Fall Trends: Plaids

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In the world of fashion trends, some are fleeting and last only one season, while others are timeless, seen again year after year as eternally classic. Withstanding the test of time, plaids are a hot-ticket item on the fall runways and a must-have for your wardrobe. With so many ways to interpret this trend, women in every age range and with every body type, skin tone and style preference will find something to like.

Trendy Tartan

It's not always easy to know how to pick clothing items and colors that will work best with your skin tone and figure. You don't want to purchase the first plaid item you see, only to put it on, catch your reflection in the mirror and see a lumberjack staring back at you.

In fall 2011, take this trend and make it your own based on what's most flattering on you. The great thing about plaids is their versatility and the way they can be dressed up or down, depending on your mood or agenda.

Celebrity stylist Maria Divaris, who has such names as Eva Longoria, Paris Hilton and Serena Williams on her resume, advised: "Hold true to your personal style. If you're a sophisticated businesswoman, pair a houndstooth pencil skirt with a black cashmere sweater, or if you're more laid back, go for the plaid men's shirt with skinny jeans." Another option is a fitted, plaid button-down with ruffle detailing. Wearing this kind of shirt with skinny jeans, you can dress down without looking overly masculine.

As for dressing for your age, Divaris recommended: "If you're younger, plaid is fun in bright and bold colors. However, if you're mid-20s-plus, stick with subtle shades: light blues, beiges, browns and sage, which all look incredibly elegant."

Alexa Winner, a notable stylist and designer with A-list clientele on her resume, also has sound advice for color selection. "Find a plaid shirt that complements the various shades in your eyes," she said. "For someone with brown eyes, plaids with shades of red, auburn, brown and orange can look really beautiful. For someone with green or hazel eyes, I'd suggest looking for a plaid with shades of brown, green and other sandy hues. People with blue eyes are fortunate in that they generally can get away with most colored plaids."

What's going to be most flattering for your figure? Follow Divaris' simple rule of thumb: "Just as with stripes, the larger the print, the larger you look, so use your best judgment and stick with a smaller, neater print in areas you want to minimize."

A Trend for All Climates

A major benefit of plaid is that you can find stylish items year-round that are functional for all climates. For warmer weather, you can pair a plaid shirt with a lace cami, or as Divaris recommended, a plaid mini dress with opaque tights.

"Plaids also look lovely layered up for fall with knits and jackets," she said. "There's nothing more chic and cozy than a plaid coat wrapped around you in your favorite hue. A well-tailored wool coat in colorful plaid will make you feel fashionable even on the dreariest day."

A fun idea for the fashion-forward is to browse vintage clothing stores for plaid and then take the look and make it new by accessorizing, or, as Winner suggested, "add a shoe that picks up on one of the colors ingrained in the plaid pattern to pull the look together cohesively."

With plaid prints on an array of items from bikinis to blazers, Winner said you can feel comfortable knowing this is a timeless trend -- one that's versatile enough to get you through any season.

Plaid Gone Wrong

While there is an assortment of options available for plaid purchasers, it can be hard to know where to draw the line. Mixing plaids in one outfit is never a good idea.

"Proceed with caution -- plaid is great in moderation," Divaris advised. "Just make sure it's balanced with something simple and plain. Too many prints is a recipe for disaster."

Adamantly agreeing, Winner said: "The most important rule is that you can never go head-to-toe in plaid, unless, of course, you'd like to be wrapped in a bow and given as a gift to the worst-dressed list."

The pros suggest avoiding entirely red plaid pieces; it's a look best left to the picnic tablecloths in the park. Winner makes an exception to that rule for girls under age 14. To stay trendy without making a fashion faux pas, "Go with a hint of plaid, details here and there, a blouse, a scarf or the lining of a jacket," Divaris suggested. Generally speaking, just avoid more than one plaid print per outfit.