Tartan and Argyle as Signature Patterns This Autumn
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With each season comes its own pattern. Alongside the intense red that is making a strong comeback for autumn, prints are also making their way into our outfits to bring a bit more boldness and visual relief to our silhouettes. Among them, two must-haves are making their return: tartan and argyle. While they offer a vintage note to our ensembles, they present themselves with a modernized spirit through their revisited lines. Thus, between checks and diamonds, it’s up to you to choose which ones to adopt!
Tartan in all its colors to dress up our autumn
After the polka dot pattern that accompanied us this spring-summer, it’s time for another essential print to wrap our silhouette for autumn: tartan.
With a rich history, this print is never far from trends. It was notably highlighted in the latest 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 and elongated lines, and bolder colors, as seen at Chanel.
This season, the checked pattern is notably printed on lightweight fabrics, playing between transparency and airiness, seen in long skirts, blouses, shirts, and other t-shirts with crafted pleats. Pieces that we particularly find at Chloé.
The tartan pattern also dresses knits, suits, thick coats, and other pleated trousers, allowing us to adopt it even to get through the winter.
Soeur Paris has adorned a long wool coat with it for its FW26 collection, showcasing a very traditional side. This can also be seen at Aimé Léon Dore, with a tartan-printed suit paired with a tie and a newsboy cap featuring the same lines.
As shown in the previous pieces, the season’s print matches all personalities, revealing itself in pieces with gray, brown, and beige tones, as well as through explosions of colors, as seen at 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 top paired with solid color pieces…), as it is to combine several pieces of the print, either in the same tone or not.
The tartan will also be honored in a highly anticipated fashion exhibition in London, “The 90s: Art and Fashion“, featuring Vivienne Westwood archives.
Furthermore, this look reveals the second pattern we wish to honor today, which is also making a comeback this autumn to bring lines to our outfits: argyle.
The argyle pattern in a modern preppy version for this autumn-winter
Another print with vintage notes that is entering our autumn wardrobe: the argyle pattern (also spelled argyll, or more familiarly called diamond pattern). Often associated with the clichés of our elders’ socks and sweaters, argyle is ready to charm us this season through pieces that blend various inspirations, from preppy style to more modern cuts.
Having a somewhat mysterious history, the argyle pattern first appeared on the socks of the Clan Campbell of Argyll, from the west of Scotland. A symbol of the country, it was initially adopted by royalty as a stately symbol, before gradually inviting itself into the sports world.
Indeed, the production 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 especially for his golf outings. Gradually, the pattern was more widely adopted while remaining associated with the British elite, which explains the preppy aesthetic it has today.
In terms of brands, it has naturally found its place in Ralph Lauren’s style, playing with its chic preppy codes. Moreover, the pattern has also been diverted into more grunge and underground looks, worn with a “rebellion” spirit, showcasing the print’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 can still be found in its more classic version, such as in cardigans and sleeveless vests at Amie Paris (as seen above). But we also discover the print giving rise to reinterpretations, such as a Khaite pullover featuring flowers.
We have also seen in stores vests featuring just a horizontal line of diamonds, thus adopting the pattern in a more streamlined and modern way.
Moreover, argyle seems set to conquer not only autumn-winter but also spring-summer, as observed in the SS27 collection of Polo Ralph Lauren, which showcases the pattern on an oversized hoodie with a streetwear vibe.
Proving that classic and traditional prints still manage to convince and surprise us!
Cover photo: Pexels
