EVERY autumn, we fall more and more in love with plaid.

From the muted tones of the 1970s to the neons of the ’80s to the traditional grunge in the ’90s and more fitted silhouettes of the early 2000s, the trend has been re-imagined 101 ways, making it feel fresh and new with each passing year.

This year, we’re going back to our retro roots, tapping back to the colorful plaid clothing of the ’90s and ’00s with a little more tailored flair.

Designers like Michael Kors, Versace, and Balenciaga filled their runways with the trends for fall 2018, and we quite literally can’t figure out which pieces to start with — we simply want them all.

Michael Kors opted for bright yellows and reds, in classic silhouettes like ankle-crop trousers and cropped button-front jackets; Versace kicked it up a notch by mixing and matching colors, with high-waisted pleated skirts and blazers to match; and Balenciaga chose oversized silhouettes, like large-shouldered coats with nipped-in waists and oversized hips. Shopbop’s fashion director Caroline Maguire said, “I loved Balenciaga’s plaid coat paired with neon boots, Versace’s ’90s Cher Horwitz-esque look, Isa Arfen’s plaid dress over denim, and all of Dries Van Noten’s matching sets!”

Although this fall will be rife with head-to-toe plaid looks in a variety of colors, Maguire suggests one of the most classic wardrobe essentials as a gateway into the trend. “I think we’ll see a lot of people introducing plaid into their wardrobes with a classic tailored blazer,” she said. “It’s the perfect piece to throw on with a casual jean and a T-shirt, or dress up a little black dress for an evening look.”

That said, for those ready to take it to the next level, “you can also make a statement with mixing two classic plaid pieces together. A tartan skirt with a black watch button down — now that’s a statement!”

Stylist Rachael Wang is also a huge fan of the classic-yet-bold fall trend, sighting favorite pieces in those timeless wardrobe staples that turn what you thought you knew about plaid on its head. In her own wardrobe, she is excited to infuse the trend into a borrowed-from-the-boys vibe. “I love traditional menswear plaids for myself in boxy oversized suits,” she said.

(SD-Agencies)