Plaid Got a Makeover

plaid, tommy hilfiger, banana republic, the limited, express, forever21, plaid 2015, fashion blogger, knoxville fashion blogger

My son has pooped in a JCPenney three times now. I don’t know if it’s because he doesn’t like the place, or because he’s so relaxed.
Yesterday while the lady in the checkout line was oohing and aahing over him, he’s lying in the stroller straining. 

I’m just glad he got it all out because I was in a rush to put together an outfit. It was during that rush that I became thankful for two things…
One: I’m thankful he’s a good shopper and able to sleep while mommy drives his stroller like a bumper car (I’m still getting used to it).
Two: I’m thankful for plaid.

Sure the right kind of animal print makes me salivate and of course stripes are always a safe bet, but I was craving something new. Something fall-like but without the country feel (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

I needed a great pattern and I was pleasantly surprised to find that plaid has been given a makeover. Everywhere I turned there was an updated version of what can sometimes be a homely pattern. Whether it was incorporating new colors like the purple pictured above from Tommy Hilfiger or the orange and gray from Banana Republic, or by going bolder and wider with the stripes like Express has done, or maybe it was how The Limited printed it on a softer, flowy fabric – all of those upgrades made the pattern more appealing to a city gal like myself.

I tried with all my might to not title this post, “Mad for Plaid” but I have to say, the 21st century versions of this classic pattern and all the pattern mixing possibilities it brings with it, makes it hard not to go a little mad for a lot of plaid. ;)

Pick up any of these great options at West Town Mall!

Continue Reading

Dry is the New Cute

knoxville fashion, west town mall, tommy hilfiger, trench coat, rain boots, gap, jcpenney, jcp, leopard umbrella, cute rain boots, what to wear on a rainy day

One time I read an article telling me how to pull off the “wet hair look” that was showcased during New York Fashion Week.

Since one designer sent models down the runway with wet looking hair, it was now a “thing” and the article explained how we could achieve that same look for when we walk out the door.

Yeeeaa…I don’t think so.

Let’s say I follow the article and get my hair all slicked back and wet looking…I can only imagine the comments that would follow the moment I walked out the door. Scratch that, the comments would come before I walked out the door because I’m sure that would open a whole box of jokes from my husband (I know if he tried that look he would get a couple rounds from me).

Some things are best left on the runway.

Since the 7 day planner includes a whole lotta rain in our neck of the woods (yay!) I thought I’d put together some cute options for keeping yourself dry AND cute.

You definitely want an umbrella that showcases your personality. If for no other reason than to make it easier to spot when it’s hanging out with other ones by the door. This leopard cutie is from JCP and is on sale (at least online) for $16.80.

How ’bout them boots! They’re Tommy Hilfiger’s version of the rain boot. Does that man know how to make a rain boot, or what?! They’re also on sale at Belk for $69.99. They’re super chic yet classic enough to be in style for a long time, making the extra splurge totally worth it.

The trench coat will probably go out of style around the same time breathing air becomes passe.

Go ahead and get you a cute one that you can wear in the rain. And who better to make it than GAP? No one. That’s who. Grab this one at the West Town Mall location for $128 (psst: they have a coupon in the school coupon book).

Continue Reading