STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Don't Be Sad, Be Plaid

March 17th, 2015 at 2:00am

Let’s be real. When that groundhog said we were going to see six more weeks of winter, he seriously meant we were going to see six more weeks of winter. At this rate, I think it’s safe to say it’s going to be even longer than that. For all you optimists out there, I apologize, but realism is the way of weather forecast. Luckily for me, North Carolina is finally starting to see warmer days. Not so luckily for me, daylight savings time means that I’ll be waking up in the dark for my dreaded 8:00 am class, and there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to figure out how to look put together before the sun rises. I check the Weather app and see that the temperature will be 30 degrees on my way to class, and 70 degrees on my way out. Classic.

What’s a girl got to do to be warm while still looking ready for the spring? At first, I thought it was feasible to just throw on a peacoat and carry it on my walk home when it got warmer, but let’s be real, no one wants to carry that. Then I spotted this Fashionista, and I had a fashion epiphany. Flannels. Warm, colorful, versatile. Long gone are the days you have to drag around a heavy coat because you had to shed layers. The flannel shirt is the perfect button-down to tie around your waist, old-school style. Full House memories are flooding back as I write.

You might think that flannels are only a hit in the fall, but you’re mistaken. Flannels are perfect for chilly nights and bonfires this season paired with any kind of denim, or you can dress them up a tad by wearing them unbuttoned over a simple, flowy dress. There’s opportunity for fun color combinations, and you can literally wear them for so many different occasions. My Catholic school days may have me biased towards plaid, but Blair Waldorf frequently wore it, so why wouldn’t you?

This Fashionista added an edgy twist to her flannel, and that kind of twist is my absolute favorite. The purple flannel keeps the attire appropriate for the approaching spring season, and it’s generally a great color on blondes. Matching the tank top to the flannel keeps it classic and simple. When my Fashionista turned around, she flashed that bare skin, making this a fierce look. The cutout top is at the perfect length between her long hair and the flannel at her waist. Throwing on a pair of combat boots and medium wash denim kept the look aggressive and stylish from top to bottom. She accessorized with a bunch of cute bracelets on both hands, and her ear candy is seriously looking smoking hot. God, I love when ensembles are feminine, edgy AND ‘90s throwbacks.

What’s your STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK? “Showing a little skin doesn’t have to be promiscuous if you wear it with confidence and make your whole look edgy.”

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