It has been raining plaids over the last few months and considering the rage plaid has become, it’s going to continue for a long, long time. The story of plaid goes as far back as 100 – 400 B.C! After that, there was a long lull, which ended with the punk rock era in the ‘70s and the grunge scene during the ‘90s. However, the versatility of plaid won and over the last few years there has been a plaid revival like no other.
In fact, this pattern was one of the most underrated patterns until recently. Now, plaid is versatile and is often teamed with formal trousers, too. It has gone from being a fashion surrogate to a style essential. This shift in its fortunes has urged plaid-makers to experiment with colours and checks. Now, you don’t have just one or two kinds of checks, you have a variety. dearJulius.com deciphers the plaid story just for you.
Blackwatch
This check is the new black this season. Milan, Paris and New York have embraced this plaid and have done it justice across collections. Defined by its blue, green and black tones, no more is the plaid limited to just shirts. The blackwatch has been designed and tailored into jackets, suits, trousers, sweaters, bow-ties and even shoes.
On first look, the blackwatch seems very much like the plaid on kilts, and why not because this check has been inspired by the pattern from Scotland.
The Gingham
This check is as simple and dare I say, as boring as they come. Defined by its black and white structured, regular checks, this pattern is as negatively safe as you can get. It has its distinguishing vertical and horizontal stripes that go across each other on a white background. All the checks are even and there’s no real character to this humdrum pattern.
The Windowpane Check
One look at the windowpane check and you’ll know exactly why it’s called the windowpane check. This is one of the simplest check patterns - a background colour that is patterned with no-fuss, single-lined checks. Its signature pattern is large, square blocks that are drawn with fine lines.
This is one of the more conservative check patterns, and it almost has an old-school look and feel to it. This check is a very safe check when it comes to clothing. It’s no-fuss, fancy-free and of course, it’s offers you the right amount of refinement, elegance and class.
The Madras Check
This check originated right here in Madras (currently Chennai), India and is defined by colourful checks and stripes. Madras checks are playful because colourful stripes cross each other to form checks of different sizes. This check is informal and is as fun as it can get.
The Glen Plaid
This check is defined by its fine checks and is often used for day suits. This pattern has alternating dark and light stripes that create a quiet, reserved criss-cross design. The glen plaid is made with earthy, muted colours such as browns, greys, beiges and blacks. Even though this check isn’t as popular as the other checks, it’s slowly seeing a revival.
The Tartan Plaid
Think Scottish kilts, think tartan plaid. Its traditional vertical, horizontal and sometimes diagonal stripes cross one another to form tight, even, square checks.
Lumberjack Checks
This check is iconic. Its signature is its dark red and black colours. The pattern is densely woven and is most commonly designed into cotton shirts and jackets. However, since its popularity soared, it’s now made into hunting jackets, bomber jackets, scarves, regular jackets, coats, etc.
The Graph Check
This pattern is a graph paper on a shirt... literally. One of the simplest check patterns around, the graph check stays true to its name – thin, single-coloured stripes that cross each other to form even-sized, square checks on a white background.
Houndstooth
This pattern was an absolute rage in the ‘60s and this year, it has made a comeback. It’s called the Houndstooth because the patterns look like a dog’s tooth! Designers across the globe are using the Houndstooth for design jackets, ties, sweaters, overcoats, scarves and of course, shirts. There is no colour reserved for this pattern. The regular black and white combinations are still around, but you can also opt for Houndstooth patterns in deeper, bolder colours such as red.
Tattersall
The tattersall is one of the commonest check patterns around. Not a rage internationally, this check is informal and not necessarily a fashion-breaker in any way. This pattern has stripes in alternating colours that cross one another vertically and horizontally. The alternating colours create a break in pattern and effect and this is what adds character to the shirt. The only way you can play-up the tattersall is by playing with alternating colours.
By Nisha Samson
One look at the windowpane check and you’ll know exactly why it’s called the windowpane check. This is one of the simplest check patterns - a background colour that is patterned with no-fuss, single-lined checks. Its signature pattern is large, square blocks that are drawn with fine lines.
This is one of the more conservative check patterns, and it almost has an old-school look and feel to it. This check is a very safe check when it comes to clothing. It’s no-fuss, fancy-free and of course, it’s offers you the right amount of refinement, elegance and class.
The Madras Check
This check originated right here in Madras (currently Chennai), India and is defined by colourful checks and stripes. Madras checks are playful because colourful stripes cross each other to form checks of different sizes. This check is informal and is as fun as it can get.
The Glen Plaid
This check is defined by its fine checks and is often used for day suits. This pattern has alternating dark and light stripes that create a quiet, reserved criss-cross design. The glen plaid is made with earthy, muted colours such as browns, greys, beiges and blacks. Even though this check isn’t as popular as the other checks, it’s slowly seeing a revival.
The Tartan Plaid
Think Scottish kilts, think tartan plaid. Its traditional vertical, horizontal and sometimes diagonal stripes cross one another to form tight, even, square checks.
Lumberjack Checks
This check is iconic. Its signature is its dark red and black colours. The pattern is densely woven and is most commonly designed into cotton shirts and jackets. However, since its popularity soared, it’s now made into hunting jackets, bomber jackets, scarves, regular jackets, coats, etc.
The Graph Check
This pattern is a graph paper on a shirt... literally. One of the simplest check patterns around, the graph check stays true to its name – thin, single-coloured stripes that cross each other to form even-sized, square checks on a white background.
Houndstooth
This pattern was an absolute rage in the ‘60s and this year, it has made a comeback. It’s called the Houndstooth because the patterns look like a dog’s tooth! Designers across the globe are using the Houndstooth for design jackets, ties, sweaters, overcoats, scarves and of course, shirts. There is no colour reserved for this pattern. The regular black and white combinations are still around, but you can also opt for Houndstooth patterns in deeper, bolder colours such as red.
Tattersall
The tattersall is one of the commonest check patterns around. Not a rage internationally, this check is informal and not necessarily a fashion-breaker in any way. This pattern has stripes in alternating colours that cross one another vertically and horizontally. The alternating colours create a break in pattern and effect and this is what adds character to the shirt. The only way you can play-up the tattersall is by playing with alternating colours.
By Nisha Samson
