She avers, “The print presents a perfect opportunity for colour-blocking especially in classic black and white hues. When it comes to the workday, the plaid suit is super-sartorial.”However, if you are feeling ‘trend shy’, pair it with basics, advises designer Sumona Parekh. Check patterns are much simpler than a plaid.”Also, there’s good news for men who want to adopt this trend.  

A windowpane scarf can energise and refine a look by adding a bit of pizzazz while maintaining a level of minimalism and subtlety.”Explaining about several patterns in checks and plaids, designer Esha Amin avers, “Checks are usually squares of two different colours while plaids consist of crossed horizontal and vertical bands. Those with more fashion sense can probably pull together three patterns with a fair amount of ease though.”  He adds, “Windowpane pattern is straightforward and what you see is what you get. Known also as the chessboard checks because they reflect a stark grid of square tiles in traditional black and white or in yellow and white, they are the king of the fashion game right now. He suggests, “When we hear plaid, most of us think ‘kilt’.  

It can be seen on everything these days from woollen coats to slouchy cool-girl separates and easy shirt dresses. Taking its name from the window-like wide square plaid pattern, windowpane patterns are formed by two perpendicular pinstripes that generally constitute broader checks. Also, instead of the classic lines of the windowpane print, opt for pieces that ‘blur’ the line. And if you are game for some mixing-up action then pairing the windowpane print with more subtle and concentrated patterns like polka dots, plaids or even ginghams are fun and chic ways to adopt the style. One of the punchiest utilitarian styles on the catwalk this season has been windowpane checks, referencing tower blocks. So the windowpane pattern will look more chic in small doses. There are several types of plaids like the Tartan, Tattersall, Windowpane, Madras, Gingham and Glen. Plaids involve varying widths of striping so you can really get creative with that. But that’s not what we’re talking about.

Designer Jyoti Sachdev Iyer asserts that windowpane pattern has been catching the fancy of several design gurus for quite sometime and it is something that’s going to be seen on every silhouette under the sun for seasons to come.Windowpane patterns are haute at the moment with Black sheared fur faux fur fabric designers adopting a square approach to print for Fall as well as for Spring/ Summer.”Designer Anisha Chaudhri of Threads & Shirts agrees and adds, “The trick to styling a windowpane pattern is not to treat it too reverentially. Style it as you would a stripe: just as a striped collar peeking over the top of a crew neck sweater is a classic and a striped T-shirt looks good glimpsed under a cardigan or gilet. Ease your way in. The individual components can be worn separately to more relaxed, stylish events.”

In contemporary menswear terms, ‘plaid’ refers to three individual fabric patterns that create interesting depth in the aesthetic of the suit: windowpane, glen plaid and Prince of Wales. You can style it with basic colours to make its artful grid lines the centrepiece of your look. Opting for a classic plaid suit is the way to go, says Nitin Singh of BoSquare. And when in doubt, always wear a dress. She says, “In fashion, when you cross an age of catwalk minimalism with an era of austerity, trends become incredibly down-to-earth. So, the best choice is to go ‘two for three’ with patterns. However, if you are one of  those who believe that the print is too bold to be worn on a dress, shirt or pants, you may adopt them in the form of accessories which is a good way to dabble in the trend without going overboard.