The question
I have a plaid jacket that I love to wear at this time of year and a favourite scarf covered in a contrasting plaid. Can I wear them together or would that be plaid overload?
The answer
You need only glimpse at the spring 2013 women's-wear collection from Dries Van Noten to see that plaid on plaid is entirely possible. The designer (see my Q&A with him on page 17) used layers of sheer organza to bring lightness to his crisscrossing patterns. Also, while the colour schemes were not identical, they were in dialogue with each other – a common blue or burgundy, say.
Assuming you're not going for a foppish look, you would need to keep every other wardrobe element neutral and then there's a chance this might work, although you run a small risk of meeting someone who accuses you of wearing warring-clan tartans.
Still, this doesn't explain why you want to pair your plaids together. Maybe you're just the type of person who likes extra cheese on your pizza?
Amy Verner is The Globe and Mail's Paris-based style reporter. Have a fashion question? E-mail style@globeandmail.com.