I wanted to try Angie’s formula of wearing a flared skirt + graphic tee + plaid shirt.

What I liked about the outfit formula was the touch of 90s grunge, the pattern mix, and the practicality of the outfit from a layering perspective. At the moment it is cool in the mornings and evenings but warm during the day. A shirt offers similar warmth to a lightweight jacket and is soft and easily tied around the waist when not needed. (I don’t think that’s a popular practice here but it’s practical if you are on the move.) I also liked the way, in this outfit, the shirt formed a kind of peplum for the skirt. It adds to the outfit, in my view.

The problem is I’m not a shirt person. I tried to achieve a similar look with a long sleeve tee but it doesn’t open up and give that same enveloping, peplum effect as a shirt.

So I ended up experimenting with my one and only plaid shirt. I usually wear it with jeans as a layering item in cooler weather. I never thought to try it with a skirt.

I tried it with my green Allsaints skirt plus tie dye tee. Kind of crazy pattern mix but I liked it!

I wore a rose gold necklace to pick up the pink in the shirt. If I had a rose gold or blush pink bag, I would have worn that, but I don’t, so I opted for a greenish gold metallic bag. It seemed to tone well enough and provided a little contrast.

I wore it today and it worked well for me. I didn’t actually end up wearing the shirt (except around my waist) but it was nice to have it available. You never know with the weather at this time of year.

I think this means that there may be room in my life for another shirt. The beauty of a shirt, as opposed to a jacket, is that it’s easy to find lightweight versions in cotton. Plus you can often find interesting patterns. I am going to keep an eye out for a black and tan plaid shirt to pattern mix with my Allsaints Rhea Amare skirt (and my dog).

Thanks Angie!