Tartan Trousers

Trousers made from woven tartan rather than plain cloth, available in straight, wide leg, tapered and cigarette cuts. The sett runs vertically down the leg on most cuts, which lengthens the line. They are made from the same cloth as a tartan skirt, so a matching outfit is possible if you order both in one sett.

Trousers read more contemporary and are easier to wear repeatedly, because the pattern is broken by the leg line rather than presented as a single panel. A skirt reads more traditional and photographs better. If you want tartan you will wear to work regularly, take trousers. See tartan and plaid skirts for the alternative.

Not in a muted sett. Weathered, hunting and grey based tartans read as a dark check at any distance and sit comfortably in most workplaces. Bright modern colourways do not. Pair them with a plain black or cream top and a single colour shoe and the outfit reads deliberate rather than loud.

One solid colour, pulled from the quieter tones in the sett rather than the loudest. A fine knit, a plain shirt or a black roll neck all work. Add a plain waistcoat or a black blazer for structure. Keep shoes and bag in a single tone, since a second pattern anywhere makes the whole outfit busy.

A straight or slightly tapered leg with a high waist suits the widest range of shapes, because the vertical run of the sett does the lengthening for you. Wide leg works well on taller frames and with a fitted top. Avoid a low rise in tartan, since a low waistline cuts the pattern at the widest point.

Premium acrylic woven to the sett, not printed. The pattern runs through the weave so the reverse shows the same design, and colour holds through repeated wear and washing. Acrylic is also lighter and less itchy than heavier traditional cloth, which matters in trousers worn against the leg all day.

Only in the identical sett, and even then it can be a lot. A different tartan alongside them reads as a mismatch rather than a coordinated look. The reliable approach is one tartan piece and everything else solid. If you want two tartan pieces, keep them far apart on the body.

Cool wash inside out, hang to dry, and press on a low setting through a cloth along the existing crease. Avoid tumble drying, which sets wrinkles into acrylic that are difficult to remove. Airing them after wear rather than washing every time keeps the cloth and the crease in better condition.