All for the love of plaid skirts and saddle shoes

By Elle

I’ve loved plaid ever since I was a kid, when I first saw the girls in my neighborhood who went to the parochial school walking in their pleated plaid skirts, white shirts and black cardigans. I also coveted their shiny black and white saddle shoes. I went to the public school, so I could wear anything I wanted. And I wanted a plaid skirt and saddle shoes.

At the end of every summer, my mom and I would make the trip to the neighborhood shoe store for school shoes. I was immediately drawn to the display of saddle shoes: black and whites, brown and whites and, sometimes, blue and whites. I especially loved the eyelets that ran the perimeter of the wingtip part of the shoe. I begged her to buy me a pair, but she wouldn’t budge.

“They’re ugly,” she’d say. “I don’t understand why you want them.”

“But they’re not ugly. I like them,” I’d reply softly. Year after year after year.

Finally she confessed that she hated saddle shoes because she had to wear them when she was young. Curses! I knew then I would never have a pair of my own.

Eventually I grew out of my saddle shoe crush but never my love of plaid. So when another fashion blogger featured these yellow and black tartan pants, I had to have them — and because I’m an employed adult, I could.

I paired my pants with a black camisole and cardigan. I added a multi-ring gold necklace that a good friend gave me and a pair of butterscotch amber earrings that I bought years ago while vacationing in the Mediterranean.

These are not pants that will last a lifetime. They cost me about $18 from Romwe, and I half expect them to simply fall apart one day while I’m wearing them. (OK, they’re not quite that bad, but  it’s important to know what to expect.)  I don’t usually go for super-cheap fast fashion, but I couldn’t resist these, thinking they’ll be fun for summer.

Although I never did get my saddle shoes, I did later buy a pair of pumps with saddle-shoe styling, complete with front flaps. They look a little worn now. Might be time to start thinking about a new pair….

Readers, which are your favorite styles from when you were a kid? Let us know in the comment section!