Kerry Washington's Plaid Trousers Are Perfect for Fall

A masterclass in transitional dressing.

collage of Kerry Washington and a runway model wearing the same black and white plaid pants
(Image credit: Kerry Washington and Sergio Hudson)

While many people count fall among their favorite seasons, it's undeniably difficult to dress for. The weather often fluctuates from hot to frigid in a matter of days or even hours, resulting in dysregulated body temperatures, waves of frustration, and thwarted outfit plans. Therefore, when dressing for this tricky season, it's often essential to look to the experts like stylists and fashionable celebrities. I have a number of fall fashion icons on my mood board, and this week, Kerry Washington is among them.

Washington's been sporting a number of iconic looks lately, from matching sets to nostalgic stripes, but my favorite might just be the pair of plaid pants she wore while promoting her new memoir, Thicker than Water, at the Apollo Theater in New York City.

A post shared by Kerry Washington

A photo posted by kerrywashington on

The pants, which were designed by luxury women's ready-to-wear brand Sergio Hudson, feature a black and white plaid pattern and a pleated silhouette. With their tailored fit, cinched waist, and dramatic wide-leg design, they're made to flatter every body type while prioritizing comfort and utility. Plus, they're perfect for cooler temperatures, boasting a 60 percent wool composition and a thick, comfortable lining that prevents the wool from itching. Like all of Sergio Hudson's pieces, the pants are designed for power dressing—something that certainly suits Washington as she promotes her book, which is frank about issues like race, identity, and feminism.

If you're looking to channel Washington's look and all the power it inspires, you can buy her pants online now at Moda Operandi. Or, if plaid isn't quite your thing, explore other Sergio Hudson looks below.

More from Sergio Hudson

Gabrielle Ulubay
Beauty Writer

Gabrielle Ulubay is a Beauty Writer at Marie Claire. She has also written about sexual wellness, politics, culture, and fashion at Marie Claire and at publications including The New York Times, HuffPost Personal, Bustle, Alma, Muskrat Magazine, O'Bheal, and elsewhere. Her personal essay in The New York Times' Modern Love column kickstarted her professional writing career in 2018, and that piece has since been printed in the 2019 revised edition of the Modern Love book. Having studied history, international relations, and film, she has made films on politics and gender equity in addition to writing about cinema for Film Ireland, University College Cork, and on her personal blog, gabrielleulubay.medium.com. Before working with Marie Claire, Gabrielle worked in local government, higher education, and sales, and has resided in four countries and counting. She has worked extensively in the e-commerce and sales spaces since 2020, and spent two years at Drizly, where she developed an expertise in finding the best, highest quality goods and experiences money can buy.

Deeply political, she believes that skincare, haircare, and sexual wellness are central tenets to one's overall health and fights for them to be taken seriously, especially for people of color. She also loves studying makeup as a means of artistic expression, drawing on her experience as an artist in her analysis of beauty trends. She's based in New York City, where she can be found watching movies or running her art business when she isn't writing. Find her on Twitter at @GabrielleUlubay or on Instagram at @gabrielle.ulubay, or follow her art at @suburban.graffiti.art