The Trend Report: Tartan

This season, designers embraced checks with a renewed sense of creativity. Some leaned into high-impact colour palettes, while others went for soft, heritage-inspired plaids. Scale played a big role too, with oversized, blown-up checks adding drama across outerwear and tailoring. At Burberry, the house reworked its signature pattern with an exaggerated feel across trench coats, structured jackets and even accessories, while Loewe offered a more contemporary take through kilt-inspired minis, sharp blazers and iconic bags reimagined in check.

To tap into the trend, look to brands championing modern heritage. Le Kilt is a standout – the label offers beautifully crafted classics inspired by founder Samantha McCoach’s Scottish roots, from kilts to knitwear. This season, it’s teamed up with COS to create an exclusive capsule that brings artistry to the everyday. The trend has also filtered down to the high street: Zara’s bias-cut check skirts sold out almost instantly but have since been restocked, while M&S, Mango and H&M are all offering blouses, shirts, trousers and outerwear. Of course, Barbour continues to celebrate tartan, with subtle linings and cuff details across its signature outerwear.

The key to styling tartan in a modern way is to balance traditional prints with contemporary textures, cuts and silhouettes. For subtlety and modernity, take your cues from Marianna Smyth and pair a tartan bomber with jeans. For a cosy, festive take, we love how Rebecca de Ravenel styles her tartan skirt with a simple knit and statement gold earrings. Kelly Rutherford is also a firm fan of the trend – wearing everything from scarves to coats. The beauty of this trend lies in its versatility – you can lean into the AW25 heritage look or nod to tradition, depending on how you style it.