Photos via NYMag

For the Newborn Lez

A label which started this trend would definitely have to be Kenzo. During their Fall 2011 RTW show (aka my future fashion week closet) they sent many plaid and tartan designs down the runway. This trend can certainly go very wrong if not executed correctly. You can either look amazing like Hamish Bowles or look like a confused catholic school boy.

For starters a plaid shirt or accessory such as a necktie or dress sock is a perfect way dip into the shallow end of the trend and see if it’s really for you. You can never go wrong by wearing a really understated outfit and having that one plaid piece that pops.

Keep reading for some essentials on how the look rad while wearing plaid.

Chloe will be rated on the below categories, five being the highest and 1 being the lowest.

Fit: 4

Appropriateness: 3

Trendiness: 5

Styling: 3

Shoes: 4

Hair: 2

Makeup: 4

Pose: 3

Confidence: 3

Sigh, I thought it was summer. Could Chloe have picked something a little drabber in celebration of the season? This is so dreary I could cry. Love the shoes on their own, hate them with this look. And sorry girl, but what’s with the face? These Kick Ass girls confuse me to the max. Bored.

(L-R) Just a Cheap Shirt, Stella McCartney, MM6 by Maison Martin Margiela, Carin Wester, See by Chloé

Long Sleeves:

So 90′s but like totally, whatever. You can take it with you. Tie it around your waist. A slim long sleeve or button up will make a fabulous belt as you wait for the nightly chill. Plaid is rad. Iceberg is cool.

Oversized blazer:

A bulky blazer, especially in tweed like this Sonia Rykiel, can be quite warm. Just remember that your office might be quite cold and air-conditioned. I showed you how to take your look from office to party with an oversized sport coat. Use yours from fall.

Cape:

Ah that cape you invested in like this Hussein Chalayan piece that made the perfect top layer to seal in extra warmth is now your only source of cover. No, you’ll be dressed underneath, but keep it the layers light, and the bottom tight.

Wide Leg:

These  Matthew Ames pants are more of a harem while Behnaz Sarafpour works it wide, but any pant with volume (and light enough texture) can stay a staple in your wardrobe as we move into summer. Pants like this would werq at work.

Crop Top Sweater:

Timo Weiland has sandwiched this thick knit crop top between a button down and a heavy coat. For spring, take those layers away and rock the crop with a high waist skirt or shorts. Throw a bandeau underneath for that extra in-case-I-get-warm layer.

1. Wear a jazzy surgical mask. Remember when swine flu was all the rage? Everywhere you looked, someone(s) was wearing a surgical mask. These are ugly and sterile, no pun intended. Spice up your look while protecting your immune system with gemstones, colorful patterns or even a different mouth. Samira Boon created her masks because she was tired of seeing the the dreary white variety everywhere. You can be a tiger, gorilla or zipped-lip by snagging one at the Hara Museum Online Shop. The Etsy shop Cheap Champagne offers ruffles and plaids if you want a girlie feel.

2. Lady gloves keep germs at bay. A lady should never leave her house without gloves, how rude! These dandy little dress gloves keep scum from penetrating your precious dermis. Remove them and voila!, it’s like public transportation never happened. Forzieri White Flowered Lace Gloves, Burberry Studded Leather Gloves and Prada Vernice Gloves are all fabulous options.

3. Keep hand sanitizer with you at ALL TIMES. Don’t even think about re-applying lip gloss without getting subway grime off your fingers first. Have one in your bag for easy grabbing and another on your desk so you can sanitize before touching your keyboard. Hugo Naturals Travel Size French Lavender Organic Hand Sanitizer fits inside any bag and Jurlique Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer cleanses hands while keeping them moisturized.

How do you keep germs at bay on public transportation?

Who wore it best?

Fine, I see your point. But I’m not a model, she is. How’s a lady to compete with that?

LINK LOVE: Style.com

*Bands. No solo acts were considered for this list. Or we all know Bowie would be up here.

#10 - NIRVANA

Kurt Cobain embodies the grunge revolution of the nineties. He synced the music to the laying low layered baggy flannel I-couldn’t-care-less look. It was an anti-fashion statement, a call to his own philosophy with reckless comfort, and thus it became fashion.

#9 – GUNS N ROSES

Of the glam metal hair bands that existed in thick of the eighties, Axel Rose and his lusciously locked bandmates were some of the most authentic in the genre. Their punk tinged solid rocker look made their shaggy manes manly. Power leather, head banging bandanas, faded shrunken graphic tees and hand cut effects complement their genuine rockstar songs.

#8 THE KILLERS

The intrinsic cool of Brandon Flowers emanates throughout The Killers. They create the kind of music that so easily sounds contrived when attempted by others, and the same goes for their look. Their polished quality with major statement, like feather shoulders or fur jackets, embodies both music and style in the best light.

#7 – OUTKAST

Big Boi keeps it hood. André 3000 blasts it into the future while tossing around a twenties vibe. He raised his waistline when no one else did and created mayhem with his look in “Hey Ya!” Their music is as smooth and superfast-paced as their appearance.

#6 – THE CLASH

As key players in the original wave of British punk, their shredded, zipped and right tight aesthetic weighed heavily in the formation of the genre. Their politically driven lyrics are backed by their F-you look and general badassery.

#5 – MGMT

This psych rock group from the here and now is a major reason that American Apparel stocked its shelves with blinding neon. Their exceptional style leads Andrew VanWyngarden and Benjamin Goldwasser to experimentation and wild inspiration. For instance, on their website a fan asks, “What inspired the fashion choice for Lolla[palooza] in Grant Park? You looked pretty hot in those jackets. (In every sense of the word.) Amazing.” Andrew’s answer? Quite amazing indeed.

#4 – LED ZEPPELIN

Gah, it’s effortless. The unbuttoned bare chested sexiness of Robert Plant is only upped by the fur collared leather trench of John Bohnam, complemented by the multi-tonal jacket on John Paul Jones and completed by Jimmy Page‘s slick tweed. Their ever present style had the same air as their music; the loudest, most soulful wails and riffs and rips always rode the chillest undercurrent.

#3 – JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE

Jimi Hendrix dressed like the psychedelic royalty he was. Purple and mind altering patterns enwrapped him as he lit guitars on fire, shredded it with his teeth, and as LSD dripped down from the scarf tied around his head (allegedly). The Experience was a spectacle; heady music enhanced tenfold by the showmanship of Hendrix.

#2 – THE ROLLING STONES

The Stones are the greatest vaudeville act of all time, never ceasing. Clothing slings on their rockstar bodies with ease, as does some of the greatest rock and roll ever performed pour out of them. They started out, much like The Beatles and every early British Invasion band thereafter in straight suits and matching haircuts. With time and money they evolved into wearing spectacle-worthy designer pieces like Mick Jagger’s Prada cock feather fedora or these pants. Keith Richards sparked the eyeliner earringed look that Johnny Depp so famously adopted for Captain Jack Sparrow. Undeniable sex appeal lies as much in their music as in style of larger than life, gender bending (yet deeply masculine) cool. And they’re still at it now.

#1 – THE BEATLES

The boys who brought rock and roll to the masses went through a series of evolutions in their seven years as a band. They began clean cut and mop topped, singing sweet yet earth shaking songs of holding hands, sharing secrets, twisting and shouting above the echoing shrieks and screams of crazed fans across the globe.  Always the epitome of class, they experimented with the finest suiting in the world, and it was Pierre Cardin who introduced them to the Indian Nehru jacket. Once they receded from the touring spotlight, they blossomed further as style icons. Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour brought psychedelia to the forefront with neon military regalia, wild paisleys, beads, thin chains, moustaches and acid. Onto The White Album, which they wrote most of while practicing transcendental meditation in an ashram, they developed further spiritually and grew into newer versions of themselves. John Lennon was looking more like Jesus every day, and solidifying his round spectacle staple. Paul McCartney kept charmingly classy, now paring back the brights. George Harrison grew ever more spiritual, keeping a relaxed finery about him. Ringo was actually the most fashionably daring of the four, hamming up the giant rings and divinely accessorizing. The Beatles were indisputable trendsetters as their image and sound transformed through time, transforming the world around them.

It would look perfect with ripped jeans, shorts or leggings and high gladiator heels, as shown, or as a cover-up at the beach or on vacation. I think oversized, men’s-inspired shirts look so hot with heels.

Snow is still falling here, but I’ll be looking forward to spring outfits until the first thaw comes.

Shop all Rails tops on Singer 22

If you hadn’t told me this was Christopher Kane’s Spring 2010 collection, I would have expected these looks to be some sort of picnic-table cloth, Project Runway challenge. Leave it up to Kane to bring some avant garde goodies to the runway, but I’m a little unimpressed this season. Sure, Kane has some spectacular corset structuring, but I am totally not feeling the pastel picnic plaids or the ungodly floral prints. Unlike last Spring, pieces from Kane’s 2010 collection most likely won’t fall among the “it” crowd.

GALLERY: RUNWAY: Christopher Kane Spring 2010

Thanks Style!

Plaid is hitting the streets in a global way as spotted in these shots by one of our favorite street style bloggers, Garance Dore. I think the best way for this to work is ala leggings as shown in the second photo. So subtle and chic, it kills. I would love to know where these leggings are available, I think it’s truly “IN” worthy.

Translation : Tim Padraic Sullivan

LINKAGE: checks and balances

Manish Arora
Eagle Leggings

Great by themselves with a top or as an add on under a cute dress, when too much black is just too much and you need some added pattern (which I love).

Black Pony Hair Patent Wedge

I love anything black pony, and I love wedges, so this is the perfect combo. Also cute with colored tights, the hue will peak through the cutout and look ultra cute.

Anzevino & Florence
Courtney Dress

Can’t say enough about this dress. I actually don’t like plaid, but this is adorable. A great way to feminize the oversized plaid button up shirt, and looks quite comfy and warm for the winter.

D & G

Gnome Attire

I was retrieving my homework from the printer today and almost had a stroke upon turning around. Someone was wearing these crazy plaid shorts that made no visual sense. I went back to my desk and studied them very closely for a few minutes. I realized that not only were they a vulgar color of plaid, but they had leaves and vines faintly intertwined throughout. This motif gives the illusion that a gnome barfed all over the fabric before a seamstress proceeded to add pockets and a zip fly. I am a crusader for plaid anything, so allow me to make a few suggestions. Everyone knows I am obsessed with the D&G fall ’08 collection, so any piece from the line will suffice. Also, Topshop has some fantastic and reasonably priced items like this blue dress. Plaid doesn’t have to be scary; just keep it away from the lawn ornaments.

Recently, I published an article on plaid patterns hitting the runway, and thus making a comeback. Elle’s September issue features Jessica Simpson on the cover, clad in plaid. While I am happy that the trend is being shown on a major magazine cover, this isn’t really the way to sport it. Plaid is inherently country but designers were thankfully taking the trend to sophisticated heights.

Jessica’s rodeo belt and trashy cleavage do not remotely suggest class. Why not a dress and cowboy boots? Aren’t these boots made for walking?Though Simpson is currently marketing herself as a “simple sweet country girl”, she could have worn something else to make her point. The sex symbol is recreating herself, and targeting a new audience, in hopes of success. What do you think of her new image?

Plaid is back! From flannels to chic coats, the pattern is a fall staple. Lately, the trend has been everywhere! Plaid summer bags, skirts and bathing suits are dominating the beaches.

Gossip Girl’s, Ed Westwick has paid homage to his character, by launching his own line, that embraces Chuck Bass’s style. Moreover, Westwick’s collection will be primarily plaid pieces, inspired by Gossip Girl’s private school chic style.

Another designer notorious for his plaid inspiration is Alexander McQueen. No one will ever forget SJP’s quirky tartan gown, courtesy of Mr. McQueen. He has always loved the Scottish inspired print and we are finally catching on.

Plaid embodies 90′s grunge while maintaining a new classic twist. Embrace the trend while it lasts!