Men's Style Conundrums: Plaid Shirts
Plaid has been the pattern du jour in men's fashion for a while now
, and many are saying that they're getting sick of all the squares. At the same time, it's unwise to just cut square patterns, as classic a print as any, out of your wardrobe entirely just because some people don't like it anymore. What should you do about all those squares?How Big is Your Square?
One of the biggest considerations in choosing any plaid shirt should be the size of the print. After all, this is the determining factor of how the shirt itself will look like once it's on you. And in most cases, a lot of men are choosing prints that are way too big.
Buffalo plaid, for example, was easily one of the biggest men's fashion trends of several seasons ago. It seemed that every men's boutique had at least one variant for you to try. Back then, the big, show-stopping squares were considered cool because they hearkened to the masculine lifestyle of the rough, tough lumberjack. Nowadays, however, you won't be likely to see many of these woodcutter-inspired pieces on the street.
The simple fact is this: in men's fashion, small prints and patterns are always the safer choice. Sure, a big print like buffalo plaid will pop out on the glossies every now and then. However, it's only the pin dot neckties, micro check pants and - yes - small-check shirts that have staying power in your closet.
Check Your Color
Shirt colors work very much like pattern size, and so follow some of the more basic rules of men's fashion. That is, while brighter and more eye-catching ones may occasionally dominate men's style, simpler and more muted shades are likelier to be safely used again and again. The latter would be the better investment for you in the long run.
Hence the same rules apply for plaid. Right after the buffalo plaid craze, there was some movement toward patterns that had slightly smaller checks but a blinding combination of colors - think eggplant and azure in a single pattern. They garner attention and are more than a bit fashion forward, it's true. Their use, however, is very limited. Aside from the infrequent nights out on the town, it's not an item you can wear in many other situations.
In men's fashion - with neckties, for example - monochromatic looks are often the safest. That is, a look is more likely to work when it has fewer colors to it. The same rule holds for plaid shirts. If you want something that you can easily pair with other items and wear without fuss, go for a shirt that has as few colors to it as possible. In fact, pick up a monochromatic plaid shirt if you can find one at the store.
Should you decide to get a style of plaid shirt that involves a number of colors, the safest course of action would be to pick out combinations of colors from the same family. That is, a plaid in, say, blue and blue-green would be easier to carry than the aforementioned eggplant-azure combination. Alternatively, a combination with just one standout color (where all the others are muted) should work just as well.
Pleasantly Plaid
While you're choosing out the kind of plaid you'll wear, don't forget that it's still a shirt you're buying at the end of the day. Keep in mind all the style rules you'd typically use when picking out a shirt. Find as slim a fit as possible. The shirt shouldn't balloon at the waist. The arms shouldn't sag. Always remember that the fit is just as crucial as the print.
It might sound like a call to conservatism, and that's exactly what it is. The best way to avoid fashion faux pas with plaid shirts is to pick out the more conservative styles. Edgy patterns and color combinations might earn you a few compliments now, but there's no guaranteeing that you'll be able to wear those same shirts a couple of years on. And in men's fashion, longevity counts for a lot.
by: Hendrik Pohl