Summer has us brainstorming tie-dye color combinations. Spring brings bouquets of florals. Winter has us pulling cable knits out of storage. The fall? It wraps us in plaid, a pattern that evokes some of the season’s most distinct moods, from comfy to elevated. Among the hundreds (perhaps thousands) of variations on the design, these days, tartan prints—with their crisscrossing stripes of different widths and colors—are the ones most people associate with the word “plaid.” This autumn, people aren’t just incorporating the linear design into their wardrobe, they’re also adding it to their nail looks.
Courtesy of @fine.manicuring
According to Pinterest’s internal data, plaid is experiencing a surge in interest across the platform, particularly on nail art boards. Seventeen popular, related phrases are being searched, but the trendiest is “plaid fall nail designs,” which Sydney Stanback, Pinterest’s global trends and insights lead, says has seen 398% growth since last fall.
This makes sense, considering the vibes the season conjures. “Plaid nail designs capture that cozy and preppy energy that’s synonymous with fall,” says Sigourney Nuñez, a Los Angeles-based nail artist. Preppy looks are having a particularly strong moment in fashion this year, and these manicures pair quite well with polo sweaters and pencil skirts. Yoshiko, a New York City nail artist, echoes this sentiment, saying the pattern reminds her of school uniforms.
Adds Nuñez, the pattern has a “luxe feel,” attributing this impression to brands like Burberry and Ralph Lauren, which have made plaid a signature in their collections.