8 falls off when I walk, but I worry that the 7.5 may be too tight after walking all day. Help!

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    8. the leather do stretch a but, but would hate to "promise" that they do!

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  12. Hi Wendy, what an adorable picture!

    Like Tabitha, I don't really wear tartan/plaid and I grew up thinking that you could only wear your clan tartan, or the Royal Stewart one (according to Wikipedia, all subjects of Queen Elizabeth II can wear Royal Stewart). I first saw it used as a fashion item when I lived in Germany the first time, in 1980 - Black Watch was a big thing then, all the rich kids and weathly matriarchs alike were wearing it.

    However, I love the idea of the plaid/tartan (still confused about the difference!) trews for Christmas!

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    1. Hi Patricia, I only know because I did a post a couple years ago ... what we North Americans think of as plaid is actually tartan, tartan is the pattern and in Scotland, a plaid is a tartan cloth slung over the shoulder. :)

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    2. Clarification: I did a post on it but I am not the authority, the original info came from our lovely Tabitha!

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    3. Thanks TR! and thanks Patricia - didn't know that about the queen!

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    4. Oh, and it turns out I have 2 'plaid' (I'm sure they are not an official tartan) flannel shirts for winter - totally forgot about them!

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  13. I too love plaid. I remember a gorgeous red plaid Xmas dress I made for myself back in 1985 when I was a size 8 and could wear a fitted top and flare skirt. It was beautiful with little gold shoes and belt. Now, I stick to plaid shoes and purses! You pants have me drooling though.

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    1. I remember 1985 very well! Your outfit sounds wonderful!

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  14. I love that you become a Fezziwig in December! I, myself, will admit to a former near obsession with Christmas sweaters in the 1990's. I loved how whimsical many were and I wore them proudly. Thankfully I have moved on. Now, like you, I am just itching to break out the plaid!

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    1. Teacups - this year especially, as we are having a proper Dickens dinner on the 14th of December for friends!

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  15. I love to wear plaid and as you know i have plenty of the crews plaid shirts:)

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  16. Yes, I love plaid! I think it's perfect anytime an especially in holiday colors during the Christmas season. You are adorable in your Easter best.

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    1. Thanks xoxo! I imagining baby xoxos next Christmas in plaid!

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  17. Funny, I love the cozy look of plaid, but I don't own one single thing in it. Either for my house or wardrobe. I'm coming to the slow conclusion that I may need to branch out more. Your picture is beyond adorable. You have the same happy smile.

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    1. I have a beautiful winter white plaid scarf = maybe you start there!

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  18. That precious photo says" Here I am!"

    I got a black watch wool skirt, lined, at BB outlet in Freeport for $19 recently. looking like Christmas Eve to me.

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    1. oooh - so jealous! I was trying to talk Barry into Portland on November 18th to see Elvis Costello in concert - don't think I have him convinced yet...

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    2. Excellent idea!!! I'm around.

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  19. You look adorable in both pictures! I have no red plaid, but will try to rectify this before the holidays.

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  20. Red plaid is just the ticket for the holidays!

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  21. I love plaid! One would think I'd hate it since I had to wear it as a uniform growing up but...alas.

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  22. Love that photo of you - so adorable! We of course call plaid tartan in Australia. And we don't wear it at Christmas, as it's Summer. So Christmas here is about linen, and white and gold and silver summery things. And swimwear! xx

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