Plaid lends itself to a broad range of styles: there are Irish and Scottish tartans and the Catholic school uniform. At its most fashionable, plaid was the banner of the grunge trend. Remember those checked flannel shirts, denim shorts and Dr Martens? The Kurt Cobain, Stone Temple Pilots, Johnny Depp, Kate Moss years: these were the proponents of the plaid/grunge movement.
This season, plaid is trendy once again. But it is not of the cool, haven't-showered-in-a-week, pass-the-bong variety. This season's plaid is polished and freshly scrubbed, mixed in with a dash of '60s mod.
Who is the man responsible for this makeover? Christopher Bailey, creative director of Burberry, who cleverly manages to find new ways to reinvent the Burberry check every season. This time he showed it in eye-catching bright colours, like this red wool coat with an exaggerated collar and sculptural cut (HK$27,000).
If you are going to wear this coat, avoid any other colours. It's best to pair this with darker solids so you won't be mistaken for a Christmas ornament. And since there's already volume on the coat, pair it with trousers or jeans that are of a slimmer cut.
Continue with the urban theme with this black-faced watch from Hugo Boss' Boss Black (HK$4,350).
A fun plaid option would be Comme des Garcons' hooded toggle coat (HK$15,800). The two-tone coat will lift your mood during cold, gloomy weather.
