Tartan, check and hounds-tooth are never far from the catwalks, and thanks to its roots in both proper and punk royalty, there’s a checkered print for every chequered past.
For the sophisticated fashionista, hounds-tooth and wool fabrics denote an air of sophistication and wealth. But if pheasant shooting isn’t really your game, hounds-tooth also looks incredible on body-con silhouettes, bringing a slightly more interesting texture to your work and evening wear. If you want to haul the look even further into the 21stcentury, pieces with sequinned hounds-tooth patterns will bring a sparkle to the understated pattern.
We, however, prefer hounds-tooth’s rebellious cousin; the ever-faithful check of tartan. A favourite of designers with edgy, punk sensibilities like Vivienne Westwood, checks evoke the grungy glamour and defiant spirit of the punk rock movement.
It’s no wonder that tartan made more that one appearance at this year’s Punk-themed Met Ball, or that it has been beloved by women who dare to be different, like rock chanteuse Debbie Harry or beloved eccentric Helena Bonham Carter. This fabric, once associated with the uniforms of those in positions of authority and gentility, became a symbol of defiance and discontent against modern society when punks began to wear it in the late seventies and eighties. Though it’s become a fashion staple, it still manages to convey a spirit of individualism; a love of the unconventional and of course an anti-establishment philosophy.
Though Westwood and her fellow definers have new collections brimming with stunning accessories like tartan-decked bags, there’s a certain punk authenticity to keeping your checks cheap and cheerful. For festival season, denim shorts with checked highlights look fantastic when paired with a simple vest, an oversized Parka and either wellies or Docs – it’s a blend of punk princess meets intellectual girl gone bad, à la Freaks and Geeks heroine Lindsay Weir.
High hems are somewhat of a necessity when evoking the empowered punk aesthetic, which is why we’re loving the thigh-skating hemlines of check skater skirts and dresses with deceptively innocence Peter Pan collars.
Slouchy knee-high socks are always encouraged, but for mini-skirts, avoid the traditional red tartan palette lest you be asked if you’re playing hookie from summer school. A more muted palette of moss greens, off-whites and black with still allow the rebellious print to shine without becoming too cliché.
If all-over tartan is too much, choose one check element and allow it to add a deliciously bad girl vibe to an otherwise conservative outfit. Tartan tights can add an eccentric quirk to a simple black dress, while tartan stilettos will spice up any outfit. Or when your boyfriend’s not looking, steal a check shirt and throw it over a simple pair of black skinny jeans and a form-fitting vest for an effortlessly sexy ensemble. If he complains, explain that the theft is all part of the punk spirit, and to stop being so damn ‘establishment’.