Mad for Plaid?

…”But plaid is so cute”

Please, please – don’t any of you tell us that top is cute or we will have to make you an honorary member of the frump society.(LOL)

This is not Fabulous after 40 or any age, especially when your are carrying a few extra pounds. Plaids are  busy. They make you look big, and the boxy fit, high neckline, drawstring waist, and tunic length of this top only add to the walking blanket look.

Baggy is baggy after 40. This boyfriend lumber jack shirt look  may be hot right now but the oversize nature of it sends the message I’m a little girl playing dress-up. It’s babyish and sexy at the same time. At 40+ this trendy look is extremely hard to pull off, no matter how fit you are.

Go for Fitted

After 40 your  body starts to soften up and you need some definition, so find a plaid shirt that is more slim lined and nips in at the waist. Also, to look more modern, try a more lively color combination.Traditional plaid colors (navy, forest green, gold, black etc) are usually pretty drab and can make you look tired and old.

The Designer Trap:

Yes, It’s Burberry and it’s a status symbol, but who cares, because in this particular case the shirt is too sloppy and edgy to  look anything but silly on a grown up gal. Leave it for your teenager.

If you are truly in love with the Burberry plaid, and not just buying it for the designer label, then think about just using a plaid scarf or handbag to pump up an plain outfit. Using plaid as an accent gives you a very chic look.

If you like, and can handle more plaid, then try a modern twist like this fitted high contrast jacket which would look great with black jeans and a black top. It’s sporty, but elegant too, and just that little bit different to make it interesting.

Stay away from teenage styles:

This top with it’s cutesy gathering and puffed sleeves looks like it should be paired with a pair of Daisy Duke cutoff jean shorts, and needs to stay right where you found it..in the junior department!

Pairing plaid with a sweater

Try to get past this girl’s baby face (just cover her face with your finger-why do they use such young models??) Now, imagine this combo on you with a cute pair of jeans.

The plaid top is simple, fitted and quite hip because of the simple ruffle detail, and it is an interesting shade of reddish brown. Paired with the chartreuse cardigan it looks fresh. Almost Michelle Obama inspired, wouldn’t you say? We know how she loves this green color. The sweater gives it some oomph and takes away from plaid overload.

Painterly Plaid

This is interesting and modern twist on plaid. It looks and feels more sophisticated. Pair it with a black cardigan.

Matching Plaids:

This is a beautiful suit and would look lovely on most anyone at any age. But if you want to present as a little more hip and less formal you may think about breaking up this suit. You know, pairing the jacket with  a single color pair of pants, or even with jeans for the weekend with a t-shirt underneath. When you look too perfect, it can be aging.

Break things Up:

Here’s an example of what we mean. Plaid jacket and  a black skirt gives this suit a less formal feel, but it is still very elegant. The 3/4 length sleeves are very flattering and allow you to  have fun with some great jewelry. Oh, and don’t forget to smile.

Classic with a twist

Hope you don’t get sick of us saying this, but it’s true. What could be a boring beige plaid trench is now a modern, little bit funky purple plaid jacket. The best way to wear this is to let the purple take center stage and accessorize in black.

With something Dramatic

Forget the boring country girl plaid shirt and try something daring and dramatic like this chic cape. It’s classy, but not snooty