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In the last month or so, we've added lots of dresses and skirts to the site, and it got me thinking about how some women love dresses and others flat out don't.

I think this starts in childhood. I have two daughters: one is all about practicality and comfort, thinking nothing of style or fashion - the other is a great fan of twirly "gowns" and pretty, flirty outfits. She tells me that by making her wear pants to play outside that she's being made to wear "boy clothes." 

I am sort of a go-between in terms of form versus function. I like a pretty dress now and again, and moreso as I grow older, but I generally gravitate toward the more practical pants/shirt combo. I will be interested to see as my girls grow up how their styles change (or stay the same).

Happy summer thrifting everyone!

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Leather Biker Pants

This morning's addition of leather biker pants to our online store got me thinking about how leather has been a wardrobe staple for millennia, and how well we use it now. I couldn't pull off a pair of leather pants, but I know many who have and do regularly! And you don't need to ride a Harley either, since the ability to wear them comes from within.

Check us out at www.plaidgoat.com - new stuff every day!

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PlaidGoat just added a whole bunch of men's sportcoats, and it got me thinking about wardrobe staples. Women have theirs, but for men, it can be very basic and classic. Every man needs a suit, and it's a great idea to have at least two sportcoats for those occasions when even the most "untied" men have to spruce it up. Every man needs at least three ties and two pairs of dress shoes (black and brown). A few polos are important when collars are required (just in case you win that trip to Bermuda), and obviously, jeans in various styles are vital.

Thrift away my friends! It's the best and most fun way to finish those missing pieces to your wardrobe. Happy thrifting!

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Jacket: 1/3 of Indochino Suit (review here)

Shirt: Uniqlo OCBD, $20

Bow Tie: Handmade Ikat Madras, gift from my wife, who was also the maker

Pants: Uniqlo Garment Dyed Jeans, $30

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I'm a big fan of Mad Men. Not just for the great writing, storylines and well developed characters, but also for the fashion! I have pictures of my parents and in-laws wearing those very styles. We have great vintage clothes for men and women at PlaidGoat!

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Why We Love Hawaiian Shirts

Ah, the Hawaiian shirt. No matter what it reminds you of, it always brings to mind warm weather, sweet tropical drinks and free time. We find that these are very popular at PlaidGoat, so I wanted to explore a little of the history behind this iconic threads.

In the early 20th centry, Hawaii saw a lot of immigrants coming to it shores - many from Asia. These people came over to take advantage of the job market in the sugar cane and pineapple industries and brought with them their colorful cultural identities. Bright kimono fabric came from Japan.  Barong-style shirts came from the Philippines. Silk came from China, and of course, native Hawaiians already used bright patterns in their clothing.

The story goes that in 1931, a college graduate named Ellery Chun took over his father's dry goods store in Honolulu, renamed it King-Smith Clothiers and started making brightly colored shirts from leftover kimono fabric. Another retailer,  Musashiya and Surfriders Sportswear, sold similar shirts and actually dubbed them "Hawaiian." Bring on the soldiers coming through Pearl Harbor before, during and after World War II, and the rest is history. The Hawaiian shirt soared in popularity and has never gone out of style.

Check out our collection of Hawaiian shirts on www.plaidgoat.com. We have lots and most are under $15. Happy thrifting!

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How Retro Would You Go?

After completing a funny facebook post this morning called "How Retro Would You Go?" I got to thinking what a provocative question this was! The picture was of Clint Eastwood in his poncho, which led to me thinking about all the ponchos my mom crocheted for me back in the 70s and early 80s. My daughters wear some of these same ponchos now, and I think they look adorable; although, the colors are a little muted for my taste.

Would your love for 70s fashion cause you to wear a jumpsuit or bell bottom jeans? The paisleys and plaids are one thing, but the true fashions of the day are quite another. Would your affection for the roaring 20s make you wear a flapper dress or zoot suit? Would your nostalgia for an 80s childhood have you breaking out legwarmers, Madonna skirts or Miami Vice jackets?

I find it interesting how we pull things from our favorite vintage eras to make our own unique style. I have written before about my love of vintage coats, and my love of these is not limited to one era. I love those from the 50s, 60s and 70s and own pieces from all three. I love hippie clothes of the late 60s and 70s, and have been known to dress my small children this way down to the paisley head scarf (much to the chagrin of my more conservative family members).

I don't think one genre is a good definition of one person's style. We emulate those that affected us whether we lived through the period or not picking up style fragments, if you will, that help us to define ourselves through fashion. Who knows what makes us gravitate toward our favorites - ideals, personal preference, political aspirations, nostalgia? It makes us our most true, authentic selves.

We have lots of retro and vintage stuff at PlaidGoat. Get your fix with us!

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PlaidGoat has added a ton of flannel shirts to an already sizeable inventory. This is the perfect time of year for these.

I've written about flannel before, its history, etc., but it seems to be such a favorite in so many age groups. Long before the grunge era, men (and women) were wearing flannel as a wardrobe staple in chilly weather. For some, it evokes images of hunters, campers and woods activity, and for others, it just brings to mind warm and toasty memories by a fire (or space heater). No matter your thoughts on flannel, this stalwart staple of our American wardrobes is comfortable, versatile, strong and warm.

Check out our flannel inventory and button yourself into a shirt you'll use time and time again for years to come!

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Spring is almost here, and depending on what part of the country you live in, you may or may not believe that to be true. I think this time of year gets us thinking about new opportunities more than New Year's.

As a result, PlaidGoat is now going to offer "Other Stuff" on our online thrift store! Check it often! You may find computer repair accessories or vintage Scooby Doo sheets - who knows? We're always trying to keep our merchandise fresh, fun and unexpected so shopping with us stays awesome.

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What's Your Jean Style?

According

to The Chic Fashionista there are four basic types of women's jeans.   Ultra Low Rise (Brazilian) Sits very low on your hips, 3-5 inch below your belly button. Not to be worn unless you are a rock star, have toned abs or just really want to show off your butt crack.

Low Rise Sits low on your waist, 2-3 inch below your belly button. A popular choice when you want to create a visually longer waist.

Mid Rise (Regular) Sits just a couple of inches below your belly button. A good choice if you have fleshy or wide hips. Lower rises will only create extra love handles on your shape, pushing up any amount of fat you have - while a mid-rise holds on to them and tucks them.

High Rise Fits at your natural waistline. Looks great with a tucked-in blouse. If you have a thick or short waist, add a skinny belt to define your waist and pick high waist jeans in dark wash and pair them up with a dark top as well for a lean upper body.

PlaidGoat has LOTS of jeans for women and men - most under $10!

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More Retro Fashion

In a previous post, I wrote about my "old-lady" winter hat and how I loved it and didn't much care what was thought about it. It got me to thinking about retro fashion in general. Many years ago, my mother-in-law was clearing out some of her old clothes and gave me a few of her coats from probably the late 60s, early 70s. I was in love!

The first coat was a tan, wool, hip-length little number with leopard print trim on the collar, pockets and cuffs. It fit me perfectly, and I completely wore it out!! The second was a wool dress coat with a fox collar that I wore for years before recently selling it as it never fit as well as the first one.

A similar thing happened when I inherited (somewhat unwillingly) a lot of my step-grandmother's old clothes. I was all about the coats and jackets! The only truly nostalgic coat I parted with was a long, raccoon fur coat that my daughter said made me look like a werewolf. However, it was a beautifully made coat complete with leather belt, and while I am not an owner of fur coats, it was by far the warmest outerwear I've ever owned.

I'm always a sucker for coats and jackets. That is the section I find myself most lost in, and we have a closet full of them for my whole family. The retro styles call my attention the most, and it's something on PlaidGoat that I'm very excited about. These coats are well made, look great and are an awesome deal compared to new coats even at an outlet like Burlington Coat Factory. Check them out!

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Lots and lots of sexy shoes on plaidgoat.com. Jon made a big purchase last week, so feel free to peruse the site and find the right pair to finish your ensemble!

Shoes can make or break our confidence that's for sure. If you know you're working it in a great pair, you feel great. If shoes don't fit right, make that embarrassing squeak noise or don't look good, you definitely know it and it affects your whole demeanor.

Happy shoe thrifting!

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The Winter Hat

My focus this morning turns to this season's staple: the winter hat. Call it what you will - toque, chapeau, headgear, tam, millinery, turban, whatever – it's a constant fixture of winter fashion here in the midwest. My question is do you care what your winter hat looks like? Or are there times in life when the hat's appearance matters more than its ability to keep your head warm?

I have a furry, black hat that I love. It's warm, long enough to cover my ears yet stay out of my eyes and is machine washable. One day a few years back, I walked into work and a friend/co-worker of mine told me that her 80-year-old mother had a hat just like mine. I was mortified! Was I wearing an old-lady hat? After that, I went on a hat-seeking expedition that culminated in my owning many different styles of winter hats, none of which I liked as much as my “old-lady” one. I did see one a couple of years ago in Frankenmuth, Michigan, that I nearly bought, but it being summer at the time, didn't really see the need for. I regretted that decision when I went back a few months later, and the entire display had been replaced with leather wallets.

When we were kids, we didn't care much at all what our headwear looked like. My husband has a goofy, homemade striped hat with the pompon on top that he wore without a second thought for years of his childhood. But, I clearly remember hitting a pre-teen age when hats were so uncool, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing one. This phase lasted until I was in my mid 20s, but by then big hair was out of style, so it wasn't as worrisome that one's hair would be flattened by the time the destination was reached. I worked as a messenger in downtown Chicago while in college, and I didn't even wear a hat then - only a scarf pulled up to my eyes!

It is official that I have reached a level of maturity that doesn't allow fashion to affect my personal comfort – winter hats falling into this category. My daughters love their hats, and while I manage to find cute characters or styles that appeal to them, I hope they will forego fashion for warmth and comfort. It is possible to have both. I have decided to embrace my furry, old-lady hat for what it is – my personal style! Be your most authentic self! Happy thrifting!

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Many of us can't help but admire and emulate the style of 30s and 40s Hollywood. Cary Grant was the epitome of class and style. The best way to capture this for yourself? Thrift my friends! The coat pictured above is less than $40 plaidgoat.com. Who doesn't need a little Cary Grant inspiration on a Sunday morning?

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Online vs. Storefront Thrifting

What's your preference: online or storefront thrift shopping? Both have their merits, but people seem to lean one way or another. Storefront thrifting gives you the joy of getting your hands dirty digging through piles and racks looking for that hidden item that other people missed or that is special to you. This is a great pastime – after all, who doesn't like spending the day shopping? Especially when the shopping is affordable.

Now, on to online thrifting. It provides much the same result, i.e., digging through web results/pages to find that great deal that speaks to you. The benefit is that you can do it at any time of day or night wearing whatever is comfortable, possibly snacking on something sinful! It also makes searching easier in that you can search for your desired size or color much faster than sorting through racks of disorganized merchandise.

This reminds me of a story. My husband wanted to dress in drag this Halloween, so he went to Salvation Army to find a dress. Getting frustrated sorting through unsized clothing racks, he called me a few times to try and figure out what his size may be, but still came home with something that was too small. This was a result of growing tired of looking through dress after dress with the sizes in no particular order. If he would have started his search earlier and looked online, we could have found something that fit his not-at-all girlish measurements.

Most of us have limited time to indulge our pastimes. Who has hours to kill digging through resale on a regular basis? This is where online thrifting beats storefront hands down. We can spend as much time as we want whether surfing the web at lunch or doing it late at night when nothing good is on TV, or even while chatting with friends on facebook. Convenience wins the day! Happy thrifting.

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Gravitational Style

I don't know about any of you, but I've found myself gravitating toward styles from time periods that bring me good memories. I'm not one of those people who walks into a 70s style rec room in a home and starts fussing and complaining a la House Hunters. While I realize this is no longer a status boost to have in a home, I find nothing wrong with using the space as is. Yes, dark wood paneling is not only a terrible dust catcher but also an absorber of natural light; yet, I find comfort in the memories I have of playing in numerous rooms of its kind. We used to live in a little rental house with lots of paneling, exposed brick and hand-painted cabinetry, and I never felt so "homey." We took a bunch of ribbing about our "old-lady" house, but it had more character in its tiny closets than in the new house we had moved out of.

The same rules apply to fashion. I love men's vintage shirts with the little birds or Asian-inspired designs on them because they remind me of the shirts my Dad wore when he wasn't in his suit and tie uniform for work. I was amused a couple of years ago when the polyester, bright paisley type print dresses resurfaced. Walking through those racks, I could feel myself regressing to a girl of 8 or so, shopping with my Mom. Do I want to wear one of these? Not really, but I certainly would respect the person that would! Same applies to the men's shirts. I don't think I'd be successful getting my husband to wear one, but I have tried just the same. I like to dress my daughters in bright plaids, stripes, etc., because I think for kids, the brighter the better! This probably harkens back to my childhood of late 70s, early 80s style, but there will be plenty of time for them to dress in dark colors when the rebellion starts.

To all who love retro fashion, happy thrifting! It's the only way!

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Barbie Inspiration

I handed over my old Barbie collection to my daughter yesterday, and while she excitedly pawed through the array of clothes, shoes, furniture and accessories, I couldn't help but notice how risque Barbie was dressing in the early to mid 80s! Tiny, short little jumpsuits, gowns so tight that she can't move her legs at all, tubetops, you name it. Even Ken's shirts are cut halfway to the navel, which I have to admit cracked me up. The whole reminiscent experience of it got me to thinking about how much inspiration we have gotten for our personal style from Barbie and her cohorts. Some kids love her and others don't, but everybody knows who she is...