In college one of my best friends had this red plaid button-down shirt that she wore all the time! It was her favorite shirt to throw on when she wanted comfort. It was 10 sizes too big, tattered at the ends and just overall horrible. A couple of our friends and I ganged up and made her throw it out. With plaid being one of this fall’s musts, we need to think twice before pulling out the lumberjack shirt and thinking that’s fashion.

Here are my tips on wearing plaid:

It’s all about accessories!

If you’re not sure about getting into this trend but you still want to be on up the latest, I say go for small pops of plaid. There are plenty of shoes, scarfs, and bags out there to keep you covered.

Look for tailored pieces!

If the shirt you buy is too big you’ll end up looking like a hunter-in-training. (Of course that’s not to say smaller is better. The perfect fit is always the best bet.) Scout out tops that have a structured shape and steer clear or anything that flows too much. 

Bigger is not always better!

When it comes to plaid the bigger the design the larger you are going to look; a sad fact of life, but a fact none the less.

Downplay it!

Matching a solid-colored sweater or scarf with your plaid top can help water down the boldness of the plaid. Try the combination with a solid belt to really finish off the look.

Go Bold!

To really rock this trend and stay away from the lumberjack appearance buy plaid in unusual colors. The traditional red and black is going to date you.

(PS, I'm glad we made her give away the shirt.)