A Fashion Lover’s Guide on How to Wear Plaid

Plaid patterned fabric dates back more than 3,000 years, to a time when the colors were created using vegetable dyes and the style was referred to as “tartan” instead.

Today, just about every clothing store and boutique offer some variation on the style. From oversized blanket scarves to skirts and everything in between, plaid is a closet staple that never seems to go out of style.

If you’re looking for tips for wearing plaid, keep reading. We’re bringing you a few simple tips for styling plaid shirts.

Tie it Up

Standard button-down plaid shirts are anything but flattering. With a loose, oversized fit, most do little to accentuate your natural features, leaving your look a little frumpy.

If you want to rock the Fall and Winter plaid look but without the unflattering shape of a boyfriend flannel, tie up your top instead.

To master this look, simply unbutton the bottom few buttons on your shirt and knot it instead. You can opt to tie it higher for a crop-top-look or lower for a loose, breezy look.

Layer Your Look

While the trend of tying up a flannel shirt to create a crop top is popular now, the way that fashion trends go, it may go out of style in a few short months.

But one flannel style that never quite goes away is the layered-look.

An oversized, long flannel left unbuttoned and layered over a short or long-sleeve shirt is a casual, comfortable style that’s perfect for relaxing at home or enjoying a day out doing fun Fall activities.

While a white, black, or gray tee will match most flannels shirt colors and patterns, for a more modern, polished look, opt for other coordinating colors. Pick out the muted colors in your flannel patterns, and try to find shirts in those tones. You can even layer muted patterns under your flannel.

To keep your look from getting too messy or over-complicated, pair your flannel layers with classic jeans, black pants, or plain leggings rather than patterned pants or those in bold colors.

Make it Trendy

If you like to keep your look trendy, a layered plaid might not be at the top of your list of favorite styles.

Fitted, pleated tops with spaghetti straps and a cropped cut are one of today’s biggest trends. They’ve even continued in popularity long after the summer months have passed, layering easily over a simple white tee or black turtleneck for a fun winter look that’s also a practical way to get more wear out of your wardrobe favorites.

One great way to wear this trend is alongside another popular cold-weather one; velvet. A midi-length midi skirt with a plaid pleated spaghetti strap top layered over a lightweight turtleneck is easy to wear and picture-perfect this time of year. You can even give your look an extra festive touch with some holiday plaid.

Finding the Perfect Plaid Look for Your Style

From loose boyfriend flannels left open and layered over a classic tee to tied-up crop tops that bare some skin and take your Fall closet staple into the warmer months, there’s no shortage of ways to wear plaid.

For more trendy tips, check out our Fashion section for more style advice like this.