Mad for Plaid

Don’t get lost in the grid! Despite plaid’s counterculture connotations, Brit labels like Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood elevated the pattern to its full sartorial potential. See how this crosshatched pattern gives your wardrobe a much needed punch. 

Boyish Plaid
Borrowed from the boys? More like, show them how it’s done! Take a crisp shirt and up its sartorial power with knee-length shorts. A plush velvet coat is what you need to make it less “dad,” more distinguished. Finishing it off with sexy pointy heels makes you ready to impress from the feet up.

Tip: When pairing two different patterns of plaid, make the color palette your jump off point for a no-clash look.

TRIVIA: Plaid was banned in Britain during the 18^th century due to its association with the Scottish Rebellion of 1745.

Tartan Grunge
Forget about lumberjack associations with plaid. This season, an all-new grunge approach takes your usual shirts to new heights. Take a hot pair of knee-length gladiators, which instantly lends plaid a sense of rebel cool. Now all you need is a devil-may-care attitude and fingers full of silver rings.

Tip: When matching two hues of plaid, stay on track by choosing from a common color family. In this case, we used primary colors like red and blue.

TRIVIA: Marc Jacobs’ Spring 1993 collection for Perry Ellis got him fired for an overly notorious grunge take on plaid.

Plaid Drama
A bishop-sleeved cardigan has just the right drama your tartan pieces need. Layer it over any shirt and introduce a new print or pattern—floral, in this case—for that put-together look. To avoid clashing, stick to a consistent palette that goes from head to toe. Voila!

Tip: Incorporate a tried-and-tested styling trick of wrapping another plaid shirt around your waist to up the tempo of plaid in your look.

TRIVIA: Today, designers like Hedi Slimane, Alexander McQueen, and Westwood reintroduced plaid with a more stylized approach.

This feature originally appeared in Metro Magazine September 2016 and was repurposed for Metro.Style
By Randz Manucom
Photographs Ria Regino
Stylist’s Assistant Patricia Bernas
Hair Triple Luck Nail & Brow Salon
Makeup Iya Yujuico for M.A.C
Model Elis for Elite Manila