Photo By Gail

When you think of Old Town, San Diego, chances are your mind goes to adobe buildings, rustic wooden signs, authentic Mexican food, and the kind of historical charm that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back into the 1800s. But as I discovered on my recent visit, history and pop culture sometimes collide in the most delightful ways.

Case in point: tucked inside one of the colorful shops, hanging alongside traditional woven blankets and embroidered dresses, was a bright Mexican poncho emblazoned with likenesses of Hello Kitty. Yes, Sanrio’s beloved pink-bowed feline has made her way into traditional fashion!

The clash of worlds was almost too good to be true — a mashup of timeless folk craft and global kawaii culture. Of course, the fact that the design leaned heavily on pink sealed the deal. Pink woven details, that giant cartoon cat face, and the cultural backdrop of Old Town  made this poncho the most unexpected — and totally irresistible — Pink Thing of the Day!