Trend Watch: Retailers are Banking On... Plaid?

Yesterday on NPR's Marketplace, we heard a story about apparel retailers who are trying to pull themselves out of the current economic slump by betting on plaid as a "must-have" for fall. Unlike mark-downs, must-haves are so highly in demand that stores can get full price and make bigger profits. Part of what makes plaid a strong sell is that it works for both genders on any type of fabric or surface. Here at Apartment Therapy, we've noticed that plaid has been a fashion and home decor trend for a while now, but...

...we're a little surprised to hear it heralded as a must-have. In January of this year, an Apartment Therapy survey revealed that a slight majority of you (47 to 39) believe the tartan trend is on the way out, although many of the commenters noted that it all depends on the way plaid is used, and whether it looks tasteful or tacky.

What do you think? Is plaid a safe bet right now or are retailers way off? Is it all right for fashion, but not so much for the home? Or is it a pattern that works almost anywhere?

For a little perspective on the trend, here are 10 plaid-themed posts:

FIRST ROW
• 1 Mosaic Tile Patterns from Trend
• 2 Roundup: Modern Plaid
• 3 How To: Make a Plaid Pillow from a GoodWill Jacket
• 4 Home Design Trend Forecast 2010: Feminine Menswear
• 5 Hot or Not? The Tartan Trend for Decor

SECOND ROW
• 6 Plaid Walls from Crown Paint
• 7 Preppy Plaid Rugs from Dash & Albert
• 8 Decor Goes Plaid
• 9 Plaid Rug in a Blue and Black Room
• 10 Highland Hallway from House to Home

>> To hear the Marketplace podcast, "Plaid may help checkered retail sales," from 8/5/09, click here.

Photos: Trend, Homebug, Shelly/Flipt Studio, Janel Laban, Caravane, Dash & Albert, Crown Paint, Flipt Studio, Ideal Home, House to Home

Comments (12)

The Burberry plaid has been "in" for a long time, I guess it is a safe bet for fashion! Thumbs down for plaid walls though, I haven't seen any I like so far.

Awww they are going to have a bad fall.

I love plaid in the home...
...but as with anything, once the cut-rate/poor quality crap shows up in the cheap outlets - that's the death-nell to the "trend"

BTW - Where's the plaid in Pix 2 & 6?

You said it, alexis! Retailers are deluded if they think ordinary people will spend money they don't have on anything they don't need.

Personally I wouldn't buy it for my home or to wear.

i really like plaid, but not just any plaid, and not just anywhere. not all plaid is good plaid.
i dont know about plaid in general being a must-have, but i personally think i MUST HAVE the new plaid chuck taylors by woolrich.

I like plaid re-imagined, not so literal. For example these Burbury wood and acrylic window displays would make for a great side tables:

http://www.modernests.com/2009/07/burberry-display-as-home-decor.html

Where is the plaid in picture 6?

I've had a hard time finding the kind of plaid things I like, which is very old fashioned Scotch plaids. LL Bean used to have quite a line, but not so much anymore. I can't afford Pendleton. At least not often!

I believe they were talking more about clothing than home furnishings, no?

I hate plaid. Especially in home furnishings. I just don't see it being a big seller.

A two color in a cotton fabric might be a nice graphic punch. But anything more than two colors or rendered in a nubbly fabric, and I get itchy. Probably a hold-over from the plaid wool garments worn as a child. That association isn't pleasant.