5 Days, 5 Ways: Rugged & Refined in a Buffalo Plaid
Day 1 of #NoJeansJanuary
By Gabi Meyers
Whose wardrobe has been loving this denim detox? SG HQ has been uncovering some new favorite pieces in our closets, so don’t mind us as we celebrate a few style victories this month. Keep sharing your stylish outfits using #NoJeansJanuary for a chance to be featured on SG and win* $250 to Bar III available at Macy’s.
Do you guys have a favorite pattern? I really love pattern in general, but if you took a good hard look at my wardrobe, it’s primarily plaids. My closet is stuffed with plaid skirts, shirts, a toggle coat and a suit, not to mention a madras jacket and probably a pair of plaid shoes somewhere in there. So you bet I like a guy who’s not afraid to cross some lines, or, wear some lines that cross. While all plaids can pack a visually powerful punch, none do quite as strongly as Buffalo plaid.
So what makes Buffalo plaid a more mandatory wardrobe staple than your standard tartan? It’s association with Paul Bunyan is pretty baller – it’s blue collar roots make it feel more like a man’s man’s plaid – it’s rugged and enduring and it’s blown out proportions just feel more rough and tumble – especially next too some of the more subtly striped fancy pants plaids – like Royal Stewart and Glen Plaid. Buffalo plaid can blend into any style too – it doesn’t look out of place on a farm boy or a punk, a prep or a hipster.
THE BUFFALO PLAID SHIRT: EPAULET, $175
No plaid says cool quite like Buffalo, and its bold check is best translated on flannel fabric. Let this style be your winter wardrobe work horse by choosing a flannel shirt cut like your favorite work shirt, so it can do double duty.
MONDAY
Chinos: Everlane, $68 | Sweater: L.L. Bean, $109 | Scarf: Begg & Co., $85
Boots: Alden, $560 | Socks: Chup Socks, $36
Wear it well: You will come to realize two is better than one applies to plaids. Make sure that there is a commonality – in this case, both have red and black – and that they are different enough in scale as not to compete.
TUESDAY
Leather Pants: Diesel, $798 (coated denim gives the same look for less) | Shawl Collar Cardigan: Brooks Brothers, $249
Topcoat: Topman, $200 | White Tee: Hanes, $15 (for 6) | Boots: Red Wing, $446 | Beard Oil: Prospector Co. $28
Wear it well: If there ever were a look for male Libras it would be this – balance between softness in the sweater, hardness in the leather, more genteel with a topcoat, and more rugged with a beard.
WEDNESDAY
Cords: PacSun, $68 | Henley: Grayers, $75 | Puffer Vest: Uniqlo, $50
Chukkas: Clarks, $175 | Socks: Happy Socks, $13 | Beanie: Original Penguin, $40
Wear it well: When it’s actually cold but you can’t be bothered to put on a real coat, layer up your winter favorites.
THURSDAY
Wear it well: The outfit to take you from “coolest guy in the office” to “coolest guy at the bar”.
FRIDAY
Joggers: Publish, $84 | Tee: Saturdays NYC, $40 | Leather Jacket: Berlin, $690
Sneakers: Buddy, $120 | Beanie: Neff, $22 | Sunglasses: Steven Alan Optical, $190
Wear it well: Wear it as an inside layer or tie it around the waist to show off that…waist.
TELL ME:
WHAT CLASSIC PLAID STYLE DO YOU ROCK MOST OFTEN?
Keep up with all things #NoJeansJanuary! Follow along on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and right here on SG for outfit inspiration and styling tips.
Thanks to Bar III, and its modern, versatile offerings for both men and women, for making this wardrobe challenge possible! The suits, especially, are great for guys – perfectly proportioned and really well-priced. Not looking for all-designer-everything, but believe you deserve to live with style at any price point? Check out the brand’s distinctive pieces that can be mixed with every thing from denim to designer apparel. It’s stylish, “wear to work” clothing that you can wear straight from work to happy hour and still feel dapper.
*U.S. residents only!
See more ways to wear your favorites like a Fair Isle sweater, long sleeve henley and puffer vest 5 ways.
Oh #YASSSSS! The grungy punk in me is singing praises for this kind of pattern. And kudos to those edgy Thursday and sk8er boi Friday ensembles!
While I wear Buffalo Plaid often during the fall and winter (or its other color-and-black variants), I rock its sunnier cousin Gingham and my one and only Madras shirt during the warmer seasons. Other than that, I feel that Blackwatch Plaid is quite underrated and Tatersall needs some love here. And I wish to get myself a Houndstooth bomber down the line.
Just like in that commercial: “Plaid: The Pattern of our Lives.”
Ooh, I like that. Plaid really is the cotton of patterns, isn’t it?
I can just imagine how that commercial would go. Not sure of whom to put in, but if ever, a guy from The Vamps or 5SoS would probably be a good start for an endorser.
I did double duty in gingham and buffalo plaid today – and I encourage you to try it!
Madras is amazeballs, Black Watch plaid is pretty cool because it makes me think of Game of Thrones and Jon Snow and the end of their Watch and being crows and all, but I think Tatersall being underrated is kind of part of it’s charm. Like, if you were to put plaids on a dating game show, Tatersall would end up being the surprise winner, or at least a fan favorite in retrospect.
Oh yes! Hearted it on IG and it’s hella cool! Reminded me of another photo where a dude wore a dark plaid bomber over a brighter red plaid shirt. Needless to say: All good!
And holy figures of speech there, Gabi! I guess Tatersall is like that guy-next-door who’s leading his own indie band. And to continue on: Madras is that preppy dude who’s got his own yacht in Hamptons, Gingham is that All-American collegiate athlete, Black Watch is the edgy punk rocker and Buffalo Plaid is easily that grungy lumberjack.
the leather pants. I just can’t. I’m sorry.
hahah, it’s #NoJeansJanuary’s fault! We’ve gotta get creative 🙂
I would rather Lu Lu Lemons super tight around my little British ass than wear the leather ones – You’ve seen that Friends episode right?
I was waiting for some kind of backlash on those! I would have just recommended coated jeans, but with #nojeansjanuary…plus, they’re warm for the (finally) freezing weather we’re having!
hahah, we all had to see that coming 🙂
This time of year Buffalo plaid is perfect for the season. I definitely like the Monday, Wednesday and Thursday looks. The only time I wear leather pants is when I’m on my motorcycle so I have to pass on Tuesday. I also like Tartan plaids for Fall and Winter and Madras makes its appearance in Spring and Summer for me.
Love all your plaids for every season!
The Red Wing boots listed with Tuesday’s look are amazing, I have a pair and love them, but you should absolutely NOT pay $447 for them. They’re available literally everywhere else at $320 full retail. I’m not sure why Asos has that markup.
Also, you read my mind. I’ve got on today my buffalo plaid flannel, black denim, and Red Wing 1907s. Great combo.
Thanks for weighing in, FG!
let me say this, for this time of year, ANY plaid reigns supreme. The ultimate in comfort and warmth and goes with practically everything. Love my Alden boots and IR RedWing Heritage, however I’ve been itching to get a pr in the ambers.
I have to concur, Henry!
Plaid for all, and for all a plaid year!
Loving Thursday and Friday! I had a lot of trouble finding the perfect buffalo plaid shirt this year before I landed on a soft wash flannel shirt at the Express Outlet (I haven’t seen this thing in an actual Express all season so I’m glad I nabbed it when I did). And when it’s warm enough I’ve actually been taking to going a little 90’s and tying it around my waist with a pair of slim joggers, a minimalist graphic tee, and a trucker jacket or light bomber. I feel I can pull off the 90’s way better now.
Also confession – I had leather pants in college. My biggest regret is not knowing at all what I was doing then (all the other regrets were the outfits I actually did put together). I feel like I could probably pull them off now, but that’s not an expense I need.
Might this have had something to do with that purchase?