As if the 90s fashion reboot couldn’t get any more rad — New York Fashion Week has revived plaid.
The crisscrossed, colorful pattern — made haute by cool-girl icon Alicia Silverstone as “Cher Horowitz” in the 1995 cult classic movie “Clueless” — made its way onto revered runways and everyday walkways during NYC’s annual chic week, which wrapped Tuesday.
And its resurgence is kicking off the coming season’s hottest style craze.
“Plaid is quietly one of the biggest trends for fall 2025,” announced NYC fashion influencer Jazz, online, noting the print’s recently renewed popularity with top designers such as Acne Studios and Diane von Furstenberg.
Fashion houses, including Trapstar London, Cynthia Rowley and Negris Lebrum, sent sirens down NYFW catwalks in the eye-catching gear, while A-list actress Priyanka Chopra popped out in plaid for the opening of Dior’s East 57th Street flagship on September 10.
Taylor Swift, although not a 2025 New York Fashion Week attendee, even rocked a Cher Horowitz-inspired plaid set by Simkhai to celebrate NFL champ Patrick Mahomes’ 30th birthday Sunday, further establishing the print as an autumn must-have.
Plaid is just the latest type of throwback swag to be resurrected by today’s trendsetters — echoing the recent buzz of premillennial trends like the bra-over-shirt movement and baggy, wide-legged jeans.
Silverstone — alongside “Clueless” costars Stacey Dash, as “Dionne Davenport,” and the late Brittany Murphy, as “Tai Frasier” — elevated plaid from a grungy graphic to a swank stamp thanks to her character’s iconic yellow suit.
Silverstone even revealed to Vogue that the famous ensemble — starring that unforgettable Dolce & Gabbana plaid skirt — almost didn’t make the flick’s opening scene. “It’s a nod to a schoolgirl uniform, but in an elevated, chic, very high-fashion way.“
Now, the versatile look, which slays as both luxury couture and edgy streetwear, has sprung up as one of the many surprising, splashy fruits of Fashion Week. It joins the feathered-forward fad and Christian Siriano’s $200 Capri Sun bag as the event’s most en vogue yields.
And tastemakers are eating it up.
Influencer Tamu McPherson mixed and matched plaid while hopping from show to show.
Model Poppy Miles transformed the sidewalk into her own personal stage, pairing a plaid mini skirt with a pink cardigan and brown leather boots outside of the Sandy Liang shop in Chinatown.
Sean Bankhead — choreographer to voguish VIPs like Beyoncé, Tate McRae and Cardi B — stunned in an all-blue and brown plaid number ahead of Off-White’s spring 2026 debut. Podcaster Tinx sported a similar look at the posh production.
And although the weather’s cooling down here in the Big Apple — NYFW fanatic, Lauren B. Brown, turned up the heat on her passion for plaid fashion, decking out her face with the funky design.
“Plaid eyes to match my plaid dress,” said the content creator, who embellished her eyelids in a red, yellow, blue and white pattern to mimic the mark of her frock.
“I mean, when else to push the envelope of not during New York Fashion Week?”
