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Plaids are to fall as florals are to spring. The pattern makes its rounds on every fall-winter runway like clockwork, signaling that cozy season is coming — even if it’s still 90 degrees outside. But donning plaid in the cooler months (whenever they finally come) is a fashion tradition with roots deeper than the runway. And if you're bingeing Starz's Blood of my Blood like we are, you're already ogling every tartan kilt and shawl on screen, pining for actual cold weather so you can wear one yourself. So let’s get into why this storied pattern is worth a spot in your wardrobe.
A (Not So) Brief History of Plaid—AKA Tartan
The term “plaid" is technically a disambiguation that refers to a garment or long bolt of fabric, while “tartan” is the correct terminology for the pattern itself. Both get used interchangeably today, but someone in Scotland may correct you. Interestingly, the pattern actually dates back over 3,000 years, according to a group of mummies discovered in western China (here’s your next Wikipedia scroll) — suggesting that humans have been donning them for a very, very long time.
But tartans as we know them today are usually associated with Scotland, where they became a symbol of the Highland identity and resilience. Following the failed Jacobite uprising in 1745, the British tried banning the pattern to stamp out resistance, which ultimately backfired by making wearing tartan cooler than ever in the Regency and Victorian eras. (Fun fact: the Blood of my Blood costume department registered their show tartan with the Scottish Registry of Tartans.)
Scottish Aesthetic Gone Mainstream
In their recent exhibition on tartan, the V&A Dundee encapsulated the cultural weight of the quintessentially Scottish pattern. “Tartan is a textile, a pattern, a cultural phenomenon, a byword for all things Scottish. Traditional and rebellious, adored and derided, tartan is a pattern of endless contradiction.”
The beloved tartan has transcended borders, been adopted and abstracted and reinterpreted by every major fashion house through the decades. It went prep in the 1950s with Dior, punk in the ‘70s with Vivienne Westwood, then provocative with McQueen in the ‘90s — proving its adaptability to any genre. Probably because the woolen textile is so good at making a statement while being extremely practical, lending both visual and physical warmth against unruly fall temps. When you’re standing on a freezing train platform, you’ll thank your mom for insisting you wear a scarf — plaid or not.
Shop Our Fall 2026 Plaid Edit
Now that you’re equipped to fully appreciate the distinguished pattern yourself, we’ve compiled a shortlist of essentials for a pop of plaid-aka-tartan (plus argyle, its diamond-patterned cousin). They’ll earn their keep for every trend cycle to come, just like they’ve done for the last 3,000 years. And if that's not cost-per-wear justification, we don't know what is.
Westwood famously built a house code around her own MacAndreas tartan, registered and woven with Lochcarron of Scotland. It came down the runway in her 1993 Anglomania show, where models stacked clashing clan patterns on top of each other. This beret offers a sampling of the pattern without having to go all in. Tilt it back off the forehead instead of pulling it down snug, and pair with a more neutral outfit to let it pop.
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In case you were wondering where argyle fits into all this, it's essentially a tartan that’s been reworked for knitting, turning the grid diagonally until the color blocks become diamonds. Heritage brand Pringle of Scotland made the pattern iconic on the golf course thanks to the Duke of Windsor in the 1920s. Their argyle and expert craftsmanship meld to modern wardrobes too, as seen in a Palace collaboration and a deadstock capsule sold exclusively through London’s concept store LN-CC. This supersoft lambswool sweater has a more casual, relaxed shape that can be easily thrown over a dress, worn with jeans, or paired with tailored trousers.
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Johnstons of Elgin is one of Scotland's oldest cashmere mills (since 1797) and one of the first Royal Warrant recipients when King Charles III assumed the English throne in 2024. They’re luxuriously legit. We love going full traditional with a big stole in the most iconic tartan there is — Royal Stewart, which also adorns the Walker’s biscuit tins. Bold and classic, this oversized scarf will keep you seriously cozy, and can easily double as a blanket at an outdoor concert or a throw over your desk chair.
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&Daughter is a small Scottish knitwear label working in yarn that’s responsibly sourced and spun within the UK and Ireland. Their argyle foulard polishes an outfit, giving a little extra warmth without the bulkiness of larger scarves — though they also offer an XL foulard if you’d prefer slightly more volume. Tie around the neck with a cardigan, or around the hair on a blustery day.
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DOEN is about as far from a Scottish mill as this list gets. The LA label was founded by sisters Margaret and Katherine Kleveland in 2016, built around romantic softness and coastal California nostalgia. But nevertheless, it does get cold in California too and this wool-viscose blend is the ideal warmth for shoulder seasons. The knotted fringe hem and vintage-inspired Willoughby plaid print keep the skirt feeling flowy and bohemian, rather than veering too schoolgirl. Wear it with a cardigan or beat-up sweatshirt, kitten heels or boots — the versatility is worth every penny.
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Burberry's signature check started as a trench coat lining in the 1920s, designed to be glimpsed rather than broadcast. By the '80s it was a status symbol for UK upper crusters, and by the early 2000s it had spread well beyond them, embraced by working-class Britain and international markets alike. Classism led the backlash, and Burberry spent the better part of a decade clawing back that exclusivity, pulling the check off nearly everything it touched. Like any good tartan, the pattern endured anyway, and Burberry's comeback is well underway. We love the idea of opting for socks to showcase Burberry's original instinct at its best. Wear them peeking out of a plain leather loafer or ballet flat.
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Repetto basically invented the modern ballet flat, so a tartan colorway is a nice bit of range for a house usually associated with solid black and nude. Plus, French haute couture has always had an affinity for Scottish tweeds and tartans. This deep red and navy tartan is the polished counterpoint to the wellingtons below. Wear them sockless with cropped trousers, or layer the Burberry socks underneath if you want the full plaid-on-plaid effect.
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With a strong El Niño on deck this year, SoCal could be needing rain boots as much as everyone else for once. Barbour has made British country wear since 1894, and the Mowbray carries that same understated heritage look, with an adjustable tartan cuff that turns down at the top. It's also one of those sturdy, “buy once, wear for 20 years” items that’ll hold up to any element for winters to come.
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A Final Word on Plaid
Whether it's a new episode of Blood of my Blood or an actual cold front that gets you reaching for a wool scarf, now you know your instinct is the same one people have had for three thousand years — wrap up, and look good doing it.
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