Fashion 101: Meet the Plaids
March 25th, 2008
You may have voted pro-Plaid last week, but do you know your plaids? Plaids all have criss-crossed horizontal and vertical stripes, but not all plaids are created equal.
Houndstooth is a two-color pattern characterized by broken checks or abstract-looking four-pointed shapes.
Style tip? Try a fitted houndstooth blazer paired with a solid colored shirt for contrast.
Glen Plaid
Glen Plaid is a variant of houndstooth with contrast striping.
Style tip? Glen Plaid is a bold choice for suiting, especially if you don’t want to look like every other guy in the office.
Prince of Wales Check
Prince of Wales Check is version of glen check, usually with a light blue overplaid.
Style tip? Wear it with a light blue shirt for best results.
Herringbone
You’ll know herringbone by the zig-zag pattern made by the alternating diagonal rows.
Style tip? Herringbone is a heavy fabric, making it a prime cold-weather choice for suits.
Entry Filed under: Features,Men,Shopping Guide,Shopping Guide,Women
7 Comments
1. Mimi | March 26th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Oopps- I voted No Plaid but I had envisioned those brightly colored Scottish-type plaids.
These are great. I’ve always loved the Prince of Wales Check and Houndstooth
2. The Devil Wears Marc Jacobs | March 26th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I have always loved Houndstooth, I have a trench made of this material, I feel very elegant and put together in it. The Prince of Wales check looks like it would be great in the summer for a country visit. I love that it is very light colored and looks airy.
Funny that you mentioned the Herringbone, and its correlation to winter seasons, because as soon as I saw it, I thought it would make a great heavy, wool coat!
3. Trisha | March 26th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Totally–when I think of plaid, I think of 90s grunge…but there’s so much more to plaid than that. Glad you guys are loving the Houndstooth, Herringbone, and Prince of Wales Check! I’m personally a fan of the glen plaid as well.
4. Mimi | March 26th, 2008 at 11:51 am
I have a pair of slacks in a lightweight Prince of Wales Check-style fabric, but they are just black & white, no other colors.
Any suggestions on how to make them look fresh and cool for summer? Or should I put them aside until fall?
5. John | March 26th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
The only houndstooth I have is a very subtle shirt by Paul Smith PS. It’s so subtle you don’t even notice that it’s houndstooth unless you’re right up close.
I think houndstooth can be used to provide dashes of boldness to your outfit. Tom Ford had a great houndstooth pocket square that worked really well with his suits. It really draws your attention, especially when paired with a monotone suit.
6. Trisha | March 27th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Mimi, as long as your Prince of Wales check slacks are lightweight, you can’t go wrong pairing them with a crisp white shirt for summer. For a fresh, breezy look, you can try pushing up the sleeves on the shirt. Extra style points for bold jewelry
7. virgl felton | September 25th, 2011 at 7:36 am
looking for T shirts or jersey in houndstooth fabric blk & white.