The Duchess of Cambridge and Her Tartan

As one grows older, warm weather trends seem too hip and too – in the words of Tina Fey – “not enough crotch.”

Crass, I know, but Lemon has a point.  While it’s all well and good to prance around in a summer dress, isn’t it lovely when autumn rolls around and you’re met with an array of seasonal options, some of which carry you right into the holiday season?  

The Duchess of Cambridge wore one of my all-time favorite outfits, a McQ by Alexander McQueen Black Watch tartan coat dress to both St. Andrews Primary School in 2012, then again to Christmas Day Service at Sandringham in 2013.

Most tartan and plaid patterns work best as just one piece of an outfit, meaning that it’s best to go with a tartan skirt and solid top rather than a tartan skirt and blazer.  A smarter, more classic approach doesn’t necessarily mean safe.  As long as the cut is sophisticated and flattering, you’ll avoid looking like a Catholic school girl.

Fear the plaid too much to really wear it?  That’s alright.  Make like Catherine and opt for a scarf.  Better yet, select a pattern you like or that represents something important, much like Her Royal Highness did with the Strathearn tartan scarf by D.C. Dalgliesh.

One of Catherine’s titles is the Countess of Strathearn, used when she is in Scotland.  Catherine paid homage to her title first at the 2012 Order of the Thistle Service, then at the Diamond Jubilee Thames River Pageant, and again on a 2013 visit to Scotland by carrying the scarf as an accessory.

Below are some Black Watch options a la her McQueen coat dress: