Perpetual Plaids

Plaid Styles of the West, by the Decade

Dec 01, 2024

Few things are forever in style like plaid. The print pops up every fall without fail, embraced by everyone from grunge kids to Ivy Leaguers to original American Girl doll Samantha Parkington. I’ve put together a walk through the last 100 years of women wearing plaid, from the 1920’s to modern day.

While the styling shifts alongside the trends of the time, many of the plaid pieces themselves stay remarkably consistent year after year. A plaid skirt from 1936 looks indistinguishable (in style, at least) from the plaid skirts on the racks today, a true testament to the staying power of one of fashion’s most timeless styles. One print, a million ways to wear it! Get inspired below.

1920’s

From the Fall/Winter 1919-1920 edition of Perry, Dame & Co. Courtesy of the Internet Archive. And in case you were curious, a $42.50 coat from 1919 would cost almost $800 today adjusted for inflation!

Winter Sale Catalog scans for Bellas Hess & Co, 1925, available as a digital download here on Etsy

Couldn’t find an ID on this 1920’s diva, but I’ll be thinking about this robe-eqsue plaid coat forever.

Clara Bow and friends, on set of the 1927 silent film “Rough House Rosie”

1930’s

A “plaid-like design” in patterns from the April 1933 issue of Ladies Home Journal

1936 catalog scan via the Wearing History Blog

1940’s

Fall and Winter 1940-41 Sears, Roebuck and Co. Catalog cover

Stunning two piece plaid ensemble, unknown source. Image via Chronically Vintage

1940’s plaid Vogue pattern, available to purchase via this Etsy seller

1944 advertisement for Dan River plaid fabrics

1950’s

Schiaparelli 1950, from Shocking: The Surreal World of Elsa Schiaparelli

Cover of Modellina magazine, winter 1952

Lots of plaids appear in these home photos from the 1950's, as archived by Steve Martin on Flickr. Surprisingly, lots of summertime plaid!

1959 pattern book, available to purchase here on Etsy

1960’s

Christian Dior plaid suit shot by Willy Rizzo for Marie Claire France, September 1964 courtesy of Featherstone Vintage

Don Simonelli for Modelia 1967, photographed by Sante Forlano

Shot by Penn for Vogue, September 1967 courtesy of

Another Bonnie Cashin ensemble, via The Met’s Costume Institute Collection

1970’s

Caroline Smith illustration for Flair, 1971

Seventeen Magazine August 1973, “Back to class in plaids” via Just Seventeen

Farrah Fawcett wears a plaid blazer in a 1977 episode of Charlie’s Angels

1980’s

Betty Jackson shot by Jerry Salvati for Town & Country magazine, August 1984

"Clash of the Tartans" for Dolly Magazine, February 1985 courtesty of Glossy Sheen

1990’s

Linda Evangelista by Arthur Elgort, 1991

Naomi Campbell and Kristen McMenamy shot by Stephen Meisel for Vogue December 1992, wearing Marc Jacobs’ historic “grunge” collection for Perry Ellis

Christy Turlington by Mario Testino for Vivienne Westwood, 1993

Naomi Campbell walks for Vivienne Westwood, 1994

My two favorites of Diana's numerous plaid looks

2000’s

Various plaid ensembles from the 2017 Met Costume Exhibit "Rei Kawakubo: Art of the In-Between." Displayed pieces are from Kawakubo's Lost Empire S/S 2006 collection and Inside Decoration F/W 2010-11 collection

Christina Ricci in Vivienne Westwood at the 2013 Met Gala

This week, I’ll be releasing my final website collection of the year through my vintage brand, St. Evens. In keeping with the theme, the pieces are all plaid! Skirts, sweaters, pants, and more all coming to the website this Thursday in a range of sizes and styles. Previews will be going up all week on Instagram! As a thank you for being here, use the code PLAIDPLEASE for a special discount exclusively for Substack subscribers. I hope this letter gave you some exciting inspiration for new (old) ways to incorporate plaid in your fall/winter wardrobe.