Check, mate.
Once reserved solely for the Scottish highlands, tartan is now a tried-and-tested fashion staple, reinvented by Ms. Westwood in the seventies, resurrected by designers on the Spring/Summer catwalks, and set to remain stylish into the colder months this year.
Noughties tartan is a world away from the preppy, Burberry-clad Park Avenue princesses of the nineties. This season, it’s all about clashing tartans – the more garish the patterns, the better. At D&G, a traditional red plaid dress was offset with a checked blazer and tights in Autumnal hues, whilst the Just Cavalli girl was kooky, mismatched and a little bit rock n’ roll in clashing tartan, leopard-print tights, and brick-red heels. If you decide to clash your checks, don’t do it by halves – opt for a mini dress and sheer tights in contrasting patterns, or pair a classic tartan cashmere scarf (like this one by Johnstons at My-Wardrobe) with a plaid coat.
Designers remained loyal to tartan’s punk-rock heritage, and this season, no fashion house produced more skin-tight trousers, studded leather and smoky eyes than Gucci. Black and white gingham cigarette pants, an intricately riveted leather jacket and heavy-duty black shoe-boots made a winning combination. This season, I will be listening to The Ramones and donning these hot pink Miu Miu trews from Net-a-Porter. Exhibitionists can count on Henry Holland for a garish print or two – check out House of Holland’s tartan selection (all in the same electric violet and neon green check) if you want to make an entrance. I’m loving the sharp blazer and punky kilt.
The easiest way to incorporate tartan into your wardrobe comes in the form of the trusty lumberjack shirt (Agyness Deyn is loving hers). I love you, Phillip Lim, and your classic tartan shirt, available at Net-a-Porter. For something a little bit more luxe, you know you can count on Preen, whose sheer silk incarnation is just divine (and available from Selfridges).
If you want to see grown men cry, make your chosen tartan item body-hugging, just above the knee, belted at the waist, and paired with a pair of devilish fishnets and killer heels. The Dsquared2 woman was a vamp in a crimson checked pencil skirt and matching jacket, long patent-leather gloves, and scarlet lips, and hundreds of Miuccias sashayed their way down the Prada catwalk in sexy secretary cut-out dresses and patterned tights. D&G’s skin-tight shirt dress will hug you in all the right places, whilst the punk aficionados at PPQ have created the perfect bustier dress – demure enough to keep them guessing, with just the right amount of seventies punk thrown in (and on sale!). Disclaimer: prepare to be adored.
