8 Ways to Wear Tartan / Checks / Plaid in Winter #iwillwearwhatilike

Call it what you will, but tartan/checks/plaid is a staple in many of our wardrobes come winter… it never really goes out of fashion, does it?

I was looking back over my winter outfit archives for today’s post thinking I’d do a feature post on my favourite-ever winter outfits, but the common thread among nearly every single outfit was tartan (my preferred choice of term, though sometimes they’re more checks than tartan). So the focus switched from winter to specifically tartan in winter, yet the outfits I’ve chosen still rank as some of my favourites of all time.

I had originally planned to photograph and feature a new outfit for today’s post, but after yesterday’s the WiFi debacle and ending up writing the 2018 bloopers post twice, we lost light and didn’t get time in the end… thank goodness the days are finally starting to get longer, I say!

So without further ado let’s look at some tartan-tastic togs (or maybe some chic checks or pleasant plaids? I’ll stick with tartantastic) – let me know in the comments which is your favourite!

(The #iwillwearwhatilike link up will be back to Tuesdays next week, and the #ShareAllLinkUp this week will be on Friday… everything’s moved on one day because of my outtakes post always going out on the 1st January…!)

WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE OUTFIT (AND DO YOU SAY TARTAN, CHECKS OR PLAID)?! COMMENT BELOW…!

Like this post? You might also like…

– The return of the beret and how to style it
– The Prince of Wales check trend

 

1. A lightweight tartan jacket (with a white lacy sweater and army trousers)

One of my favourite jackets that I don’t wear nearly often enough! I love the contrast of the three main patterns/textures in this outfit: deep reddish-brown tartan, soft white lacy roll neck sweater and army green military-style trousers with flat, black lace-up boots. It may be from several years ago but I’d wear it again in a heartbeat. Original post >>

 

2. A check coat (with red skinnies and a marabou feathers hat)

Oh, that marabou feather hat – I’d forgotten how spectacular it is. It’s a shame but I don’t have the check coat anymore, but I’d accumulated SO many checked coats and I had to have a cull (I still need to cull even more now). The checks are the key part of the outfit, so when you have a statement coat like this you don’t need anything other than a great hat, simple bottoms and stylish footwear. A scarf or roll neck help keep the chills at bay. Original post >>

 

CHECK COATS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

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3. A white/red tartan scarf (with a biker jacket and yellow maxi skirt)

Another fabulous outfit I’d forgotten about! The outfit is basically red, black and white and yellow – a super feminine, pleated maxi skirt in a bright colour can be worn in winter when you add some sort of cropped jacket (the best length for maxis) and wooly tights. The pattern mixers among you may notice I slipped in a little bit of Breton stripes with a top that’s slightly longer than the biker jacket. It’s a clever way of tying in the (white of the) scarf to the rest of the outfit. Original post >>

 

4. A red tartan scarf (with a brown Barbour jacket and black skinnies)

Another cropped jacket, but this time a Barbour in a gorgeous warm tobacco brown colour. Equally warm and winter-perfect is the red tartan scarf – with all that colour and texture going on up top I kept the bottom half simple with black skinnies and black riding boots. A great walking-the-dog/hiking outfit. Original post >>

 

5. A multicoloured tartan scarf (with a longline jacket and brown ankle boots)

I REALLY need to pair my favourite-ever (and worn to death) jacket with my multicoloured tartan scarf more often! Adding a pair of sunglasses in a colour that picks out one of the colours in your tartan adds that extra something to an otherwise fairly neutral outfit. Extra points for driving gloves too (ALWAYS on trend in my world). Original post >>

 

TARTAN SCARVES YOU MIGHT LIKE:

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6. Red and grey check trousers (with a faux fur scarf and biker jacket)

Onto trousers – I reckon these check trousers are my most-featured pair on the blog. I’ve been wearing them every winter for years, as the shape (loose peg leg with rolled hems) and colour (grey and red) just seem to go with everything. This outfit also shows another way to style a biker jacket: with a faux fur, long wrap collar thing and furry bag. It’s reminded me to use that bag more, if only to see how many more “Is that a dead cat?” questions it’ll attract. Original post >>

 

7. Prince of Wales check trousers with a camel wrap coat

An outfit worn during last year’s Beast from the East, these are the second pair of check trousers in my check trousers arsenal. They’re wider and cropped so slightly harder to style, but if it’s too cold for a bare ankle then chunky 80s-style slouchy socks and platform flats work well. The wrap coat is toasty warm and loves all those accessories: oversized dotty scarf, wool fedora, statement earrings, bold lip… Original post >>

 

CHECK TROUSERS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

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8. ALL the checks: a dark multicoloured tartan scarf, red check coat and grey/red check trousers

To end I thought I’d feature an outfit making use of tartan, checks AND plaid all together (just another way of saying lots of checks I guess). It works because all three patterns have the common colour of deep red in them, and the other base colours of the outfit are grey (hat, sweatshirt, trousers) and black (scarf, coat, boots). Now that my hair is almost back to that length – albeit with a fringe this time – I need to revisit this type of look and get my beanies out more often. Original post >>

Plus it’s a great excuse to mix those patterns again… not that I need much encouragement!

Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured in my monthly Women Who Wear What They Like post!

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Thank you for joining the #iwillwearwhatilike link up! This started as a campaign on Instagram in August 2015 where women over 30 wore everything on a journalist’s list of “inappropriate” items for 30+ women (including leopard print, short dresses and oversized sunglasses. Yes, really). It was so popular that I decided to carry it on weekly where women of all ages link up their fabulous style, never mind what anyone tells them not to wear!

The link up goes live every Tuesday at around 3pm UK time and will stay open for a week. Whilst the original article was of course aimed at the 30+, you can be ANY age to link up. The only criteria is that you’re wearing whatever you damn well like!

 

Linking up etiquette…

CLICK HERE to read the rules of linking up (and to grab the #iwillwearwhatilike button). Basically it’s just good manners to link back to here – to leave a comment is even nicer!

PLEASE NOTE: This is for linking up WHAT YOU’VE BEEN WEARING ONLY. Non-outfit links will be removed and you might be blocked if you turn out to be a repeat “offender”!

 

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Do share the love and visit as many links as you can (you never know what other lovely like-minded ladies you might meet) – the original Instagram campaign forged some wonderful new friendships so don’t miss out!