On the Seventh Day of a Feminine Christmas

Everyone knows that the catwalk is a fantasy.  It displays trends in such an outre way that some women reject it all together.  But this look has elements of Christmas in it.  A reverse Google image search did not give a good source but I suspect it could be Ralph Lauren.

Tartan and Christmas seem to go hand in hand and I think it’s because the subtext of tartan or plaid, is distinctiveness and a sense of belonging to a group, real or imagined.  And that’s what makes the textile perfect for the holidays.

Tartan is dramatic with its symmetrical design and creates a great foundation for solid-colored sweaters and blouses.  Plaids of Christmas’ traditionals reds and greens feel so festive and so right for the season.

My vintage Seventeen Magazines are chock-full of plaid in the form of satin dresses, ruffled blouses, and of course, skirts.  This year, I’ve seen a felted wool plaid tote bag from Kate Spade and nearly every women’s chain store carried their own version of plaid mufflers and scarves.  Then Avon created a series of charming retro-boxed lipstick dolled-up in plaids.  They sold out.  Clearly tartan resonates with women at Christmas.

I won’t be wearing tartan this Christmas – my long red plaid skirt has been trotted out too many holidays to count.  But I have already been gifted with a plaid cashmere scarf which has been tossed around my neck every morning for nearly two weeks now.