Nostalgic futurism appears to be an ongoing trend in the fashion industry. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the creative river is running dry for fashion designers. It just goes to show that there are awesome clothing lessons from the past that have proven timeless and actually better than contemporary ones. Plus, with the new generation of stylish people, a lot of “old” styles are coming at them for the first time.
Likewise, with the continued development of styles, retro fashion is easily given a novel flavor. Take for instance plaid. This pattern has been around for a long time. It was highly popular in the ‘60s and then it made a massively strong comeback in the ‘90s, and these days, it’s hip yet again.
Plaid is a versatile pattern and there are so many ways to get creative with it. If 2018 is the year of plaid for you, here are five great ways to have fun and rock this pattern.
1. Cropped pants
Whether you’re aiming for a chic or grunge look, you can’t go wrong with a pair of plaid cropped pants. You’ll look fiercely stylish with the pattern.Plus, the unique length of the pants is always flattering as long as you wear the right shoes.
If you wish to look polished and professional, pair the pants with shiny oxfords, high heels, or ankle boots. For a dressed down kind of day, sneakers and platform sandals are just perfect.
2. Long blazer
The plaid pattern gives a classic clothing item a fun personality. Basically, a plaid blazer has the same silhouette, perhaps, even material as other long blazers, but there’s no doubt it can outperform all of them – even an expensive and colorful silk blazer.
What’s particularly impressive about plaid is that it’s a pattern that’s appropriate for practically all occasions. It can look serious but at the same time playful (Kendall Jenner classed up her white midriff top with a brown plaid blazer at a Lakers game). It gives a fresh twist to an ensemble and yet, it doesn’t look busy.
So, if you’re looking for one amazing piece of clothing to finally complete your capsule wardrobe – reserve that slot for a long plaid blazer.
3. Suit
A plaid two-piece suit is a smart style investment. Take a cue from traditional English men (or maybe just Sherlock Holmes) except get creative with your tops for a sexy and more modern look.
Experiment with shoes and accessories to either dress up or dress down the suit as well. Don’t be afraid to wear sports shoes, strappy beach sandals, and even chunky combat boots. As for accessories, go for both traditional and funky implements such as a pocket watch, a kerchief, kitschy brooches or pins, and badges.
4. A-line skirt
Here’s the thing about a plaid A-line skirt – it looks flattering on all women. You can be statuesque and svelte like international model Jessicka B, or short but rubenesque like Melissa McCarthy and you can look good in this skirt. More importantly, you can pair it with anything.
If you want to quickly put together a comfortable yet stylish outfit, get your plaid A-line skirt out, a plain loose top, wear ballet flats or sneakers and you’re cute and good to go.
To make it a little out of the ordinary – take a cue from the street styles in Harajuku. Girls like to adorn the skirt with big pins or tie the edges with rubber bands for an avant-garde or anime-inspired fashion.
5. Hat
Any hat in plaid makes for a great fashion statement. It doesn’t matter if it’s a beret, a newsboy, or flat cap – just make sure your headwear pattern is plaid and you’ll instantly jazz up any outfit you’re wearing.
Plus, try wearing your hat different ways. A slight tug in a particular direction can turn your look from a posh Ivy Leaguer to the iconic Eponine in Les Miserables.
It’s safe to say that plaid isn’t going away anytime soon and if you love it in all its colors and sizes, you’ll only love it more over time with all the wonderful styles that you can achieve with it this year and beyond.
About the Author
Jessicka Bell co-founded the AgenC, one of the leading model/talent agencies in the Middle East, in 2014. After just three years in the market, the AgenC now works with most (if not all) of the heavy hitters in media and fashion, as well as represents over 1,000 talents ranging from international models through to cast, kids, creatives and photographers.