Tartan and Argyle as Signature Patterns This Autumn
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With every season comes its own pattern. And alongside the intense red that is making a strong comeback this autumn, prints are also making their way into our outfits to add a bit more daring and visual relief to our silhouettes. Among these, two must-haves are making their return, namely tartan and argyle. Offering a vintage touch to our ensembles, they come with a modernized spirit through their revamped lines. So, between checks and diamonds, it’s up to you to choose which ones to adopt!
Tartan in all its colors to dress our autumn
After the polka dot pattern that accompanied us this spring-summer, it’s time for another essential print to envelop our silhouette for autumn: tartan.
With a rich history, and never far from trends, it was notably highlighted during the last Dior 2025 cruise collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri, captured in the documentary Dior in Scotland: The making of the cruise 2025 collection.
Recognizable by its lines, we find it this autumn-winter 2026, both through traditional weaves, as seen at Aimé Leon Dore or Gucci, and via pieces with more modern elongated lines and bolder colors, as seen at Chanel.
This season, the checked pattern is notably printed on lightweight fabrics, playing between transparency and an airy aspect, on long skirts, blouses, shirts, and other t-shirts with crafted pleats. Pieces that we particularly find at Chloé.
The Scottish checked pattern also adorns knits, suits, thick coats, and other pleated trousers, allowing us to adopt it even while crossing into winter.
Soeur Paris has decorated a long wool coat for its FW26 collection, playing a very traditional role. This is also observed at Aime Léon Dore, with a tartan suit paired with a tie and a newsboy cap featuring the same lines.
As shown by the previous pieces, this season’s print suits all personalities, revealing itself in pieces with grey, brown, beige tones, as well as through explosions of colors, as seen in Valentino by Alessandro Michele.
The pattern reveals itself with versatility, even in the way it is worn. Indeed, it is just as possible to wrap oneself in notes (scarf, a skirt or a top paired with solid color pieces…), as it is to combine multiple pieces of the print, in the same tone or not.
The tartan will also be in the spotlight at a highly anticipated fashion exhibition in London, “The 90s: Art and Fashion“, where Vivienne Westwood archives will be presented.
Furthermore, this look unveils the second pattern we wish to highlight today, which also makes a comeback this autumn to add lines to our outfits: argyle.
The argyle pattern in a modern preppy version for this autumn winter
Another vintage-inspired print making its way into our autumn wardrobe: the argyle pattern (also spelled argyll, or more colloquially referred to as the diamond pattern). Often associated with the clichés of our elders’ socks and sweaters, argyle is set to charm us this season through pieces blending various inspirations, between preppy style and more modern cuts.
With a somewhat mysterious history, the argyle pattern first appeared on the socks of the Campbell Clan of Argyll, from the west of Scotland. A symbol of the country, it was initially adopted by royalty as a statuary symbol, before gradually making its way into the sports realm.
Indeed, the creation of argyle printed pieces by Pringle of Scotland made the pattern popular, notably among the royal family and the Duke of Windsor, who wore it during his golf games. Gradually, the pattern was adopted more widely, but remained associated with the British elite, which explains the preppy aesthetic it is given today.
On the brand side, it naturally found its place in Ralph Lauren’s style, playing on its preppy chic codes. Furthermore, the pattern has also been reinterpreted in more grunge and underground looks, worn with a spirit of “rebellion”, showcasing the pattern’s ability to adopt different characters.
For this autumn-winter, we are indeed observing this search for modernity in the use of the pattern. Of course, it still appears in its rather classic version, such as in cardigans and sleeveless vests at Amie Paris (above). But we also discover the print giving birth to reinterpretations, like a Khaite pullover adorned with flowers.
We have also seen in stores vests featuring only a horizontal line of diamonds, adopting the pattern in a more streamlined and modern way.
Moreover, argyle seems to have its sights set on conquering not only autumn-winter but also spring-summer, as observed in the SS27 collection of Polo Ralph Lauren which unveils the pattern on an oversized streetwear hoodie.
Thus, classic and traditional prints continue to succeed in convincing and surprising us!
Cover photo: Pexels
