Alice Fisher on style: plaid

http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2014/sep/28/alice-fisher-plaid-tartan-fashion

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Plaid is amazing. It’s ubiquitous, yet unique. A flamboyant splash of coloured pattern that is equally at home in a truckers’ café as on a catwalk. You cannot look at it without at least one iconic image pinging into your brain: Rob Roy, Malcolm McLaren, Super Gran, Cher from Clueless, Princess Diana at the Highland Games, Alexander McQueen, the Bay City Rollers, Kurt Cobain, Mel Gibson in Braveheart, Pharrell Williams on his wedding day. Despite its utterly distinctive grid, it seems anyone can wear tartan, anytime, anywhere.

Good news, then, if you want to look a bit Fashion this autumn. Plaid was all over the season’s catwalk. It was red and grungy at Saint Laurent, green and grown up at Max Mara, all cyberpunk in red and blue at Marc by Marc Jacobs and like a beautiful pink comfort blanket in the form of Delpozo’s outsized coats and capes. (You might not have heard of Delpozo – it’s one of those old European labels that’s been reinvigorated by a new creative director. In this case, Josep Font. He used to be an architect, and it shows. He makes lovely clothes that, sadly, we can’t afford.)

So, if you want, you can just dust off the tartan shirt that I know you have in your wardrobe (everyone has one, right?) and we can both go home early this week. Nothing wrong with that. Fashion is an interesting game, but you don’t always have to play it. If you’d like to engage with the modern take on plaid, here’s how.

Accessories are a nice easy way into any trend. Kenzo’s neon plaid bag would be a great thing to wave around at parties this autumn, plus there’s the added practical advantage that no matter where you put it down, you’ll always be able to spot it.

Tartan shoes are a thing, too. There’s a great pair of Penelope Chilvers lace-ups in Icelandic tartan that everyone in the fashion industry has bought. She’s a good name to know if you’re looking to invest in footwear that’s fashiony but enduring. If you don’t want to spend too much, buy some trainers. The skater style isn’t going anywhere, and you can pick up plaid versions on the high street.

Alternatively, pick clothes that play with the traditional idea of tartan. The plaid shirt by Maje has a smart leather pocket detail which instantly differentiates it from the standard lumberjack shirt. Or just use this plaid fad as an excuse to buy some nice classic designs. I really like London label Folk. They make simple, quality clothes with imaginative colours and fabrics. The plaid coat from their womenswear range is a great example of their fine work. You will never get tired of pulling it out of your wardrobe when October arrives. This year, next year, whenever.