Tips for Plaid 2009

• Thrift or check your parents’ closets
• Pair with leggings, shorts, skinny jeans, or skirts
• Avoid the Scottish look (no long plaid skirts in Tartan print)
• Avoid the school-girl look (no pleated skirts or knee-socks)
• Avoid the angsty grunge look (wash your hair)
• Try belting or altering oversized plaid tops
• Plaid tanks and dresses are cute, too!

Recycle, Reuse, Reinvent!

Before heading off to the store to buy the latest plaid craze, check your parent’s or older sibling’s closet. There may be shirts that survived the 90’s plaid grunge phase just waiting for you.

Secondly, thrift! Browse both the women’s and men’s sections of thrift stores and Goodwill for plaid patterns you like. If plaid top you like is too large, you can either work the “oversized” look (try belting or pair with skinny jeans/leggings), or, if you’re handy with a sewing machine, alter the top to suit your frame.

If none of these avenues of thrifting the plaid look work for you, then almost every store has plenty of plaid in stock just waiting for you. For a deal, check Marshall’s or department stores like JC Penny. For overpriced but unique prints and colors, check Urban Outfitters.

What to wear: