A plaid shirt is one of those wardrobe pieces that can absolutely work overtime. It can feel casual, polished, artsy, layered, unexpected, or all of the above, depending on how you style it. For this plaid shirt styling post, Tresi and I decided to show how the same idea can shift with the seasons and, due to our personal style, be different.
Quote of the day: “Luck flows through people and travels by conversation. The people you talk to determine the opportunities you find.
Keep talking to the same people, keep finding the same opportunities. Start talking to new people, start finding new opportunities.
If you want different luck, start walking into different rooms.” James Clear
What I Love most is that plaid shirts don’t have to be a “throw it on with jeans” piece. They’re fabulous for experimenting with proportions, layering, and even mixing prints.
This all started when Tresi read this article about plaid shirt styling for spring and summer. We decided to come up with our own ideas and share them with you.
Since Tresi lives in the UK, her idea of spring and summer is more like winter to me, so I thought it would be fun to compare side-by-side.
Of course, I like to think that all shirts can be transformed in many ways. It’s a topic I’ve discussed many times in the past:
–One blouse, endless possibilities
–How to style black tank tops
–Oversized shirt options
Creating a 1/3 proportion with the top and letting the bottom portion be 2/3 of the outfit is the recipe that all stylists address as a great style tool.
I’ve even discussed proportions in an older article, if you want suggestions.
Both Tresi and I tucked in our shirts to allow the 1/3 to 2/3 proportion.
The differences?
Tresi used a cool, wide belt, giving her look a bit of edginess.
I wrapped my blouse before tucking and then added a brooch at the waistband.
Button shirts can be easily worn by tying the front panels at your waist, which can showcase a bit of the underneath layer, yet still be modest.
Both Tresi and I “tied” a knot at our waist for part of our plaid shirt styling.
The difference?
Tresi used some sort of jewelry or something to add decor to the ends…it also looks like she tied a knot and then threaded both ends through the knot.
I used a hair elastic and then created a “flower” out of the excess material as seen in this TT video.
One of the most fun parts of plaid shirt styling is realizing that plaid can play well with other prints.
Plaid already contains repeating lines and multiple colors, so it often blends beautifully with the other prints in your closet.
Tresi and I both mixed our plaid shirts with another print on top.
The difference?
Tresi chose a floral kimono to wear over her shirt, both with different colorways.
I paired my plaid shirt under my jumpsuit (worn with braided belts in the past) because they had the same colors in them—sorta.
This is what made our challenge especially fun. We didn’t plan on these categories for our plaid shirt styling, but after I took my photos and compared them with Tresi’s, I realized that we had many of the same ideas.
Sometimes, leaving a shirt hanging out can look sloppy or unintentional. But both of us attempted it creatively.
The difference?
Tresi layered a shorter, cool denim jacket over the plaid shirt. So the plaid sticks out, creating almost a peplum effect.
I did that trick with my overall shorts where you thread the back of the overalls UNDER the shirt so it hangs out in the back.
The vibe of a plaid shirt is very casual. But as I say over and over, we need to stop categorizing our clothing items and wear them with the versatility that makes them fun.
Both Tresi and I “dressed up” our plaid shirts.
The difference?
Tresi wore hers for colder weather with an embroidered skirt, boots, a jacket, and a scarf thrown over her shoulder.
I paired mine with a short skirt, a chain belt, and heels.
One of my mottos is to remember the 2 words associated with layering: Over and Under.
Some items in our closet are ones that we always layer under, or we layer over them. But most can be used in the opposite way, also.
Both Tresi and I layered over the plaid shirt with clothes that made it only peek out of the outfit instead of being the main character.
The difference:
Tresi wore a black sweater vest over the plaid shirt with her black skirt. In reality, it almost looks like she wore it under a black dress.
I did wear my plaid shirt under a dress. This dress was made for my measurements from Sumissura (styled for 4 seasons). It’s a great way to wear a sleeveless item if you aren’t comfortable showing your arms.
Tresi and I approached this differently as her outfits leaned wintery, while mine explored lighter summer styling. Yet with these differences, there are still many similarities with our plaid shirt styling. We both used the same styling tools of thinking about proportions, layering, and mixing prints.
That’s why I believe that plaid shirt styling is so fun, because it’s very flexible.
And that’s my favorite reminder in fashion… the same item can tell completely different stories depending on how you wear it.
So if you have a plaid shirt hanging in your closet, maybe don’t save it for only one season. Try something unexpected.
You might discover it’s far more versatile than you thought.
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Jodie Filogomo is a retired cosmetic dentist and fashion blogger behind Jodie’s Touch of Style, where she has been helping women over 50 experiment with style in fun, creative ways for over 12 years.
Find out more about the crew, because we love to showcase all ages, body shapes, and women who love different styles.
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