Plaid and checks are timeless patterns that come back into style every fall. But figuring out how to wear them in a modern, chic way can feel tricky. The good news is that plaid and checks are incredibly versatile and can be styled in ways that are both contemporary and sophisticated. Take a look below at how to embrace this classic fall trend, while staying true to your personal style.
Is plaid in style for fall 2024?
Plaid comes back around every fall. If you walk into any store or look online, you’ll see lots of plaid for fall. The great thing about plaid is that it is so versatile, so you’ll find lots of timeless yet on-trend clothing, no matter what your personal style.
Are plaid dress pants in style in 2024?
Definitely. And, you can dress them up for work or dinner with a camisole or blouse and blazer, or go casual with sneakers and a sweater.
What are the rules for wearing plaid?
There really aren’t any rules. You can wear plaid in so many ways—style as casually or formally as you want. An easy way to think about it is to wear plaid bottoms and a plain top, or vice versa.
Carmen @carmen_gimeno above looks fabulous in her plaid pants and gold sweater, teamed with classic Adidas sneakers.
Get her look with this similar sweater (another option here), pants, sneakers, handbag and sunglasses.
Are plaid skirts in style in 2024?
Absolutely. Designers like Vivienne Westwood often showcase plaid skirts, and they look stylish when worn with your fall sweaters.
Plaid clothes and accessories
Before we get to how to style your plaid, let’s look at some of the chicest plaid clothes, shoes, and accessories we’ve found in stores and then how to wear them.
Plaid tops
Starting with plaid tops, you can opt for any style that suits your personal aesthetic. Choose dressier checks to dress up your jeans, or cozy shirts and sweaters for casual days. You can wear the shirt open as a shacket.
Isabel Marant Étoile Tilda Plaid Cotton Top – Lands’ End Lightweight Jersey Skimming Turtleneck – Thread & Supply Plaid Polar Fleece Shacket – Barbour Deanna Plaid Wool Blend Mock Neck Sweater
Coats and jackets
A plaid coat is a perfect way to update all of your fall and winter outfits. Either opt for a belted style or a menswear-inspired straight wool coat. Wear your plaid blazer with your favorite jeans, and add a plaid poncho over your other knitwear.
We noticed many plaid coat choices at Amazon if you want to search for more inspiration.
MANGO Checked Blazer – CHARTOU Oversize Woolen Plaid Coat – GRACE KARIN Double Breasted Belted Coat – Moss Rose Plaid Open Front Poncho
Emms @beautifuleveryday_uk above chooses a long plaid coat that ties in beautifully with the color of her boots.
Recreate her outfit with this similar coat (another option here) and boots.
Plaid pants and jeans
Another option is to choose plaid for the bottom half of your outfit and keep the top half neutral. You can alter the size of the checks to create different looks.
Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab’Solution Skyrise Plaid Wide Leg Trousers – Veronica Beard Brixton Plaid Crop Wide Leg Wool Pants – Hue Pintuck Pull-On Pants – Design by Olivia Ultra Stretch Millennium Bootcut Pants
Plaid dresses and skirts
How about a plaid dress for work? Choose one with sleeves so that you’re office appropriate. Wear your fall sweaters with plaid skirts, or stand out from the party crowd and wear a plaid dress to events—team with neutral shoes and accessories. Plaid goes well with suede textures for your bag and shoes.
M.M.LaFleur Ciela Knit Dress – MANGO Check Print Midi Dress – Kate Kasin Tweed Pencil Skirt – Vince Plaid Satin Skirt
Karen @styledbykaren above shows you can wear your check skirt with a denim jacket for a classic, transitional look.
Steal her look with this similar denim jacket, skirt, tights, booties and sunglasses.
Plaid shoes and boots
Like any trend, you can add it with your shoes and accessories rather than your clothing. Choose sneakers for casual days, loafers for a preppy feel, Mary Jane flats for an on-trend look, or heels to dress up your outfit.
Loeffler Randall Margot Bow Mules – Cole Haan Bridge Mary Jane Ballet Flats – Cole Haan Lux Pinch Penny Loafers – Vans Old Skool Leather Check Sneakers
Plaid accessories
Or add a check scarf or bag to finish off your outfit. Another perfect plaid accessory is a plaid scarf, which is an absolute classic and will update your neutral coats. A plaid scarf is ideal if you want to emulate the stylish preppy looks of Ali MacGraw in Love Story.
Kate Spade New York Large Manhattan Grand Plaid Tote – Oryany Lottie Check Crossbody Bag – MANGO Fringed End Checkered Scarf – Brixton Fiddler Fisherman Cap – Burberry Vintage Check Belt – rag & bone Harlow Denim Baseball Cap
How to style plaid
Okay, so now that you’ve chosen your favorite plaid pieces, let’s look at some stylish ideas for incorporating them into your outfits.
1. Opt for tailored silhouettes
While you might think of plaid as a casual print for shirts and shackets, opting for tailored pieces like a plaid blazer can really elevate the print. Pair a tailored plaid blazer with your favorite jeans. You can layer over a lightweight sweater for extra warmth.
MANGO Checked Blazer – Open Edit Matte Satin Tee – PAIGE Laurel Canyon High Waist Flare Jeans – Keds Remi Slip-on Sneakers – Tory Burch Perry Triple Compartment Leather Tote – st. Moran Chunky Hoop Earrings
2. Incorporate plaid with your accessories
If you don’t want to commit to a plaid dress or coat, then incorporate checks into your outfit with your accessories. A plaid scarf with your existing neutral coat, or a plaid bag against a plain outfit will work beautifully and will add a pop of pattern without overwhelming your existing style.
Sam Edelman Tie Belt Wool Blend Wrap Coat – Nordstrom Crewneck Side Slit Wool & Cashmere Sweater – FRAME Modern Pocket Button Front Midi Denim Skirt – Kork-Ease Carli Boots – Tory Burch Perry Triple Compartment Leather Tote – MANGO Fringed End Checkered Scarf
3. Plaid with neutrals
Choosing one plaid piece—whether a pair of pants, top, or scarf—and teaming it with the neutrals you already own is a great way to inject some print into your outfits. Neutral tones will let your plaid stand out without competing.
Isabel Marant Étoile Tilda Plaid Cotton Top – Open Edit Pleated Wide Leg Pants – Nine West Propper Kitten Heel Pumps – Kurt Geiger London Party Eagle Drench Clutch – Nadri Farrah Cubic Zirconia Drop Earrings
Dawn Lucy @fashionshouldbefun above (read her style interview here) shows how you can keep your colors neutral, but play with textures by teaming a teddy bear coat with her plaid shirt.
Check out this similar shirt (another option here), coat, jeans, booties, earrings and belt.
4. Layer with leather
Plaid goes well with different textures like leather and denim. Layer a plaid shirt under a leather jacket, or with a leather skirt.
Thread & Supply Plaid Polar Fleece Shacket – Nordstrom Leather Pencil Skirt – Keds Remi Slip-on Sneakers – Tory Burch Perry Triple Compartment Leather Tote – st. Moran Chunky Hoop Earrings
5. Go for subtle plaid prints
If you prefer a more subtle approach, opt for softer and more subdued plaid patterns. Smaller checks or muted plaid colors, such as soft gray, blush, or burgundy, can give you a fall feeling without being too ‘loud’. You can also mix your checks by wearing big and small checks.
Nordstrom V-Neck Cashmere Sweater – Hue Pintuck Pull-On Pants – MICHAEL Michael Kors Luna Kitten Sling Pumps – Belle & Bloom Apen Plaid Scarf
6. Try plaid outerwear
Plaid coats and jackets are a great way to make a statement while keeping warm. Invest in a tailored plaid coat to throw over everything from your jeans and sweaters to your black dresses.
GRACE KARIN Double Breasted Belted Coat – Open Edit Matte Satin Tee – Open Edit Pleated Wide Leg Pants – MICHAEL Michael Kors Luna Kitten Sling Pumps – Tory Burch Perry Triple Compartment Leather Tote – st. Moran Chunky Hoop Earrings
Kimba @kimbalikes above combines her plaid shacket with a sweater dress for a look that mixes casual and more formal.
Get her look with this similar dress, shacket, boots, earrings and necklace.
7. Plaid evening wear
It’s unlikely anyone else will choose a plaid dress for eveningwear. So, rather than your little black dress, how about a little plaid dress.
Nordstrom Satin Border Silk Chiffon Scarf – MANGO Check Print Midi Dress – Nine West Propper Kitten Heel Pumps – Kurt Geiger London Party Eagle Drench Clutch – Nadri Farrah Cubic Zirconia Drop Earrings
8. A plaid wrap over your leggings
Adding a plaid blanket scarf, poncho, or wrap to your neutral outfits gives you an easy, chic look. Wear it over your long-sleeve shirts or sweaters.
Moss Rose Plaid Open Front Poncho – COS Relaxed Denim Shirt – Zella High Waist Fleece Lined Leggings – Naturalizer Darry Water Repellent Ankle Boots – Oryany Lottie Check Crossbody Bag – Nadri Farrah Cubic Zirconia Drop Earrings
9. Add glamour with wide leg pants
Wide-leg pants are still very on-trend, and they add glamour to even casual looks. Opt for a wide-leg pair of plaid pants, and then keep your top half plain and neutral.
COS Longline Wool Vest – COS Twist-back Sleeveless Top – Wit & Wisdom ‘Ab’Solution Skyrise Plaid Wide Leg Trousers – Vince Isabel Pointed Toe Flat – Kurt Geiger London Party Eagle Drench Clutch – st. Moran Chunky Hoop Earrings
Your plaid outfits together in one capsule
Below, you can see the plaid outfits from above together in one capsule. You can create many different looks with these by teaming any plaid tops with any plain bottoms, and vice versa.
Do you wear plaid in the fall or any time of the year? Let us know in the comments below
Continue reading:
- Timeless fall trends that will stand the test of time
- Natural colors for an effortlessly chic look
- Fall fashion essentials for minimalists
Like this article on how to style plaid for winter and fall? Share it on Pinterest!
Feature image by Dawn Lucy @fashionshouldbefun
Want to get more articles from 40+style in your inbox, subscribe here.
You can also connect with 40+style on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.
Support 40+style by using the links in our articles to shop. As an associate for Amazon and many other brands, we receive a small commission (at no cost to you) on qualifying purchases which enables us to keep creating amazing free content for you. Thanks!