Tartan: What to Buy and How to Style This Timeless Pattern

Tartan is Scotland's gift to the fashion world—a versatile, heritage pattern that instantly adds sophistication and character to any wardrobe, whether you're channeling preppy chic or embracing maximalist trends. As someone who's styled countless clients through tartan transformations, I can tell you that this iconic plaid pattern is having a major moment, appearing on runways from Vivienne Westwood to Burberry, and it's surprisingly easy to incorporate into your everyday looks once you understand the fundamentals.

Understanding Tartan: The Foundation of Great Styling

Before diving into purchases, let's demystify tartan. Traditional tartans feature intersecting horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours, creating those distinctive checked patterns we adore. The key to styling tartan successfully lies in understanding scale and colour balance. Larger checks make bold statements and work beautifully as focal pieces, whilst smaller checks offer subtle sophistication that's easier to mix with other patterns.

The secret I share with all my clients? Start with one tartan piece and build around it. This approach prevents overwhelming your look whilst ensuring the pattern gets the attention it deserves.

What to Buy: Essential Tartan Pieces for Every Wardrobe

The Classic Tartan Skirt

A well-cut tartan skirt is your wardrobe's Swiss Army knife. For versatility, choose a midi length in a classic colourway—think deep greens, navy, or burgundy with complementary accent colours. The beauty of a tartan skirt lies in its ability to transition from office to weekend effortlessly.

Zara consistently delivers contemporary tartan skirts with modern cuts at accessible prices, perfect for trend-conscious shoppers.

Reiss offers sophisticated tartan pieces with premium tailoring that elevate any professional wardrobe.

Whistles creates beautifully proportioned tartan skirts in luxurious fabrics that feel both current and timeless.

The Statement Tartan Blazer

Nothing says power dressing quite like a perfectly fitted tartan blazer. This piece works overtime in your wardrobe—pair it with simple trousers for meetings, throw it over a dress for instant polish, or wear it with jeans for elevated weekend style.

Jigsaw excels at creating tartan blazers with impeccable construction and sophisticated colour palettes.

French Connection offers contemporary tartan blazers with modern silhouettes that feel fresh and current.

Massimo Dutti provides premium tartan outerwear with European sophistication and excellent fit.

How to Style Tartan: Professional Tips

The Balancing Act

When styling tartan, I always follow the 60-30-10 rule. Let tartan be your 60% (the dominant pattern), choose a solid colour that appears in the tartan for 30% of your outfit, and add a pop of contrast for the remaining 10%. This creates visual harmony whilst preventing pattern overload.

Mixing Patterns Like a Pro

Contrary to popular belief, tartan plays beautifully with other patterns when done thoughtfully. The trick is varying the scale—pair a large tartan check with thin stripes or small polka dots. Always ensure one pattern dominates whilst the other provides subtle contrast.

COS creates minimalist pieces that provide perfect neutral foundations for bold tartan statements.

Mango offers contemporary basics in the exact colours you need to complement tartan pieces beautifully.

Seasonal Styling Strategies

Tartan transcends seasons when styled correctly. In autumn and winter, embrace the pattern's cosy heritage with chunky knits and boots. Come spring and summer, lighten the mood by pairing tartan with crisp whites, pastels, or unexpected brights like coral or sunshine yellow.

Brand Recommendations Across All Budgets

High Street Heroes

H&M delivers trend-led tartan pieces at unbeatable prices, perfect for experimenting with the pattern.

ASOS offers an extensive range of tartan styles from various brands, making it easy to find your perfect piece.

Next provides classic tartan interpretations with reliable quality and family-friendly sizing options.

Premium Picks

Ted Baker infuses tartan with their signature quirky sophistication, creating pieces that feel special and well-crafted.

LK Bennett offers polished tartan pieces perfect for professional women who want to make sophisticated statements.

Luxury Investment Pieces

Burberry remains the ultimate destination for authentic tartan heritage, with pieces that last a lifetime.

Vivienne Westwood revolutionises tartan with punk-inspired twists that feel rebellious yet refined.

Pendleton brings American craftsmanship to Scottish tradition, creating investment-worthy tartan pieces with impeccable construction.

Comme des Garçons deconstructs tartan in unexpected ways, perfect for fashion-forward individuals seeking unique interpretations.

Styling Mistakes to Avoid

Through years of styling experience, I've identified common tartan pitfalls. Never match your tartan exactly to your accessories—it looks contrived. Avoid wearing multiple tartan pieces unless you're deliberately creating a maximalist look. Most importantly, don't let tartan wear you—choose pieces that fit impeccably and make you feel confident.

Finding Your Perfect Tartan Fit with Tellar

Here's where my styling advice meets practical reality—finding tartan pieces that actually fit properly can be challenging, especially when shopping online. That's where tellar.co.uk becomes your secret weapon.

How Tellar Transforms Your Tartan Shopping

As the UK's leading sizing tool, Tellar matches your body exactly to over 1500 brands instantly. You'll never need to decipher another confusing size guide again! The process is brilliantly simple:

1. Measure once using your bust, waist, hip measurements, or simply input your existing brand size.

2. Use their tellar.co.uk and discover current trends in their tellar.co.uk and Ultimate Guide to Jackets provide expert insights that complement your tartan styling journey perfectly.

Final Thoughts: Embracing Tartan with Confidence

Tartan isn't just a pattern—it's a statement of confidence, heritage, and personal style. Whether you're starting with a classic tartan scarf or investing in a statement coat, remember that the best tartan piece is one that makes you feel authentically yourself. Start small, experiment boldly, and most importantly, ensure every piece fits you perfectly using tools like Tellar to guarantee your tartan looks as sophisticated as it should.

The key to mastering tartan lies in understanding its versatility whilst respecting its heritage. With the right pieces and proper styling knowledge, tartan becomes not just a pattern you wear, but a signature element that elevates your entire wardrobe aesthetic.