The tartan skirt trend is back for winter 2024, uniting Millennials and Gen Z

As winter’s influence grows narrower by the day, I feel more and more ready to incorporate a more atmospheric energy into my everyday wardrobe. Favoring sturdy fabrics that can withstand a strong gust of wind and rich color palettes that reflect the darker hues I’m seeing in nature right now, I’m starting to swap out my transitional season staples for their winter counterparts. Since I’m still interested in ending the season in skirts and dresses, I packed up my lightweight cotton styles and set out to find the perfect tartan skirt.

Inspired by the elegant styles that have long been on my mood boards this time of year, it’s high time I finally got my own. The trend looks perfect with black turtleneck sweaters, but also with fluffy coats and pretty blouses.

Tartan skirts are not a new trend; they have been around for centuries. The print has its roots in Scottish history and is traditionally used to identify different Scottish clans through variations in color and design. The tartan print consists of a checked pattern woven from wool, includes two or more alternating colors and is available in a wide range of colors.

British brands such as Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and Burberry have long been popular with designer labels and have been incorporating the traditional print into their collections for years. This time designer labels with pretty pleated skirts on the catwalks proved that the ongoing trend will not disappear this winter either.

A unique print that feels both classic and fresh for the new season. It’s no surprise that the trend is on the rise again in winter 2024. While the runways expressed interest in the ongoing trend earlier this year, the fashion people around me have adopted it for the past few months, incorporating the elevated pattern into their wardrobes as well.

What I particularly appreciate about this trend is the way it spans generations. I’m a millennial and wore tartan skirts in my teens and early twenties (I wish I had kept them). Now Generation Z is wearing the garment in new, very contemporary ways – with sneakers, riding boots and thick bomber jackets, for example – proving that when it comes to fashion, what’s common is really coming back.