Dress: Simplicity 2443
Flannel shirt: Aerie
Tights: Hot Sox
Boots: Alfani
Belt: Forever 21
I was in high school during the grunge era, and I thought I had seen as much plaid flannel as I ever wanted to see in my life. Yesterday I was at TJ Maax buying tights (they have some great patterned tights right now) when I found this plaid pajama top on clearance. For $5 I thought I could make it work as a regular top, and I was right! I was going to try it as a tunic, but it’s not quite long enough – and it doesn’t really fit my hips either, so it’s best either unbuttoned (as above) or tucked in (so I can leave the last button undone.) I rolled up the sleeves to give it a more casual look.
To my surprise I really like this look! The ruffles make it different from the plaid of my youth, and the green is my absolute favorite color (I had my hair colored this weekend, so I’m wearing colors that really go with the red while it’s bright.) My husband is a few years older than me, making him college age during the flannel era 90s, and he really liked this look on me. He suggested I needed some Doc Martens, but I told him I’d leave those to him.
I bought some buffalo plaid poplin from fabric.com, and I’m planning to use it to make a tunic similar to this (minus the ruffles but with a drawstring waist… I have both a McCall and Simplicity pattern that would suit.) The dress I’m wearing above is a lot more versatile than I thought – it works like this, and I’m also thinking of wearing it with a blouse underneath like a jumper. I need to resew the hem – it came loose the last time I washed the dress.
So I’m definitely back on the plaid bandwagon, and you should expect a great many plaid projects and outfits this winter!
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
Oh, yes, the grunge period. I had flannel shirts aplenty. I haven’t managed to find one I’m willing to buy yet – but I’ve seen them around.
You look adorable. I was a bit old for grunge, so I never overdosed on plaid flannel. I don’t mind seeing it again.
HI. I’m a plaid lover too. My favorite skirts as a kid were plaid ones. In those days girls were not allowed to wear pants to school. 1960’s. You look great.
Cute! I remember wearing plaid flannel shirts, with my carpenter jeans and baby tees 🙂 I like your updated version much better!
I was so self-conscious about how I looked in HS that the grunge era was a good thing for me (I think you and I are about the same age…). I just hid in floppy flannel shirts! And I wanted Docs so badly, but they were too expensive. I tried on a pair about a year ago and I was surprised at how uncomfortable they were! And here I had been idealizing them for so long.
Anyway, thanks for the chance to reminisce 🙂
I remember that era! While I don’t know that I could do a plaid shirt, I’m a big fan of plaid jackets, jumpers and skirts. I have some blue and gray plaid on my fabric pile that will someday become a jumper. Someday!
By the way, that green does look great on you.