One of the hot trends for fall: plaid. Not just for lumberjacks and slackers, plaid is a great fall go-to. Plaid is usually linked with Scotland, as it is the primary pattern used for Scottish kilts. But what some do not know is that plaid can be traced all the way back to the Victorian eras. Plaid, or “tartan” which is the material it is generally associated with, was featured during this era in fashion magazines. During this time, plaid was not just limited to men’s fashion, but became a staple in women’s fashion, as well.
For the fall 2011 season, plaid has been spotted all over the runways. The ADAM Fall 2011 ready-to-wear show featured plaid in a variety of styles and colors. Blue plaid high-waisted pants, gray plaid knee-length skirts, and full body plaid jumpsuits are just some of the few pieces featured on the ADAM runway. Thom Browne also filled his runway with loads of plaid in his Fall 2011 ready-to-wear show. Both designers presented their plaid pieces in the style of “granny plaids.” Their longer skirts and coats in this crisscross fabric resemble something your grandmother would wear. But, paired with other chic items and up-to-date pieces, these “granny plaids” are taken from old and boring to modern and trendy.
In order to translate these made for runway ensembles to be able to wear in your everyday life, stick to plaid in just one area of your outfit. Whether it be a flannel button-up or knee high socks paired with boots, you want to make sure the plaid does not overpower you. This Fashionista does a great job of flaunting this fall trend. Her red and black Forever 21 flannel shirt looks super comfy paired with black Nordstrom’s Hue leggings. She makes her casual outfit stylish by adding gold accessories. Her Forever 21 feather necklace enhances the hipster vibe of the outfit, while her Forever 21 gold bangles adds some bling and glamour to her outfit. This outfit would also be the perfect choice for a lazy Sunday, sans accessories. This Fashionista finishes off her outfit with chocolate brown boots from Charlotte Russe.
For some other trendy ways to wear plaid, look for items such as scarves or coats lined in this multi-colored fabric. American Eagle has awesome plaid items, such as their AE Faux Fur Vest that has a comfy plaid inside of red and blue!