The Fab 40’s in Plaid and Floral

March 25, 2019 / 36 Comments
This is not a sponsored post.

I am always up for doing something a little unexpected. So when Mary of Curlybyrdie Chirps suggested mixing plaid and floral for this month’s Fab 40’s theme, I was enthusiastic to get to work creating my look. Not to mention that plaid and florals are two of my favorite prints and I have an overabundance of both in my closet. No trips to the thrift shop would be necessary for this theme like last month’s wild challenge required.

The Fab 40’s is a group of six fashion bloggers from around the globe. Each month we choose a different theme and invite a guest blogger who is also in their 40’s to join us. This group’s goal is to take on style trends and show how we each interpret and incorporate them into our own lives. With six widely varied views, you are certain to find something that speaks to you each month and encourages you to continue to have fun with fashion after the age of 40.

I have mixed plaid and floral in many an outfit before…a floral dress and plaid blanket scarf, a plaid blanket scarf with floral boots and a striped sweater, plaid gloves and floral booties, a plaid vest with a floral scarf, a plaid shirt with plaid scarf and floral sneakers, a plaid scarf with floral booties, another plaid scarf with another pair of floral booties, a plaid scarf with a herringbone vest and floral booties, a plaid scarf and gloves with a herringbone jacket and floral boots, plaid pants with a floral scarf, plaid pants with a floral kimono, plaid pants and floral tunic, plaid scarf and floral pants, plaid shirt with floral bomber jacket, and plaid shirt with floral scarf. So my goal for this challenge was to take it a step further.

At first, I styled a velvet dress in pink floral with plaid combat boots. It was cute. But I never photographed it because I just wasn’t wowed by it. I mean, I am in the company of some of the edgiest, most stylish fashion bloggers here, so I need to up my style game every time just to keep up with them! So I took it a step further and ventured into the realm of the unexpected by styling two contrasting plaids with my floral over the knee boots.

When I first styled this outfit, I added a red trench coat because it was drizzling a bit. We headed off to the old tank factory to take photos and the wind was so bad that there was hardly a decent photograph to be found among the 100 that we took. I did manage to salvage some of them, but then I kind of liked the library as a more appropriate backdrop for this school girlish look.

The library is located right on the main drag in town and I always feel so awkward taking photos there as the cars slow down and look at me. I can never get comfortable with that. But then later that day after we took these photos, I got this message on Facebook from a girl named Shelby…“I drove by you today doing your photo shoot! It felt like I was star struck.” All I can say is this…thank you so much, Shelby, for that! It totally made my day and made me feel a little less awkward taking my photos! And thanks for stopping by the consignment shop the other day as well. It is always great to see you!

Has that ever happened to any of my blogger friends? You are spotted during a photo shoot, trying to be discreet but knowing full well that it is not possible to be discreet, and someone spots you and makes a comment?! When the comments are like Shelby’s, there is nothing quite like it! Sometimes, the comments may not be as kind. But oh well. Forge on we must in the name of fashion and for the sake of blogging.

I had every intention about writing something today a bit more thought provoking and profound on the topic of doing the unexpected. But I was too busy doing the unexpected and never quite got round to writing. You see, I just booked a 5 day stay in Asheville, North Carolina, for the first week of July to visit a friend. I have not taken a solo road trip like this in probably close to 20 years and I am feeling exhilarated! So any blogger friends in or near Asheville, I will be available if you want to meet for coffee! I am not sure of my exact schedule while I’m there but I will be staying for 5 days from July 2-7.

And now let’s get to my fabulous friends of The Fab 40’s and see how they styled some plaid and floral.

First is Mary of Curlybyrdie Chirps, the one who created the theme. And with a one and done combination of plaid and florals in the most magnificent jacket I have ever seen, Mary has left me with my jaw dropped and in complete girl crush mode!

Mary of Curlybyrdie Chirps

Outfit Details: Jacket – Debenham’s – Preem / Jumpsuit- New York and Company / Shoes- Shoe Dazzle / Bag – Goodwill Find – Loft / Earrings – JcPenney

And then there’s Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots featuring the most amazing green floral kimono over beautiful Glen plaid slacks. It is the perfect combination in so many ways.

Jennie of A Pocketful of Polka Dots

Outfit Details: Duster – c/o Shein / Polka Dot Cami – Loft / Pants – Express / Shoes – Madden Girl / Necklace – Ann Taylor / Earrings – NY&Co. /  Sunnies – Deb & Dave

Next is Suzy of Suzy Turner, Pixie Chick in Portugal. Suzy claims to have struggled with this theme, but I am going call her bluff because she just looks too damn fabulous to have struggled at all! The combination of the bold floral sweater with the plaid accessories is just too good. And those shoes! Suzy, please send me those shoes!

Suzy of Suzy Turner, Pixie Chick in Portugal

Outfit Details: Plaid heels – Bershka / Floral sweater – Oasis / Blue trousers – Promod / Plaid scarf – hubby’s / Handbag – Gift from mother-in-law

And Sheela of Sheela Writes has once again knocked it out of the park! And I am so glad that she opted for a plaid mini skirt like me. Because it just goes to show that rocking a plaid mini skirt over the age of 40 is not only totally acceptable, but it is downright badass!

Sheela of Sheela Writes

Outfit Details: Rose Sweater – tiny boutique in Schulenberg / Floral Bodysuit & Floral Velvet Cap – c/o Forever21 / Plaid Skirt – thrifted / Biker Booties – Bakers /Cuff c/o Unearthed 

And now Daenel of Living Outside the Stacks with her stunning black lace floral blouse and these amazing Glen plaid and floral slides! This is an outfit I may need to recreate myself. Brilliant!

Daenel of Living Outside the Stacks

Outfit Details: Top & Shoes – Target / Necklace – Walmart / Earrings – Nickel & Suede / Bracelet – Old / Jeans – Laurie Felt for QVC

And finally my outfit…a little red plaid skirt with a Glen plaid boyfriend blazer paired with my favorite floral over the knee boots.

Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge

Outfit Details: Blazer – Target / Blouse – Cato Fashions / Skirt – Old Navy / Boots – Burlington Coat Factory / Clutch – Coach / Necklace: Solitary Consignment / Watch: Hyde Watch in Ebony & Iron c/o Jord

So tell me, are you bold enough to combine plaid and florals? Or contrasting plaids and florals? Hopefully, we have inspired you today to try something new! I will leave you with a silly little outtake from this photo shoot…this is what happens when I decide I am going to casually walk down the street and I tell my husband to capture my super model walk!

By the way, have you entered my giveaway yet? You can win $100 off a brand new Jord watch of your own or for a gift for someone else. You can see my Jord watch styled in the photos here. You can also read all about it here or go directly to the giveaway entry form here. There are not very many entries in yet, so you stand a great chance of winning if you enter now! It only takes a minute and an email address!

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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