FASHION:Square up to tartan, which makes another return to the high street for autumn, writes Deirdre McQuillan
TARTAN IS ENJOYING a bit of a highland fling at the moment. From the catwalk to the chainstore, its cheery checks in modern shapes and combinations brighten up an otherwise dark autumn. Blame this Celtic revival on Alexander McQueen, who sent out a tartan crinoline two winters ago on the Paris catwalk, a stirring sartorial mix of 18th century dress and Scottish heritage cloth with a rock'n'roll twist. Then supermodel Agyness Deyn stole the show last season in a tiered tartan wedding dress by House of Holland, complete with tartan antlers and, in Milan, D & G not only majored on tartan but added a headscarf knotted on the chin as the season's key accessory. No wonder the high street sat up and took note.
Suddenly plaids and check are everywhere and Penneys' appealing line-up of inexpensive fashion pieces includes a simple red tartan shift and a high-waisted tartan skirt, both easy enough to combine with black accessories. And the flounced tartan dress can be toughened up with a leather jacket and slouchy hat for a bold, modern look.
Tartan has always appealed to both the rebellious and the romantic, which is why designers such as Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen regularly check it out in both their womenswear and menswear collections. French designers from Yves St Laurent to Jean Paul Gaultier have been enthusiastic fans of its multicoloured patterns, though the most ardent tartan lovers are style-conscious Japanese, who sport it in everyday street style.
Tartan euphoria has even spread into accessories too - try a pair of killer heels in tartan with a little black dress, but draw the line at patterned trousers - and leave tartan trews to golfers and oversized check shirts to construction workers.