Tartan: The punk-inspired menswear trend is back for autumn

There’s no escaping the heritage print this season

Friday 05 October 2018 09:32 EDT

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Scotland’s most famous pattern is making a triumphant return to the menswear scene this autumn.

From windowpane to Prince of Wales, perennial checks dominated the runways this season, but it was tartan that really reinvented itself.

It’s hard to recall a time when the heritage check didn’t make an appearance on the fall catwalks, but this time how it was interpreted felt completely fresh.

For autumn/winter 2018, the menswear motif embraced its anarchic spirit – the one adopted by punks during the Seventies and the Nineties’ grunge scene – with looks that were bold, bright and worn head to toe.

At Alexander McQueen, a collection inspired by British masculinity saw the print cover everything from oversized scarves to pullovers and belted coats, while Versace’s men wore tartan work shirts.

The pattern also made an appearance on more traditional pieces with Charles Jeffrey Loverboy and Dries Van Noten both choosing to showcase tartan on kilts.

Dries Van Noten, checked merino wool-blend sweater, £535, Mr Porter

The latter’s came in the form of a trouser/skirt hybrid alongside traditional checked tailoring and glittering zebra print, while Jeffrey’s “explosion of anger” revisited memories of his Scottish upbringing with two-piece suits worn with platform creepers.

Subsequently, tartan has once again exploded on to the high street and you’ll be hard-pressed to find an item of menswear that hasn’t been touched by the intrinsic pattern this season.

From suits to shoes, jackets, T-shirts, scarves and bags, there’s no escaping it, yet so many men choose to neglect it.

If you’re cautious about wearing tartan, don’t be because it really isn’t that difficult to master.

Barbour, Endsleigh tartan shirt, £60, Farfetch

The trick is to start with solid-coloured items in dark tones, such as navy and green, that will already pair nicely with so many of your wardrobe staples.

Then, try adding a hint of colour with a piece in the same shade as one of the more minor colours running through the tartan.