No sartorial squares allowed. We have our eyes set on more preppy prints to wrap up the year
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Argyle print is arguably iconic. While long associated with golfers and grandpas, the print has enamoured the style set time and time again. Inspired by the Tartan of Clan Campbell in the Scottish Highlands during the 17th century, argyle's distinctive diamond design exploded onto the fashion scene in the 1920s thanks to the Duke of Windsor as he adopted Pringle of Scotland's signature intarsia design.
Following the fascination among the fashion set with the print during the first half of the 20th century, argyle became particularly indelible in film and TV. Katherine Hepburn sported argyle for the film Pat and Mike in 1952, while Clueless and Cher Horowitz came to be unambiguously associated with the print in 1995. A few years later, Gretchen Wieners wore argyle aplenty in Mean Girls and Gossip Girl schooled us on polished prep when the print was paired with headbands and white tights by Blair Waldorf.
Wool cardigan, €1,250, Wool skirt, €900, Necklace, price on request. All Versace. Photo: Noel Quintela
Our premonition for the upcoming season? The diagonal diamonds are the next basic: a pattern that – like leopard – the maximalist can pair with other prints for a wonderfully eclectic result.
For our December-January issue, we leaned into a preppy aesthetic with a purple and yellow cashmere cardigan courtesy of Versace's resort collection. Tuning into the zeitgeist of lozenge-like prints and patterns, we welcomed the trend. As argyle adorns cardigans and pullovers for an A+ impact, the runways were overrun with the print, and argyle did not only appear in the autumn/winter collections but also in the upcoming resort and spring/summer assortments.
Lovechild 1971 autumn/winter 2021.
Marni Resort 2022.
Ashish autumn/winter 2021.
At Copenhagen-based Lovechild 1979, creative director Anne-Dorthe Larsen opted for a classic take on the trend, incorporating the print in a sweater vest. The brown and blush knit was layered over a cream coloured shirt and velvet skirt, the waist defined by a black belt. Marni offered multiple takes on argyle in its fuzzy eye-catching cardigans, while Ashish opted for a more luxe lozenge with sequinned vests and sweaters in primary colour combinations.
As we set out to incorporate the knit in our own wardrobes, we're drawn to classic weaves and colourways offered up by Scandi brands such as Ganni and Samsøe & Samsøe. Gucci's collared sweater vest has us longing for spring – when we see ourselves wear the style with tailored shorts to embody the Riviera aesthetics of The Talented Mr. Ripley – while LoveShackFancy's set makes it easy for us to get dressed in the mornings, lending itself to black opaque tights and knee high boots.
All of this and more below in our curated selection of the best argyle to buy now.
