Plaid Please.
Plaid has one of the most dynamic histories of all fashion trends. I received my first plaid skirt from my grandparents when they moved to Scotland. Historically, plaid is associated with Scottish tradition. This crisscross vertical and horizontal pattern became a national emblem after the British banned it for 36 years when they voraciously conquered Scotland.
Setting the Stage for the Punk Revolution.
The historical ban on plaid served as a precursor to the fashion’s modern revolutionary statement. In the 1970s and 1980s, British discontent and the rise of rock music led to a cultural revolution. Punk-rock teens with fiery mohawks, studded jeans, and Doc Marten boots dominated the fashion scene, as a type of rebellion against the British Royalty. Vivienne Westwood provoked this movement and dominated international runways with her haute couture plaid designs.
90s Plaid Grunge
In the 90s, the Grunge Musical Genre reintroduced plaid. During this era, thrift shopping and grungy-hipsters took the stage. The hipster movement began to soar, which I believe is the “intellectual rebellion” of the modern age.
2013 Plaid
This fall, plaid dominated Marc Jacobs, Saint Laurent, Philip Lim, and Burberry runways. Burberry has always maintained a classic plaid pattern, separate from the rebellious plaid movement. The plaid of the present is a chic revolution, rather than a punk rebellion. Plaid is layered, mixed with fine prints, and has taken on a chic, luxurious look. Doc Martens are back, but the designs have taken on a haute couture look, straying from the studded punk look.
Hipster Chic.
My outfit represents plaid’s evolution. I mix a hipster flannel with a chic Burberry skirt and combat boots. I would say that I border a chic-hipster style. Although I love posh plaid, I do represent a part of the intellectual rebellion of the present due to my curiousity. I am a Wicker Park (kinda hip)–Gold Coast girl (super chic). I am a mixture of two worlds.
Plaid Essentials:
1. FREE PEOPLE Johnny Plaid Top
3. TOP SHOP Navy Check Plaid Shorts
4. TOP SHOP Knitted Sheer Check Jumper
Dream Big!
Xoxo
Larz