From laid back flannels to killer power suits, plaid has had a deep history in the roots of the fashion world. Plaid, or tartan, can be said to be the most well known fabric in the world. The intricately crossbarred pattern and multicolored cloth, most notably used by the Celtic clan during the 1500s as kilts or blankets to battle harsh regional winds, has become the uniform of the modern hipster. With a roller coaster ride in the fashion world from being banned in Great Britain to representing an American counterculture throughout the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, plaid is guaranteed to never go out of style.
Great designers have been reinventing the crosshatched pattern for decades. Who can forget Alexander McQueen’s 1995 collection featuring tartan? Meant to capture the grunge that inherently is associated with the famous pattern, the designer took the Scottish print and exploited it’s harsh history and modern wearability.
Other current designers, like Victoria Beckham and Thakoon, continue to use plaid in creative and innovative methods in today’s outerwear like this Fashionista. Layering with a simple blue motorcycle jacket and worn T-shirt, our Fashionista shows the power of plaid in an outfit. She pairs the ensemble with black combat boots, dark jeans and a brown leather bag.
The look is evocative of a high style trend taken from the runway. In this case, today’s Fashionista rocks the plaid jacket on a mild winter day to run some weekend errands. Her jacket instantly reminds me of the huge, warm wool scarves I saw worn in Berlin. I searched everywhere to find the perfect color combination of her jacket’s comforting deep green shade and darts of navy blue. You could say I’m a little obsessed with plaid this winter as well as the grunge vibe it gives off.
What is your STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK? “I like to put together outfits that feature at least one new trend of the season and keep the rest of the look pretty basic. That way you can take some small risks every day.”
