I adore fall! It’s a tossup between which is my favorite season – fall or spring. Autumn brings fond memories of pumpkin carving, apple picking, and enjoying cooler weather. Recently I went to the Outdoor Blogger Summit in Roanoke, and when I was brainstorming about outfits, I thought…why not plaid? I usually associate the pattern with cozy blankets and warm shirts to keep the chill away. So, I decided upon “mad about plaid” outfit inspiration for fall. I hope you enjoy my looks!

I’d just like to pause a brief moment to talk about thrifting. Admittedly, I don’t have a lot of plaid, so I headed to our local Goodwill to find pieces for cheap. Often I get a little excited by sales, so here were my rules for finding things:

• The pieces had to be plaid. That’s a given!
• I couldn’t purchase anything I wouldn’t normally wear or be able to wear again.
• Articles had to do double duty in some way – shirt, jacket, able to be worn in several ways, good for layering…etc.
• As with any thrift purchase, everything had to be in good condition.

Ok, here goes!

Mad About Plaid

outfit #1 – hiking up to Hay Rock

Did you see that I was headed a blogging convention that was specifically for outdoor enthusiasts? I do enjoy the outdoors, but I wouldn’t call myself outdoorsy or skilled in any particular area. So, it was my choice to wear plaid for the hike. I do need some legit hiking gear, but for a novice, stretchy jeans, layering with a button down shirt, and sneakers seemed to work fine. Take a peek at that view!

• “boyfriend” shirt – men’s department in Goodwill

• jeans – Gladiola Girls

outfit #2 – “speed dating” to meet other bloggers

One thing I adored about the conference is that it was small, so the first night – after hiking – we had a speed dating type of meet and greet with other bloggers and brands. I had a great time! I hopped outside for a moment to catch a photo of my outfit. Vintage pieces make my heart sing, and these pants are straight out of the 1960s. Love it! I paired their bold pattern (so mad about plaid with this look!) with a simple top and a favorite pair of earrings.

• pants – 1960s vintage from Dancing Dog Antiques

• shirt – TJ Maxx; shoes – Gladiola Girls; earrings – Violet & Brooks

outfit #3 – conference sessions day 1

Pairing a mad about plaid shirt with a jean skirt is such a cute look that I wanted to replicate. It’s a fun combination of casual and a bit more business-like, I think. This shirt was a bit more lightweight, which was perfect because it was a bit warmer that day. And just take a look at that pool!

• shirt – thrifted from Goodwill

• skirt, in my closet forever; belt – J Crew

outfit #4 – conference sessions – day 2

Ok, ok, I’ll admit that I went a bit out on a limb with this look. Ha! I found an “old man vest” and I took it into the dressing room with me to figure out how to wear it. It was a bit too loose and boxy to wear as is, so I tied it in the front to create a bit of interest and a smoother silhouette. Winner or loser in the mad about plaid department? You decide!

• shirt – men’s department at Goodwill

• skirt – my own; shoes – Gladiola Girls; socks – Farm to Feet

outfit #5 – hiking up Mill Mountain

The Outdoor Blogger Summit began and concluded with a hike, so – again – I took along another plaid shirt to wear to the top. Thankfully, the hike on the last day was quite a bit shorter than the first. Mill Mountain’s star is iconic, and I have driven up there, but this was the first time I had ever hiked up there. It wasn’t so bad!

• shirt – thrifted from Goodwill

• everything else – staples in my wardrobe

So, are you mad about plaid? How do you incorporate the pattern into your looks? If you don’t really wear it much, it’s perfect for you to wear with your fall fashion choices.

Travel fashionably, friends!