Let’s get one thing straight before we go any further: 2026 is officially the year of the skirt. Hemlines are hedging their bets, pleats are taking space, and frankly, skirts are skirting like never before. But while satin slips owned the summer, autumn’s arrival means we require something with a bit more structural integrity, in other words tartan.
The weave just got a massive royal co-sign thanks to Kate Middleton, who recently stepped out floating in a gorgeous green Emilia Wickstead tartan skirt, paired with a white blouse and a Alexander McQueen long tailored coat.
Before you go tossing terms around at brunch, though, let’s settle the taxonomy because tartan is not just checked or plaid. Check is your tidy, mathematical grid like gingham. Plaid is the broad American umbrella term for crossed bands of colour. Tartan is a very specific woven cloth with criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in defined colour-ways, historically signalling Scottish clans and regional pride.
The runways are very much on board; Celine’s autumn/winter collection doubled down on the look with belted pleated tartan maxi’s paired with trenches andjazz flats. Meanwhile, on screen, Claudia Winkleman has been giving us a masterclass in witchy country dressing on The Traitors, in her red mini skirt.
The real beauty of a tartan skirt lies in its mood swings. You can take the royal route like Kate with a fluid midi and knee-high boots. Or you can pivot straight into street style grunge by taking a skirt and throwing on a beaten-up leather jacket and some stomper boots.
If you're ready to join the clan, the options right now are everywhere. High end houses like Emilia Wickstead and Alexander McQueen are leading the charge for designer styles. On the contemporary front, brands like Boden are dropping wool-blend midis, while high street favourites like & Other Stories and Hobbs have packed their autumn collections with pleated minis and wrap kilts so you can tap into the trend without breaking the bank.
Shop: Tartan Skirts
Renee Washington, Grazia's digital fashion and beauty writer, lives online. With a penchant for wispy lashes and streetwear, she writes about the worlds of fashion and beauty from the viewpoint of the modern fashion girlie.
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