Every November, our tartan dresses start flying off the rails, and it's easy to see why. Whether you call it tartan or plaid, a woven check dress looks smart without trying, hides the odd mince-pie moment, and works from a Monday meeting right through to Boxing Day. Here are five ways we style ours, using the dresses we design and make here in the UK.
1. The everyday shirt dress: boots and a belt
Our Way Out West Black Watch tartan dress is the one we reach for most. It buttons all the way down with brass-coloured buttons, has half sleeves with buttoned cuffs, a semi-flared 50s collar and, best of all, pockets. Wear it without a petticoat for a relaxed shirt-dress shape, cinch it with the matching buckled belt, and add knee boots and opaque tights. Navy and green are easy to wear with black, brown or burgundy accessories.
2. Full 1950s swing: add a petticoat
None of our 1950s-style dresses come with a petticoat sewn in, because that isn't how they were made in the 1950s. The petticoat was always a separate layer, so you can choose how full you want the skirt. Pop our fluffy black petticoat under the Royal Stewart tartan swing dress and the full circle skirt stands out beautifully. It's the look for a dance, a 50s weekender or any day you want to feel a little bit Hollywood.
3. Christmas party ready: berry and red tartans
For the festive season, a red or berry tartan does the hard work for you. Our two new Way Out West tartans, the Primrose red tartan and the Brunswick berry tartan, are made for Christmas parties. Keep jewellery simple with pearls or a single brooch, add a red lip and heels, and you're done. If you need more ideas, our guide to what to wear to an office Christmas party has three more 1950s looks.
4. Evening and weddings: the tartan midi
For a winter wedding, a Burns Night supper or a smart dinner, try a tartan with structure. The Antoinette Royal Stewart tartan midi dress has a corset-style top and a pleated midi skirt with netting built into the skirt section, so no petticoat is needed (and yes, it has pockets too). Long gloves, a clutch bag and your best heels finish it off.
5. Wrap up: a 1950s coat and a beret
Tartan is a winter fabric, so dress it for the weather. A fitted 50s coat over a full-skirted dress keeps the silhouette neat. Our 1950s style coats, including the Wonderland wool bouclé coats with faux fur collars, sit perfectly over a swing dress. Add a black wool beret and black bow gloves for that classic 1950s winter look.
Quick tips for wearing tartan
- Pick one statement. Let the tartan be the star and keep accessories plain: black, navy, burgundy or pearl.
- Match your tights to your shoes for longer-looking legs, especially with midi lengths.
- Check the size guide. Some of our tartans have a little stretch and some don't, so check the size guide on each dress before ordering.
- Look at the checks. On a well-made tartan dress the checks line up at the seams. We match ours, which is one reason a good tartan dress lasts for years.
Tartan or plaid: what's the difference?
In the UK we usually say tartan, while in America the same checked fabric is often called plaid. Traditionally, a tartan is a pattern linked to a Scottish clan or region, such as Black Watch or Royal Stewart. If you'd like to know more, read our short history of tartan.
Ready to find yours? Browse our full collection of tartan and plaid dresses, all designed and made in the UK.