To start off a disclaimer, I DO NOT condone smoking. If you smoke, that's fine, I have no business hassling anybody about that. If you don't, I don't recommend starting. Now that that is out of the way, I have found a gorgeous outfit while shopping around.

I was searching around for black and white mini skirts. I may not actually wear one, but looking for one to pair with outfits was a nice way to kill some time. I found a few with a print I really liked. It seemed like I had seen it before, but I couldn't be sure. If I did, it was a long time ago. 

So I got my hair cut on Saturday, very short and very nice I may add, and I was looking through a few Elle fashion magazines they had lying around. And there in the pages, were coats with the same print! I thought they were gorgeous.

That same day my mother and I went to Marshall's, and there on the rack I saw were coats with that print! I fell in love! I did a bit of research on them, and found out that the print is called "Houndstooth". It's not a print for everybody, but I'm going through a black and white craze right now. 

And just today, I was watching a fashion video. They're a collection of YouTube videos called "The Ultimate Fashion History", and a lovely English woman narrates and teaches about the different decades of fashion. I was watching the episode featuring the swinging sixties and she mentioned the Mods counter-culture. How they loved the Union Jack and Italian scooters. After showing a picture of the band The Who, I saw one of the members wearing a coat...of that same print! She called it by name, Houndstooth, and I just love that name, I love the print. Right now I'm trying to get a coat like that, but I just bought some bath shampoo and towels, so I have to wait a bit.

Look at the print! It's bold, without being too flashy. A beret would look nice with this, but I'll stick with my Beatles hat. My hair would hold up better in that hat, or my signature black hair bow. 

Black winter gloves would look nice with this, as would a black sweater and skirt. I would not wear a skirt or scarf or anything else with this same pattern if I were to wear the coat. It looks better in small amounts or one big statement. I have my leather skirt, I could see if leather would look good with it. If the gloves would, surely the skirt would.

And for a little accessory, a cigarette holder, to hold chewing gum in. I cannot chew gum with my braces at the moment, but I love Orbit Wintermint chewing gum. Sugarless of course. If you don't want to carry a box of gum around with you, as it might take away the "look", a cigarette holder might work to hold them in, unless you don't want people to think something else. But then, they can surely see you unwrap the gum and chew, and not pull out a lighter or match. 

This coat is a good way to get the black and white look, without looking like a chessboard or referee. But then again, it's not for everybody. We'll see.