Mad for Plaid

I’m sure most of you can remember back to the 90s (or maybe it was even in the 80s) when oversize plaid button downs were commonly paired with Dr. Martens and worn as the uniform of the everyday teenager. This era in fashion was known as “grunge”. Just as with virtually every trend, plaid is back hot and heavy this season, but in a whole new way. How, over the course of just 20 years, has this iconic checkered print gone from sloppy to neat and pulled-together? To be completely honest with you, for a long time I was actually a bit frightened of plaid. “It will make me look fat,” and “I hate seeming sloppy,” I reasoned with myself. However, as I began to see more and more of this particular trend popping up everywhere from Teen Vogue to American Eagle to kids at my school, I felt myself being strangely drawn to it. Once I stopped coming up with reasons NOT to like it, I decided to try on my first plaid piece. It was a button-down, nipped-waist, ruffled-neck shirt from American Eagle…and I instantly loved it! Over the years, plaid has made its way from the streets to fashion houses, and can now take on almost any identity, from preppy to even (gasp!) high-fashion. For me, this transformation symbolizes something greater; a “never say never” attitude when it comes to fashion. Just because there’s a look out there that you absolutely hate, don’t just look past it. In a few years it may have evolved into something that looks absolutely stunning on you. Who knows? Soon we all may be wearing harem pants to school.