You don’t have to be Scottish to love tartans, and the fashion world keeps coming back to the classy pattern. Tartans have been in and out of season. Remember the Alexander McQueen tartan dress worn by a number of A-listers like Emma Watson, Rihanna and Chloe Moretz? The tartan effect is no longer limited to shirts and skirts: it has now spread out to everything from coats and shoes to socks and trousers, and can even be seen covering gadgets and accessories.

Speck Fitted Case

The Speck Fitted Case for a 13” MacBook Pro from Amazon, for instance, looks very authentic with its dark tartan plaid design. Make a fashion statement not just with your outfit but with your machine’s wardrobe too! If you own an iPhone as well, you can do no wrong with a tartan-lined leather case. It’s discreet, stylish and bang on trend, to protect your phone from scratches, dust and poor style.

Marc O’ Polo tartan check dress

Going back to the McQueen dress, you will be pleased to know there are affordable dresses out there similar to the McQueen piece, like the Te Amo Tartan dress from New Look. You can layer this dress by wearing a shirt underneath for a smart look, or a longer sleeve top for casual wear in colder temperatures.

My personal favourite is the Marc O’ Polo tartan check dress from House of Fraser. I love the darker checks and the high collar neck. It’s not your typical red tartan, and that’s why I like it. Another reason to love this dress is its reduced price from £155 down to £77.50! Now that is a very good deal. It’s perfect for winter, with tights and ankle boots.

tartan medium cross-body bag

For accessories I’ll trust Vivienne Westwood and her tartan medium cross-body bag. The unusual bright tartan catches your eye, doesn’t it? This quirky little bag will be your statement piece for any outfit, and we’ve still got it on Yipiii. Play for yours soon before it gets sold out!

Moving on to a more practical tartan item, I have picked the Marshmallow Wellington boots from Office. Snow is beginning to show its face, so you might as well face the grim UK winter with this truly scrumptious red tartan print. All you need is some thick socks and you are all set for the outdoors.

Forget about Burns Night, bagpipes and Prince Charles: tartan keeps coming back to fashion for a reason, and that’s because it looks terrific. Tartan lets you be quirky and irreverent, but with a classic streak to play upon. It’s a winter treat, and one that’s guaranteed to come back in fashion every few years. Ladies and gents, take note: tartan’s a keeper.