How to Wear Gray Plaid Pants

Last Updated: December 10, 2021 References

Plaid is a classic print that can take your wardrobe to the next level. However, you need to be careful about what you pair it with so your outfit doesn’t look too busy (or too ho-hum!). Plaid usually goes best with something plain next to it, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with how you build your looks. No matter how you choose to rock your plaid pants, always stay true to your style—confidence is key to looking chic!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating Casual, Classic Looks

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Go for a classic vibe with a tucked-in black sweater or blouse. Choose a woven sweater or sleek blouse and tuck it in all the way or do a half-tuck. Dress it down with flat slip-ons or go for a low sling-back to make it work-appropriate.^{[1]
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- A sweater with a loosely woven-pattern can complement the squares and rectangles on the pants without distracting from it or looking too busy.
2
Add warm tones with a tan-colored top and tan or brown shoes. Gray and tan seem to be contrasting colors but can look very chic when you pair them together in the right way. Wear a sable-tan (or light brown) top and light-gray plaid pants and tuck in the shirt. Make sure there are no plaid-like details on the top so the rich color is the focus.^{[2]
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- An off-white (nearly tan) top or sweater will look just as classic.^{[3]
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3
Wear an earth-toned shirt under a white or black jacket. An earthy brown, green, or red will add warmth to the cool-tones of the plaid pants. Choose a well-fitting tee or button-down and do a full or half-tuck.^{[4]
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- You don’t really need to wear a belt with plaid trousers, but if you want to, pair it with a black belt so it's not distracting or clashing with your outfit.
4
Look sleek with a black tee and a gray blazer. Let the pants be the star of the show and pair them with a solid-colored tee and a gray blazer. Make sure the shade of the blazer closely matches one of the colors on the pants so it looks intentional and put-together.^{[5]
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- Keep your shoes and belt black to match the grayscale theme.
- Feel free to jazz it up with a colorful pocket square—just make sure it’s not plaid.
- If you want to take a little fashion risk (and pull it off!), wear a brown belt with brown shoes and a brown hat. The warm tones will pop against the gray backdrop.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Building Bold, Playful Outfits

1
Make a statement with a floral top and gray plaid pants. Choose a large floral print or small floral design depending on the pattern of the pants. If the squares are large and bold, smaller florals (like small print and paisley) can balance out the look. Larger florals look best with plaid that has small checkers and more subtle lines.^{[6]
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- Dress up the look by tucking the shirt in and donning some pumps.
- Make it casual-chic by wearing loafers, sandals, or sneakers.
2
Pull off a mixed-pattern look with a polka-dot top. Choose a blouse with medium or large polka-dots on it if your pants have large, bold plaid squares and stripes. If your pants are more of a subtle plaid (with similar shades of gray and thin lines), opt for smaller polka dots to match. However, this isn’t a strict rule, so feel free to try on a top with different-sized dots and see which one you like best.^{[7]
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- For a funky look, opt for colored polka dots. Stick to black and white for a more classic look.
- Keep your accessories (bracelets, necklaces, and rings) to a minimum with this one so your look isn’t too busy.
- Wear solid-colored shoes and carry a solid-colored bag so your top and pants are the focus.
3
Pair a bright-colored shirt with the pants for a fun contrast. If your style is playful and funky, let that shine by pairing your gray plaid pants with a brightly-colored top. Think neon orange, yellow, hot pink, lime, or electric blue. Just make sure the shirt is a single solid color so it doesn't look too busy.^{[8]
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- However, if your pants are mostly grayscale with only thin white or black lines creating the pattern, feel free to go bolder and wear a graphic tee with lots of bright colors.
- Turn it into a chic nighttime look by wearing black pumps and a cropped blazer or jacket.
4
Look laid-back yet edgy with boyfriend-fit pants and a bomber jacket. If your style is more relaxed with some tomboy-vibes, try wearing loose-fitting (boyfriend fit) plaid pants with a black scoop-neck or v-neck shirt. Top it off with a leather or faux-leather bomber jacket with lots of zipper details for a little edge.^{[9]
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- Complete the look with comfy sneakers, flat booties, or loafers.
- Go for a more bold, punk look with a red and black striped shirt underneath the jacket.
5
Channel your inner rockstar with plaid pants and a leather jacket. If you like to dress a little edgy, wear your gray plaid pants with a black t-shirt and a black leather (or faux-leather) jacket. Don’t shy away from lots of details on the jacket like zippers, pockets, and interesting stitch lines.^{[10]
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- Complete the look with sneakers, combat boots, or casual dress shoes.
- Add some playful pops of color by wearing a graphic tee underneath the jacket.
- Think of the look as a toned-down version British punk in the 1970s mixed with 1990s grunge!
- This is a great look regardless of your gender expression!
6
Go head-to-toe gray plaid for a bold, elevated look. If you feel super-confident in almost anything, don't be afraid to plaid it up! Wear your gray plaid pants with a matching plaid jacket or blazer. Just be sure to wear a solid-colored top underneath (like black or white) so the plaid is the stand-out pattern.^{[11]
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- Carry a white or black bag to match the theme or go for a pop of color with a solid-colored bag (think hot red, pink, royal blue, orange, or emerald green).

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Dressing Formally

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Wear a colorful striped tie and a solid blazer for a clever formal look. Choose a small stripe for more formal attire and a thickly striped tie for a more casual occasion. Make sure at least 1 color on the tie is white or black to tie in with the grayscale pattern of your pants. Top a plain white or black dress shirt with a solid-colored blazer and you’ll be looking sharp!^{[12]
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- Stripes and plaid usually don’t mix because they can look too busy, so try on ties with different sized stripes to see which one suits your style best.
- To achieve a modern-yet-vintage look, choose a skinny tie over a wider one.
- You can even put on suspenders if you like (just skip the belt).
2
Pair a gray shirt with a colorful blazer that makes a statement. Letting your jacket take the lead is a bold move that'll make you look cool and confident. Choose a jacket that's a single color so it doesn’t look too busy. Wear a gray shirt underneath (close to one of the shades in the plaid) so the color of the blazer pops.^{[13]
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- Make sure your blazer fits well—the shoulder seams should draw a straight line up from your armpit. Any tightness or bunching at the shoulders means it's too big or too small.
- The sleeves should come down to just below your wrists.
3
Spiff up your trousers with a tuxedo jacket and a solid dress shirt. Choose a single color (like navy, maroon, or green) for the dress shirt and put on a black tuxedo-style jacket on top.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Stephanie Fajardo
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 30 April 2019.} Button it for a more put-together look or leave it open for a clever street-wear vibe.^{[15]
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- For a more casual vibe, wear a tee or relaxed oxford shirt.
- To dress it up (or simply add some spunk), add suspenders or a pocket-square.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I make my clothes more elegant?

Stephanie Fajardo
Professional Stylist
Stephanie Fajardo is a Personal Stylist based in Portland, Oregon. Stephanie has over 17 years of styling experience in personal consulting, television, photography, and film shoots. Her work has been featured in Esquire Magazine and Portland Fashion Week.

Stephanie Fajardo

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Stick with colors like light gray, ivory, cream, maroon, forest green, or other jewel tones (colors with black added in). Deeper colors add an elevated, elegant look since they're highly pigmented.

Warnings

Never wear 2 different types of plaid together (especially if they’re loud colors) because they’ll clash and can make your outfit look costumey.

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