Not tonal. Double. Triple. Quadruple plaid.

Over a year ago, Angie posted this maximal look and my preppy gene lit right up and hasn't stopped glowing. Kind of like Rudolph's nose . ;) 

 I vowed I'd try my own version one day and today might be the day (I'm waiting on the weather for a final decision.) 

Alas, I don't have the model's dramatic dark looks, and JAileen will be sad to know that I don't have a Scottie sweater, but I do have some of the elements of her outfit and I've tried my own versions below. 

1. Inspiration photo
2-4. -- -- First version. In lieu of the Scottie sweater, I have a sentimental Siamese print silk shirt in honour of my kitty. :) In lieu of dark sequins, I have rhinestones and a pearlescent jacket. (I did not get involved in hosiery for my try on session, so heaven only knows what I'll do about that). 
5-6 -- Second version Going with the cream sweater (as in the inspo) and a red coat. 
7-9 -- Third and fourth versions. Dark sweater to take the place of her dark jacket. But with different jackets. 
10-11 -- Fifth version. Subtracting the kitties, adding another plaid (the shirt). 
12-14 -- Sixth version. Dark with plaid. And light jacket. 

So. There you have it! I am not sure which version I like best, but I could wear any of them and it was such fun to try this out after waiting so long!  

Thanks for looking and you can vote if you like! 

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33 Comments

  • Angie replied 4 weeks ago

    WOW, Suz! These looks make me smile! Impressively maximal, Queen Plaid :) 

    KILLER creative, festive, and playful for the holidays! Skillful plaid mixing. 

    Love how you've done your versions shopping your closet with both a preppy AND sentimental gene! They all work marvelously well.

    Those old, old, plaid boots made it through too!!! 

    My faves are with the statement high contrast cream, so: #2, #10, #14. Magically calming with your silver hair, AND complements the blues and reds. That bling necklace is the bomb!

    You will spread LOTS of good cheer in any of these outfits! Hope the legs stay warm too. WOOOOOHOOOOO!!! Holidays are here. 

  • JAileen replied 4 weeks ago

    I love these.  If you have one pattern it looks nice, if you have two patterns, it looks like a mistake, but three patterns is pretty great!


    Re your inspiration photo:  I love Blackwatch.  I have a Blackwatch down vest and just got a Blackwatch sweater, but would love a skirt too.  And that Scottie sweater is pretty awesome.  I bit the bullet a year ago and bought a Ralph Lauren Jack Russell sweater.  

  • Suz replied 4 weeks ago

    Thanks, Angie! Cream jacket or sweater for the win! 

  • Bonnie replied 4 weeks ago

    These outfits are perfect for the holidays. Love the double triple plaid combos. 

  • Angie replied 4 weeks ago

    JAileen is dead right about THREE plaids potentially looking more harmonious than two. There is calm in the creative clash! 

    Suz, I can see your old red coat working over #10 WITH the red plaid scarf - the combinations are delightfully endless ;) 

  • Suz replied 4 weeks ago

    Yes, I could play with this in many more ways, with different outerwear! And I agree, the plaid on plaid on plaid seems to work -- as long as the colours are harmonious. It's definitely a fun outfit for the season, however I wear it. Today's version is the cream sweater indoors, and I'm not sure which coat when I go out...still debating that! 

    JAileen, I am glad you got your Jack Russell sweater! I love my two Siamese shirts and baby them so as to keep them in good shape. Both are older but they are very sentimental, so....

  • Angie replied 4 weeks ago

    I can join the pet holiday sweater party too! Yorkies :) 

  • Suz replied 4 weeks ago

    Ooooh, that's perfect!! 

  • Sloper replied 4 weeks ago

    I think ALL the looks work beautifully!

  • Jaime replied 4 weeks ago

    Of course that inspo shot lit up your creative mind Suz - it is just perfect for you. I love all the interpretations especially the ones with a lighter piece, but that is also because the darker ones are just harder to see on my monitor. What about that skirt by the Canadian designer whose name escapes me (if you still have it)? That would work in this direction too. Anyway, love this!

  • Dee replied 4 weeks ago

    Oh stop it now, this is just too much plaid fun. I can't pick a favorite, they're all wonderful in their own special colour combo way. Playful yet elegant too.

  • Suz replied 4 weeks ago

    Thanks, Dee! It was fun to try this, for sure!

    Jaime, this is the Canadian designer skirt. Allison Wonderland. But I also have the tulle skirt sold by a Canadian company (but made, I think, in China). So I can try with that skirt as well. 

    Sloper, thank you! 

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 4 weeks ago

    Wow, these are all amazing, Suz. I can see why that inspiration pic caught your eye. You have nailed the look, in your own ways. And you have boots that I bet the inspo model would love to add to her outfit. Ha!

  • Val replied 4 weeks ago

    These are great. I hope you wear all of them.

  • cjh replied 4 weeks ago

    I love the multiple plaid stylings. My favorite is #10, no matter which jacket you choose. 

  • RobinF replied 4 weeks ago

    Super cute! How you make this work so well I just don't know but it does.

  • Suz replied 4 weeks ago

    Thanks, everyone! I ended up wearing the cream sweater version (#10) but I switched to slightly less blingy jewellery (just because the necklace is a bit heavy) and I had to put on a full length coat because while it was not especially cold, it was SO windy and I wasn't warm enough in just the skirt/ tights! The full length coat did the job and I enjoyed the outfit enormously! 

  • Kyle replied 4 weeks ago

    Wow! This is not something I would try for myself, but it sure does look great on you, Suz. It’s clear that you are having fun with fashion and I applaud you for that.

  • Brooklyn replied 4 weeks ago

    I like them all! The plaid mixing is fantastic.

  • Lisa replied 3 weeks ago

    These outfits are perfect for the holidays, and beyond! Fabulous pattern mixing, plaid, red, and blues, maximalists looks here. You wear a skirt so well!

    It's tough to pick a favorite because they are all truly great, but I'll go with 5 and 6 because I like that light color sweater paired with the red jacket. 

  • avicennia replied 3 weeks ago

    Loving it all! Tartan and plaid are such a classic. You are lovely in all outfits.

  • Cee replied 3 weeks ago

    Those looks are so killa, you should be serving multiple life sentences !!

  • Joy replied 3 weeks ago

    I love your multiple plaids.  Thank you for posting them.  

  • madeline replied 2 weeks ago

    Suz, I love all the outfits. I cannot choose. And I have to ask: what do you use on your hair that makes it so shiny and smooth? I have short hair too and as I am getting more and more silver it becomes more and more stubborn!

  • Suz replied 2 weeks ago

    Madeline, thank you. My hair is quite fine. It used to be extremely thick, but in the last few years it has thinned some and it is only of average thickness now, and maybe even qualifies as thin in a few spots. It has a slight natural wave but is not curly.  Unlike what some people report, the texture (vs. the thickness) has not really changed with age for me -- it's the same fine, slightly wavy hair, just not as much of it. ;)  So, your mileage with these tools may vary! 

    Typically I air dry my hair. When I do this, in my damp climate, some of the wave remains. When I blow dry it, it comes out straighter and smoother. When my hair gets longer I sometimes have to flat iron the front fringe, but in these photos I have just air dryed my hair in my normal way. I don't even comb it -- I just run my fingers through it after towel drying. 

    If it feels too frizzy, I use a hair oil  or serum (Olaplex or Osis). If it feels too flat and not textured enough, I use other products like Kevin Murphy Free Hold or Night Rider (for really firm hold). And that's it! 

  • Bijou replied 2 weeks ago

    Suz, that plaid look Angie posted launched me into orbit too! You wear plaid beautifully with #10 being my killer favourite! 

  • madeline replied 2 weeks ago

    Thanks Suz! Very helpful product recommendations. You’re the best.

  • SarahD8 replied 2 weeks ago

    This is fantastic! I cannot pick a favorite and am glad to hear that you actually wore a version of this out and about. Hope you repeat one of the variations!

    I wore double plaid myself for Christmas day -- a long wool black watch plaid (my favorite) skirt, and a smaller scale red and blue plaid top. I thought it was great fun!

    I like the idea of plaid with a conversational animal print piece. Plaid + strawberry thief? Hmm, wheels are turning....

  • Helena replied 2 weeks ago

    Festive and fun looks Suz!!

  • Suz replied 2 weeks ago

    Bijou, I thought of you when I saw this outfit, too! I would love to see your version when winter comes back to your part of the world! I know you would ACE it!

    Thanks, all! It was really fun wearing this and I will absolutely wear it again. 

  • gardenchick replied 2 weeks ago

    Hello! Chiming in for the first time in a while to say that these are super inspiring.
    Love many things about it -- and immediately decided to copy your whites/creams since I have silver hair now.
    Just ordered a couple of cream color tops and I'm on the lookout for a cream puffer.
    Thank you!

  • Suz replied 2 weeks ago

    That's great to hear, gardenchick! Hope those items work out! 

  • Zaeobi replied 2 weeks ago

    Plaid on plaid works great on you! I wonder if a plaid scarf with #12/13 would feel too much for you though? (I imagine with the collar popped the two plaids wouldn't compete, but YMMV!)

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