prairie

Lately, I’ve been indulging a new love of comfortable, rustic-looking clothing that emulate something that someone living on a farm in the early 1900s might have worn. It’s so simple and no fuss, as well as being pretty dang cute- especially when in comes in provincial patterns like plaid and gingham! Because of this strange, newfound love of prairie, farm girl style, discovering the brand Ace & Jig was a surprising treat!

Designed by Cary Vaughan and Jenna Wilson, the mission of the Ace & Jig brand is simple: Create effortless clothing from interesting, eye-popping textiles that can be worn in several ways and for several years. Instead of designing to appeal to the latest trend that will die in a single season, Ace & Jig designs pieces for the long game, in timeless silhouettes that you can layer with other pieces to create new looks day after day, which makes building a wardrobe with a low environmental impact a lot easier!

Not only does Vaughan and Wilson’s brand help to cultivate sustainable fashion, it also empowers women in genuine ways, like employing a group of women in India and paying them fairly to weave their custom textiles. It seems that the essence of the Ace & Jig brand is wholesomeness and an honest desire to improve the world, which is something I have no problem getting behind!

And the clothes are pretty alright, too. I was instantly delighted by the vibrant plaid prints, as well as the surprising ways the outfits were layered, like having an apron-esque, pinafore layered over another dress, or a pair of overalls over a pair of pants made from the same print. All of the layering in the outfits creates depth through interesting silhouettes and refreshing color combinations, that I can’t imagine being unhappy while wearing one of them, and it makes me want to romp through a field of rolling, golden grass with a milk pail in hand.

I think we could all take some notes from Ace & Jig on how to refresh our wardrobes by layering our clothes in innovative ways. We can also probably all agree that the age-old rule that says you can’t mix prints may be a bit outdated.

Check out my favorite looks from their last two collections below:

Fall 2019

plaid pinafore over blue dress from ace & jig fall 2019

rainbow plaid layered outfit from ace & jig fall 2019

green dress and plaid shirt from ace & jig fall 2019

plaid layered outfit from ace & jig fall 2019

dress with bow shirt from ace & jig fall 2019

plaid rustic outfit from ace & jig fall 2019

Spring 2019

green dress over plaid dress from ace & jig spring 2019

yellow plaid dress and red skirt from ace & jig spring 2019

yellow plaid dress from ace & jig spring 2019

layered dresses outfit from ace & jig spring 2019

Hot on the heels of their charming Spring/Summer 2019 show, which was presented in a diner with their bouffant-ed and prairie-clad models slinging plates of classic American cuisine (mostly french fries) and looking appropriately disruptive, the eyes of the fashion world are turning toward Batsheva. And if Batsheva is anything, it is that- disruptive, or a playful reprieve from the usual, all-too-similar sleek and chic looks that sashay down the runway season after season. Featuring whimsical, prairie-inspired prints and silhouettes, Batsheva manages to hearken back to fashions from various past decades, while still feeling fresh. But that might just be because I’m a huge sucker for brands that cash in on the playful aesthetic (remember Mira Mikati’s technicolor treats?).

batsheva pre-fall 2019 prairie alternative vintage fashion style runway dresses — Will “Dance Like A Mannequin” be the next “Dance Like An Egyptian?” Stay tuned to find out! (photo: Vogue.com)

This season’s lookbook saw supermodel Coco Rocha transformed into various jaunty characters/dolls/mannequins- and she imbued personality into each and every one. While the concept of the lookbook was, in and of itself, appealing enough to make note of (I mean, how fun are these photos??), the clothing and styling also left me utterly delighted with the charming vintage silhouettes and cheery prints/color combinations. One of my favorite looks in the collection is actually the very first one- a pastel yellow/powder blue dress with an exaggerated, nearly-humorously huge Peter Pan collar styled with only one leg covered in tights/stockings, something I definitely took note of for my own styling repertoire. The ’70s inspired floral print sprinkled throughout various looks also managed to draw me in, especially when paired with the Raggedy Anne-ish gingham.

I would definitely wear these clothes and gladly reminisce on the times I would play house as a little girl dressed in my mother’s kitchen apron and a pair of heels much too large for my little girl feet, all while rejoicing in the fact that this fashion exists not for daily practicality or professionalism, but to ignite the imagination and to transform you into a cherubic darling that belongs in the Swiss Alps, singing about edelweiss and searching for four-leafed clovers.

Check out my favorite looks from the collection below: