How to Style Tartan Tailoring

I couldn't possibly start with anything other than our Plaid Suits, the outfit you are guaranteed to make a statement in, however, the plaid you choose will determine just how many heads you'll turn. To create a striking outfit we recommend the Edinburgh or Anderson Modern tartans, or for a more subtle style we love Black Watch or Lindsay Modern. However, we also love mixing and matching plaids, check out our Tartan Suit Style Guide for advice on how you can fully embrace the tartan suit. As well as having over 500 plaids to choose from, every detail of your suit is customisable to match your personal style, you can choose your garment linings, lapels, pockets and buttons to create a truly bespoke and unique item. Have fun with it, mix it up and find your clan connection!

Now to pick the perfect accessories to style up your suit, and luckily today trends dictate that the rules surrounding suits have become much more flexible and you can really wear any accessory your heart desires. Our favourites: pick out the colour of a stripe with a tie, or bow tie for more formal occasions, add personality with a set of cufflinks or Plaid Brogues with a contrasting leather. If you prefer the casual style, swap out the brogues for some plaid trainers! However, accessories aside, what is paramount when styling a plaid suit is the fit. Fit is everything, and guarantees our beautiful fabric hangs perfectly and your best features are shown off to best effect. To make sure you get the measurements correct, book an appointment with one of our tailoring experts, either in our Edinburgh or Albany Store, virtually via Video-Call.

If you don't feel like braving the full 3 piece plaid suit, why not nudge yourself into the plaid hype with a smart pair of pants? These might just be one of the most versatile garments a man can have hanging in his wardrobe, with endless styling options available. Whether you combine your trousers with a matching plaid jacket for a formal look or tone it down by pairing with a blazer in a coordinating colour to your plaid. Or create the ultimate casual style by sporting your trousers with a graphic t-shirt and sneakers (plaid of course!).

Now for the accessories... There is nothing more fun than a set of plaid braces, old school meets the modern world whether you are wearing a plaid jacket or not, snap them on in replacement of a belt and you will have the full plaid ensemble!

Over the past few years vests have slowly been making their way back into the mainstream fashion scene with thanks to Tommy Shelby and his gang of Peaky Blinders. However, at ScotlandShop we have always thought a vest is a staple item every man should own. We have 7 different styles to choose from so you are bound to find one which you will love, if you need help choosing or even measuring be sure to book an in-store or virtual appointment to be talked through the options.

Obviously, you can wear your vest whichever way you desire, however there are a few pieces of key style advice we would recommend you follow. Our first nugget follows on from what Teo and Harvey say, a vest is best when paired with a suit. As huge plaid advocates we obviously think it looks amazing as part of a full plaid suit, but for those of you who would only like to dabble in the plaid scene why not team your plaid vest with a plain coloured suit, pick out a base shade or stripe from your chosen plaid. Secondly, make sure you wear your vest with a smart shirt, you don't want to lessen the effect of your beautifully tailored garment by wearing it with a t-shirt!

Whichever vest style advice you take away from this blog, remember one thing; never do up the bottom button. Why is this a rule you ask? Well there are few different reasons circulating, however the one believed to be correct is that King Edward VII was too fat to be able to do up the final button, so the rest of his court copied him to make him feel better about his body image. So if you want to dress like a King, leave that bottom button unfastened. Just one final and my favourite styling tip; have the bottom buttonhole stitched in a contrasting colour for an extra unique finishing touch.

Did you know Plaid Shirts were one of the first plaid pieces of clothing to enter the mainstream fashion scene? They were first worn by lumberjacks at the beginning of the 20th Century and slowly trickled down to the high streets, becoming the popular garment we know them as today.

Easy and comfortable to wear, and effortlessly simple to style. Wear your plaid shirt with your favourite blue jeans and some brown boots, maybe even plaid boots if you feel like coordinating, and you are good to go! This product is so versatile you can wear it year round, come rain or shine, just make sure you switch up your paired clothing and accessories depending on the season.

Our Plaid Bomber Jacket is the newest addition to our Men's Tailored Clothing Collection and by far one of our favourite jackets, due to its easy wearability and the beautiful quality, authentic wool fabric we use to make it. It just feels good when you pull it on. We introduced this to the collection as we know how good it feels to have a great jacket as a staple in your wardrobe, ready to shrug on and make a simple outfit look a little bit special. The Bomber, or Flight Jacket as it is also known in its illustrious history in the fashion world, is made using our heavyweight 16oz plaid fabric, so you can be sure it will keep its sharp shape and chic style for years to come, no matter how much you wear it. Our favourite plaid for this garment is Anderson Modern (as pictured above) however you can browse our selection of over 500 plaids and choose your preferred pattern. If you would like even more styling tips for this handsome jacket and to discover its origins, Monja spills all in her Style Guide.

Our 2 Button Plaid Jacket is a must have in any woman's wardrobe, as it can be styled an endless amount of ways. ScotlandShop founder, Anna, always has a plaid jacket hanging in her office ready for impromptu meetings or visitors. Pair with tailored trousers in a matching plaid (we can make these for you, too), comfortable heels and a plain blouse and you have an outfit fit for the office. For a slightly toned down look for an evening on the town, wear with plain coloured trousers, heels and a matching plaid bag. Or, some classic blue jeans and boots can create a put together outfit with minimum effort, for those of you who don't like to spend too much time outfit planning.

Our Plaid Jackets are made from our lightweight pure wool plaid fabric, woven in Scotland, so you can trust the quality and are guaranteed a nice soft handle. If you are worried you will overheat while wearing this beautiful garment, Phoebe Gormley of Gormley & Gamble has a few words of wisdom on the subject of this sustainable and breathable material:

As a garment traditionally designed for men, the vest has slowly been trickling down into mainstream women's fashion over the fast few years, firmly cementing itself as a must have piece. This is another versatile item you should definitely add to your plaid collection.

Forget the notion that vests can only be worn as part of a suit. Put a casual twist on the tailoring attire by pairing with classic blue jeans, leave the matching jacket out of the ensemble if you really want to keep things casual (but store close at hand in case you need to create a conservative look last minute). However, if you want a more formal look, follow our style advice above for plaid jackets by wearing your plaid vest with a shirt and high waisted wide leg trousers picking out a key colour in your plaid. Of course, you can go traditional and show off your vest with a pair of trousers in the matching plaid for a chic, streamlined look.

Don't forget our vest is another product you can completely customise - add satin lapels and buttons for a touch of luxury or inject some personality with lining and stitching in a contrasting colour.

After Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, wore a gorgeous Black Watch Peplum style coat on a Royal visit to Scotland, our customers went so crazy with requests we knew we had to create our own version, and 'The Kate Coat' was born. Although this coat is an investment, you can be sure it will last for years to come due to the exquisite craftsmanship carried out by our very talented seamstresses.

Our favourite way to wear this gorgeous coat is with a Mini Kilt in a matching plaid and a cosy Lambswool Sweater, the perfect outfit for a winter's day. Add a cashmere scarf in a harmonising colour for extra warmth!

If you are searching for the perfect piece to switch up your outerwear for the winter season, look no further than our Plaid Cape. Capes are an amazing product as you have the option to layer as much or as little as you desire, so they can be worn no matter the weather. And sizing is so easy!

Construct an on trend look by wearing with a sweater, your favourite jeans and boots, preferably knee high to modernise the outfit and create a real statement. However you decide to style your cape, make sure as a rule of thumb whatever you wear on your bottom half is well-fitting, otherwise you run the risk of looking frumpy due to the top-heavy nature of the product.

Let your clothes do the talking with our Longline Plaid Jacket, the final product in our top tailoring picks.

Match the coat to your autumn wardrobe by choosing the Stewart Hunting Modern plaid, full of beautiful olive greens with a subtle hint of pink. The plaid is statement enough, so underneath keep your outfit pretty simple by choosing colour blocking pieces. However if your heart is drawn to the plaid, pair with our Celtic Wrap Skirt in the matching plaid. Trust us, you will turn heads. For more Plaid Coat inspiration check out our style guide and to view our range of options take a peek at our Winter Coat Guide.