Tartan: How to Match the Scottish Pattern

The world of Scottish patterns: tartan

Tartan fabric is mainly associated with the winter season, and it's no coincidence that the cold months' partner is the British mood and the symbol of Scotland.

Over the years, the Scottish pattern has never stopped gaining particular attention in fashion for both classic and checkered patterns. This colorful and unique design has gradually achieved increasing success, becoming a true trend on catwalks worldwide.

There are many different outfits that can be combined with the Scottish pattern, especially jackets, pants, leggings, and socks.

So if you don't have accessories or clothing with this original style in your wardrobe yet, you should immediately remedy this, starting with socks and stockings.

The evolution of tartan in fashion

The history of tartan began in the Scottish regions as a symbolic fabric to distinguish families and clans.

Later, even royal families like the English one started to wear the new and unique design, making many designers worldwide fall in love with it.

Today, there are countless existing tartans, with over 500 variations available on the market.

The Scottish pattern is now seen as an evergreen icon, following season after season. To avoid creating dull and similar models, new shapes are introduced to make the classic geometric texture a must-have in every wardrobe.

During the festive season, tartan gains even more attention, literally becoming the undisputed protagonist in the most fashionable shop windows.

Tips for matching tartan in children's outfits

To wear tartan correctly, pay particular attention to the rules set by this style for both children and adults.

Firstly, avoid an entire outfit with Scottish patterns, as the look may be too excessive and heavy. Instead, focus on a strong piece, perhaps highlighting the style with accessories to create a significant aesthetic impact.

For children, the ideal combination is denim and tartan, as these two fabrics can captivate even the youngest, who are already paying a lot of attention to fashion.

A casual and practical everyday look could consist of a colorful sweater paired with jeans. This can be accompanied by classic tartan patterned socks in shades of red, gray, and black.

Scottish patterns combined with women's and men's outfits

The situation is different for women. In this case, leggings are preferred, as they should never be missing from any woman's wardrobe. The Scottish pattern is very comfortable and practical to combine with a solid-colored shirt and a waist belt. The look can be completed with a pair of high heels that can enhance the figure and further highlight the leggings' checkerboard pattern.

Alternatively, to give more prominence to the tartan style, you can combine the Scottish pattern leggings with checkered socks with black edges and perhaps even with a glamorous accessory.

The outfit will look much more refined and trendy, perfect for women who love to dare and not go unnoticed.

Of course, it's clear that this type of look may not appeal to everyone, especially because of the combination of open shoes and socks, but this style continues to be trendy, particularly in the summer and spring seasons.

As for men's clothing, tartan primarily dominates shirts, coats, and elegant pants.

However, with the latter, it's better to opt for more discreet footwear for the combination, such as raised heel loafers with dark socks, to apparently contrast only the pants' checkerboard pattern.

Some tips for correctly matching tartan

To match the Scottish pattern correctly, you need to choose looks with the right colors. To do this, simply pay close attention to the various shades present in the pattern or print and select only two. The brighter shades should contrast with a more neutral color like white and black or beige and gray. The same can be said for less bright colors like forest green, dark blue, and chocolate brown.

It's not at all mandatory that tartan can only be worn with its main colors, namely red, black, and gray. In fact, Scottish patterns in blue are very popular, perhaps with more chromatic shades.

Correctly combining a classic Scottish pattern, such as a pleated skirt, can be very simple; all you need to do is select a bright color for the accessories and a neutral, solid-colored sweater. The same applies to shoes and bags.

To create a more experimental and original look, you can also choose different colors than those of the tartan. In this case, the method is the same as the previous one: a bright color for accessories and more discreet, neutral shades for a coat, sweater, or cardigan.

If you're trying this pattern for the first time, it's better to start with a simple scarf that can be wrapped and cover the entire neck area.

Long dresses are suitable for aperitif time, while checkered skirts and sandals are perfect for a rock evening.

The secret to matching tartan in the best possible way lies in the correct combination of clothing and accessories. Scottish patterns should never be combined with other particular styles, and neutral shades should be preferred; otherwise, you risk creating a too colorful and excessive look.