Whether it reminds you of spiky-haired punks, lumberjacks, schoolgirls or your Scottish grandfather, plaid is an undeniable trend for fall 2009. Did you know that plaid as a pattern for cloth originated in Scotland in the Middle Ages? Specific plaids (called tartans in the British Isles) are associated with certain families or regions.

Etsy vintage sellers are offering the plaid pattern in every garment imaginable! Cozy up to some of the offerings below:

Blooming Leopold is selling this adorable shrunken blazer or go for a girly western look with FaithFull Vintage’s ruffled blouse. If you’re in the market for a dress, try this school-girl style from Santoki Vintage. This red plaid mini-dress from Adjust The Aperture would look great with boots, a belt and a steaming mug of hot cider.

You should also check out Blooming Leopold’s blog.

What is a dolly dress? According to the Google machine there is no official definition but I’ll be damned if I haven’t figured it out. A dress with this eBay descriptor involves an above knee skirt, bright colors, floral arrangements, ruffles, pleats, lace detailing and other cutesy frills that make regular appearances on doll attire. Actual doll dresses typically have short sleeves – not the case with this ruffled dress sold by splitpeavintage – but it features all the bells and whistles and most certainly qualifies as cute.

• Search eBay’s current inventory for vintage dolly dresses.
• View the previous vintage dolly dress we featured.
• Visit our directory of women’s vintage clothing stores on eBay.

This style of sleeve was inspired by a garment worn in Turkey during the middle ages called a “dolman”.  Dolmans were cape like robes draped over the body with sleeves naturally formed by folds in the fabric. The dolman sleeve has gone in and out of fashion since the turn of the decade eventually soaring in popularity during the 1980s. At that time it was modified with a deep triangular shaped arm that tapers at the wrist and became known as the batwing sleeve. This amazing 1970s ethnic dress sold by american archive is a perfect example of the predecessor to the batwing as we know it today.

• Search eBay’s current inventory for vintage batwing dresses.
• View the previous vintage ethnic dress we featured.
• Visit our directory of women’s vintage clothing stores on eBay.

What is hippy fashion? Ask a 60s hippie and they’ll tell you it doesn’t exist. “Fashion” is an oxy-moron within a non-conformist movement because it would indicate the presence of trends and, um, yeah, conformity. The uprising of this counter-culture ironically became a culture faster than they could make a peace sign. Whoa, far-out man. Whether it exists or not, this crochet hippie mini-dress sold by RubyMoonVintage (for $63) is lovely – wear it with a bikini and it’s ideal attire for any festival.

• Search eBay’s current inventory for vintage hippie dresses.
• View the previous vintage hippie dress we featured.
• Visit our directory of women’s vintage clothing stores on eBay.

“Flapper” is a term that was coined during the roaring 20s that referred to women who were risque for their time. They wore shorter dresses, bobbed their hair, wore more make-up, drove cars, consumed alcohol and viewed sex as casual. Basically all the good parts of Sex and the City give or take 80 years. They also had the audacity to listen to jazz which was a viewed as rebellious music at the time – it was like rock in the 50s and punk in the 70s. This 80s green sequin dress sold by sleepyheadvintage (for $127.50) was inspired by the style of these trail blazing ladies. Now if only their exploits were available on DVD…

• Search eBay’s current inventory for vintage flapper dresses.
• View the previous vintage sequin dress.
• Visit our directory of women’s vintage clothing stores on eBay.

The song White Wedding by Billy Idol is reported to be based on Billy’s displeasure with his sister for having a child out of wedlock. “Hey little sister what have you done?” The real question is – when did punk rock rebel Billy fuckin’ Idol start following age-old rules? Pot calling the kettle black aside (Billy never married the mother of his two children) we think this lacey mini-dress sold by TrendsetterVintage (for $52.02) would have been perfect for the Idol ceremony-mony. P.S. We love big hair.

1960s elegance is perfectly captured with this lurex polyester gold dress that sold for $63.71. If you’re a bond girl or the 1960s are just your bag, then visit Velvet Cave Vintage. They seriously must have discovered time travel given the amazing selection of pieces from this decade. VCV is a new personal favorite of ours.

Item: vintage 1970s keyhole maxi-dress

Item: vintage 1980s nautical striped mini dress