Design & Style

Plaid Pants Outfit Ideas: 6 Ways to Style Plaid Pants

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Feb 28, 2022 • 1 min read

Trendy plaid trousers work nicely with fashionable street styles and smart casual outfits.

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What Are Plaid Pants?

Plaid pants are pants with a tartan or plaid pattern of crisscrossing, perpendicular stripes of various widths and colors that create a dynamic design. The patterns on plaid pants tend to be colorful, so they pair best with neutral, subdued tops. You can wear plaid pants as part of a casual outfit or dress them up for business attire.

6 Ways to Style Plaid Pants

From preppy to grunge to retro, there are many ways to style plaid pants. Consider these plaid pants outfit ideas to spice up your wardrobe:

  1. 1. Tuck a tee into plaid skinny pants. For a quick but fashionable look, tuck a plain white tee or a graphic t-shirt into your skinny pants. You can also sport a pair of loafers to further elevate this outfit.
  2. 2. Make a fall ensemble. You can wear an oversized sweater or cardigan with your plaid pants to create a fall look, especially if your pants or top feature autumnal colors like browns, reds, and oranges. You can also wear a pair of high waist pants with a turtleneck or long sleeve shirt in cooler weather.
  3. 3. Go for a clean, workplace-ready look. Tuck a white button-down shirt into your plaid pants, and wear a blazer over the shirt that matches a color in your pants’ stripes to bring the outfit together.
  4. 4. Try an edgy outfit. A black leather jacket over a white tee can go well with plaid pants. For an even edgier outfit, pair your leather jacket with black plaid pants.
  5. 5. Create a summery outfit. Pair high-waisted plaid pants with a white crop top for a breezy, trendy outfit in warmer weather.
  6. 6. Toss on a denim jacket. A white tee, denim jacket, and boots with plaid pants make for a fun casual or going-out outfit.

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