https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:48:52 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me/page/2#post-2266666 Thu, 09 Jun 2022 10:33:00 +0000 BlueJay 2266666@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a beautiful post, Bijou! You have gorgeous clothes and a wonderful sense of style. Your plaid items are no exception. </p> <p>I've worn Catholic plaid kilt uniforms, but then transferred to the public school up the street. There I saw the kids listening to AC/DC wearing the plaid flannel shirts. When I grew more confident in my later high school years, I wore plaid shorts with black nylons and a black turtleneck. Sort of a Beatnik style. Buffalo check red and black flannel shirt for the grunge years. Now, black, white and red plaid pants, and a flannel dress.</p> <p>Any time the Stewart tartan showed up on a scarf or card, my lovely mom and Aunt would point it out to me, their maiden family name. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me/page/2#post-2266592 Wed, 08 Jun 2022 16:23:50 +0000 Angie 2266592@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Bijou</b>, you hit the nail on the head on why Japanese street style is phenomenal. Same with HK street style </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me/page/2#post-2266586 Wed, 08 Jun 2022 15:57:30 +0000 Mainelady 2266586@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I so enjoyed reading your post. It sounds like plaid is your Happiness&nbsp;<br />Fabric, reminding your of special times. Pure fabness! You can never go wrong when wearing happiness. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me/page/2#post-2266520 Wed, 08 Jun 2022 05:16:54 +0000 Bijou 2266520@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Suz, </b>thank you - your writing is always sublime as are your wardrobe choices. You are great inspiration on how to wear tartan and plaid in a sophisticated and joyous way.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Angie</b> - that photo says it all regarding how enduring both plaid and Japanese fashion is - both timeless and current at the same time! You and the men on the bench could be out of Vogue. I particularly love the guy on the phone's hair, so 1980's New Romantic!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me/page/2#post-2266418 Tue, 07 Jun 2022 16:53:53 +0000 Angie 2266418@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Bijou,</b> I share your love for plaid! As <b>Suz</b> says, one of the best patterns ever.</p> <p>Here's an old pic of me in Japan - (Yokohama) - in plaid - about 9 years ago </p> <p>.....and my current plaids and checks. Always want more.....</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me/page/2#post-2266400 Tue, 07 Jun 2022 15:36:35 +0000 Suz 2266400@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This was so beautiful to read, <b>Bijou</b>! You've come full circle with your tartans and incorporate all your memories into your rich and beautiful closet. I love so many of your plaid items. What a gorgeous (and gorgeously written) paean to the best pattern <b>EVER.</b>&nbsp;</p> <p>My ancestry is largely Scottish and I have always felt drawn to tartans. I wear them more often in fall and winter than in summer and wear simple checks more often in summer. But I will never be without at least a few tartan items in my closet.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me/page/2#post-2266358 Tue, 07 Jun 2022 09:43:09 +0000 Anonymous 2266358@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not a plaid wearer myself, but love this! It works for you!<br /> My associations with plaid are pretty much grunge era. I tried with a couple pieces, but it never felt authentic, except for a low contrast blanket scarf. The scarf was warm purple, olive, and black- but it got pilled badly. It was nice for winter in a cold office! DH is Scots-Irish. His dad wears plaid a lot but he doesn't. I like seeing all the different tartans at the Celtic Faire </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me/page/2#post-2266345 Tue, 07 Jun 2022 04:33:09 +0000 Bijou 2266345@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Anne, tartan and gingham look fabulous on you. I agree that shirring is not that comfortable in our hot summers, I avoid it too and prefer gingham dresses without it. Your Boden dress is so pretty and perfect for summer. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me/page/2#post-2266236 Mon, 06 Jun 2022 14:16:46 +0000 anne 2266236@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div>Bijou, what a lovely lyrical post, taking us down your memories. So many resonated with me, including the plaid shirt / skinny jeans connotations!</div><div><br /></div><div>I also love it, and remember a dress as a 3/4 year old (like Jenni described, with a sort of singlet top), a blue tartan skirt with wide elastic waistband in 1989, Green tartan trouser in around 1988, a red tartan skirt&nbsp; I made myself and wore to death at uni, and a red tartan baby doll mini dress tunic that is still in my clothing archive box, and I wore a bit in my early days on YLF.&nbsp; <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now I have a grey tartan jumpsuit, and a red tartan shirtdress/ tunic (that I wore at our in-person meet up).&nbsp; And&nbsp; red gingham dress - the same as Angie has/had Since I have quite a small wardrobe and most of it is plain, that is a reasonably high proportion of what is patterned.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had a lovely blue tartan chiffon blouse a few years ago that sadly wasn't durable and wore out.&nbsp; And I'm very drawn to gingham and have been looking for just the right one (I don't like much shirring on me and the two seem to go together a lot).<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me/page/2#post-2266222 Mon, 06 Jun 2022 13:25:04 +0000 Bijou 2266222@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lana, I really love your plaid skirt.</p> <p>Janet, how great to have a family tartan. You have the best plaid coats.</p> <p>Lyn, it would be fun to know the story behind yellow boots!</p> <p>Angie, thank you for helping me to find ways to enjoy wearing plaid. YLF is always a great source of inspiration.</p> <p>Brooklyn, I’m so glad you like the skirt. When I bought it, I immediately thought of you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me/page/2#post-2266199 Mon, 06 Jun 2022 09:18:23 +0000 Brooklyn 2266199@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I enjoyed your plaid story. I think I have similar cultural associations to you with plaid flannel shirts. I also didn’t wear them. But I did wear desert boots and black rock band t-shirts in the 80s. (I was more of a Cold Chisel fan.)</p> <p>I have a plaid shirt now, and I have to style it carefully so that it doesn’t feel too masculine/tough for me. But I love plaid (I am part Scottish too). I would like to add more, as long as it has a feminine twist eg your plaid skirt. I’ll take the jacket and the bag too. </p> <p>Here are mine. I think the jacket was inspired by you actually </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266178 Mon, 06 Jun 2022 01:07:33 +0000 Angie 2266178@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Bijou</b>, you are Queen Tartan, have KILLER plaid and check items, and wear it all with panache!</p> <p>LOVED hearing about the positive emotion behind the pattern. Makes it all extra special and meaningful. Contine wearing plaids and checks with a happy heart :)</p> <p>And I share you love for Japan! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266163 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 22:32:46 +0000 Lana 2266163@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Janet that long gray coat with the side slits is fab! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266134 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 17:51:38 +0000 lyn67 2266134@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>&nbsp;Bijou, you are a talented&nbsp; story teller, loved to read this-you made my day(already evening here:-))and... meanwhile reading your thread&nbsp; has just&nbsp; clicked in my own&nbsp; sentimental story about being&nbsp; attracted&nbsp; to yellow boots&nbsp; along all my life...:-) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266104 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 13:42:33 +0000 Janet 2266104@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a great ode to plaid! </p> <p>I have always liked it and don’t have any strong associations with it, positive or negative. No private school uniforms or anything like that, although where I grew up, madras was huge in preppy style, and I was only mildly preppy at most! Punk style in the states in the 80s wasn’t overly plaid — more black torn leather — so my associations with that are moderate too.</p> <p>I do have and enjoy some plaid items. Mostly shirts and jackets/coats, but also a pair of old jeans that I can’t seem to get rid of, and a favorite clutch, to which that I just had loops added on the inside so I can attach a strap to it to carry crossbody. I have some plaid button-front shirts that are not in finds — they’re very casual. </p> <p>I did discover my Scottish ancestors’ tartan, at least according to what I know of one branch of my father’s ancestry (mom’s was Dutch/French/German/English so I’m quite the mixed breed of mostly European descent). </p> <p>Some of my plaid is below. Pic is what I believe to be my father’s family tartan. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266102 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 13:08:43 +0000 Lana 2266102@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I loved your post and the memories. &nbsp;Those kinds of clothes are the ones I enjoy wearing because they mean something.&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>I have had a difficult time with plaid because I went to a Catholic girls school and I was so sick of plaid by the time I left high school, I never wanted to see it again! But recently I’ve added a couple of pieces and I &nbsp;like them.&nbsp;</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266075 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 04:20:29 +0000 Bijou 2266075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jessikams, I agree, plaid is very versatile.</p> <p>Cat2, so fun to hear how your local influences informed your style.</p> <p>Janet, that is funny about the lady and tartan shopping. I would be sad to restrict myself to only one tartan or plaid pattern.</p> <p>Slim Cat, I never understood the need to dress kids in ugly school uniforms. My son’s school has a lovely navy uniform and the kids look great. </p> <p>Cardiff Girl, it is nice when items have some meaning. That is my excuse for buying items when on vacation, because the item is then linked to the holiday too.</p> <p>The Cat, I love that skirt too. A much more sophisticated take on my original plaid skirt.</p> <p>Sloped, I will have to watch that movie.</p> <p>Rebekah, you have some great plaid items! Enjoy the concert, Peter Hook who is one of my husband’s hero’s.</p> <p>Carla, it is so interesting to hear of your husband’s association to his family tartan. What a beautiful young school girl you were and that is a wonderful school uniform!</p> <p>Wow Sal, that is amazing!</p> <p>Jaime, no surprise that you were always one of the cool rebels.</p> <p>Stag, I think you will need to Google that.</p> <p>Jenni, thank you so much for posting, what priceless pictures. My Mum liked to dress me the same as my older sisters (who were twins and 5 years older than me) as I was a mini version of them and we looked very cute. They hated it and I loved it! It stopped when they got to about 9 or 10 and decided they wanted different clothes and hair from each other and most especially me.</p> <p>Echo, Punk was amazing. A friend of mine got expelled from my all girl’s Catholic school for her radical hair. She then went totally punk and I remember not even recognising her when I ran into her at the bus stop. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266074 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 04:15:07 +0000 Echo 2266074@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love your thoughts on plaid and your associations with it. And having a family plaid is even better!</p> <p>I am not Scottish; I don't have memories of plaid from my childhood; I never wore plaid as a school uniform. My associations with plaid come from my teenaged years, and that was the punk scene. The pictures below demonstrate my associations with plaid. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266073 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 02:48:46 +0000 Jenni NZ 2266073@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here are the 26 year old pics. The little skirts actually were attached to a sort of white pinafore top half then you put the top or blouse over it? This was for a combined birthday party we were attending for 2 little boys, brothers, who were born exactly 2 years apart. They were turning 6 and 4. Our older girl is 5 years old here and the younger sister is 2. Older one doesn’t look very happy in pic 2 LOL!<br /> I remembered having little skirts like that as a child myself. I think I found the red one new possibly and the blue one secondhand. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266071 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 02:26:17 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2266071@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>How does one look up a family tartan? I’m curious now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266068 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 02:06:11 +0000 Jaime 2266068@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for your charming reflections. I am not Scottish at all, but I smiled in recognition because I hung out with the AC/DC types in high school and later spent a few summers in Seattle during the height of grunge. And I do like plaid very much! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266065 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 01:51:14 +0000 Sal 2266065@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I looked up my family tartan- the first is my maternal grandfather and the second is my married name. We do have a scarf in the second tartan. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266061 Sun, 05 Jun 2022 00:13:05 +0000 Carla 2266061@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a lovely testament to plaid, Bijou. &nbsp;I have a sweet spot for the Black Watch plaid, since I wore a BW tunic dress as part of my school uniform, and I&nbsp;<i>loved&nbsp;</i>boarding school.</p> <p> <div><br /></div><div>I don’t have much plaid in my closet at the moment, but I keep an eye out for the Buchanan plaid, since it is DH’s family tartan. I find it a bit garish - the opposite of the subdued BW, but DH gets a kick out of having an item or two for certain holidays or events. &nbsp;His Scottish father learned to fly planes (during WWII) in Canada! Then immigrated from Scotland after the war, marriage, and a uni degree - for work. &nbsp;His mother came over shortly afterwards. &nbsp;The story goes, she was pregnant with DH and went into labour shortly after landing!<br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266041 Sat, 04 Jun 2022 19:45:40 +0000 rebekahphoto 2266041@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah your story is lovely thanks for sharing! It brings up similar memories for myself, I have always had a little plaid in my wardrobe, but not too much. the LL bean catalog came to our house often and I loved black watch plaid the most. in the late 80s and 90s my inspirations were a bit more Vivienne Westwood than Scottish country (minus all the zippers)</p> <p>Fresh out of college in early1990s Seattle I was a pretty alternative-artsy dresser, a favorite outfit was a vintage leopard coat, a classic red plaid Pendelton skirt and tall black Fluevog boots--my Northwest influence showing.</p> <p>But I also had the requisite plaid shirts and a grunge aesthetic, my fav was an old vintage purple and grey flannel usually worn over a black tank, black boots and cutoffs to a more than a few concerts and Lollapalooza camping weekends. it became an all-purpose workhorse, including gardening and painting attire.&nbsp;</p> <p>I have a few flannels in my wardrobe now, some LL bean shirts. Im feeling a little plaid this summer and the pink plaid shirt cotton shirt from Caslon is on its way to me--maybe as a perfect summer top.&nbsp;</p> <p>Also in my wardrobe is a beautiful Vintage Burberry Coat that I have never worn. I like the idea in theory, but Im not sure if the color is quite "me"...might need to do an outfit lab exploration. It feels a bit too preppy, less edgy. But In my mind I see myself in the trench, sitting in a cafe with an espresso like in some foreign film.....&nbsp;</p> <p>I also had eyes for the boys who wore the Joy Division shirts and&nbsp; eventually married one. He kind of grumbles when I borrow his t-shirts</p> <p>We are very much looking forward to seeing Peter Hook play the Joy Division archive in Seattle this fall...I'll have to figure out what to wear! (something black of course) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266033 Sat, 04 Jun 2022 18:39:24 +0000 Sloper 2266033@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mad for Plaid!</p> <p>Thanks for sharing your plaid journey.<br />I remember a madras plaid shirt in the 70's with lurex threads and pearlized snaps, and a Liz Claiborne plaid summer blazer in the 80's that I wore to absolute death.</p> <p>Haven't done a lot of plaid lately, but did treat myself to some summer gingham.</p> <p>Have you ever seen the film, "I Know Where I'm Going" - the heroine is on a train to Scotland to marry her fiance and has a tartan dream.<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNomqxjRYlw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNomqxjRYlw</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266027 Sat, 04 Jun 2022 17:31:29 +0000 The Cat 2266027@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Enjoyed reading your 'plaid story'. Love your diagonal plaid skirt. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266023 Sat, 04 Jun 2022 16:55:19 +0000 Cardiff girl 2266023@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a lovely back story to your plaid wardrobe pieces.l really like it when clothes have a meaning tothe person wearing them.You have some lovely pieces. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266017 Sat, 04 Jun 2022 15:35:20 +0000 slim cat 2266017@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Beautiful story and great pieces!<br />My relationship with plaid is limited to a few years of working for Lucky Brand - mostly shirts ( some are still worn ). Before that some mini skirts and plaid pants lived in my closet during BR years.<br />My school uniform was ugly dark brown with black apron - just a year before it was switched to navy skirts and white blouses with vests and jackets ;-( . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266008 Sat, 04 Jun 2022 14:14:46 +0000 JAileen 2266008@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I loved reading about your relationship with plaid. &nbsp;Mine is a little different.</p> <p>My mother dressed me in plaid my whole life. &nbsp;When I was about ten, I remember browsing the stacks at the public library and another kid asked me if I went to the parochial (Catholic) school, because I was was dressed in what he thought was the school’s uniform - a plaid wool pleated skirt, white blouse and wool sweater. &nbsp;I wore that everyday because that was pretty much my entire wardrobe. &nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>Between my freshman and sophomore year of high school, I went with my parents to Europe. &nbsp;I had spent the summer cleaning houses, and had $100 to spend. &nbsp;I decided to spend $25 in each country we visited - Italy, Switzerland, France and England. &nbsp;In England I bought two beautiful wool mini kilt skirts and two sweaters. &nbsp;Both skirts were variations of Stewart plaid, one in red and the other one in a slate blue. &nbsp;I wore them to death. &nbsp;Later, I got a slate blue trench coat. &nbsp;I really felt fab! &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>When our son was in high school, he and two of his closest friends played bagpipes in a band. &nbsp;The band played in competitions all up and down California. &nbsp;As parents, we had lots of time to kill. &nbsp;At one of them, my husband and I were looking at tartans at a booth. &nbsp;My mother had told me we had a family tartan. &nbsp;I knew the name, but honestly it seemed preposterous to claim it. And it turned out they had more than one tartan! The woman at the booth asked us about it and I told her I was tartan shopping. &nbsp;She was a little shocked because she obviously took it more seriously than I did. &nbsp;Later I took a genetic test that confirmed I have some Scottish ancestry.</p> <p>Now, I have lots of plaid: several flannel shirts, bathrobe, several wool coats and jackets, handbag, and even shoes. &nbsp;They’re all different, too. &nbsp;:)</p> <p></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-plaid-is-more-than-fashion-for-me#post-2266007 Sat, 04 Jun 2022 13:41:55 +0000 cat2 2266007@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a lovely post! Growing up in a rural area, Western cut plaid cotton and flannel shirts were the gear of generations of hard working farmers and ranchers. I went away to school, where plaids were worn by punks and preps. I went with the prep version, and for summer always have a madras plaid, and some cheery checks. </p>