Tartan vs. plaid?

catgirl

I don't know the difference, except the searches turn up different, and led me to these pants on ASOS, which may be the solution to my plaid woes. What do we think (Natalie, I know what you'll say - hope we'll be non-identical twins soon!)...

And I promise to stop hogging the board now.

http://us.asos.com/Tripp-NYC-T.....cy9Qcm9kLw..

14 years ago

Shopping

14 replies

Latest reply was from Laurel Pederson

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I thought that plaid was simply the American English of tartin. Couldn't see the pants on my iPhone, but will have a look later.

When I was reading the title I was thinking about the definition of tweed as well and what the interpretation of that word was and if it differed.

14 years ago

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

If you turn up any cute, fitted plaid blazers LET ME KNOW!

14 years ago

Fruitful

Veteran

Awesome pants AG and I LOVE that blue.

I grew up in Australia saying "tartan". The grungy shirts Americans call plaid, we don't - we call them flannelette shirts after their texture, but everyone knows that means the plaid pattern.

These days after cultural/language borrowing, I tend to say "tartan" when the pattern is reminiscent of a kilt, and "plaid" when it's somehow less kilt-y and more just a basic checked-with-lines vibe.

No idea what's "correct" though.

14 years ago

Marley

Veteran

I don't know the difference for sure between tartan and plaid - but I do know that I WANT THOSE PANTS!

14 years ago

JennyAnne

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, I think of tartan as one of the specific clan plaids from the British Isles. A plaid can be any pattern with criss-crossing lines. So a non-UK scholar maybe wouldn't be able to tell the difference, so I just guess.

14 years ago

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

That blue one would be perfect for you! That would be cool to be fraternal pant twins! I just hope I don't look totally silly in mine!

14 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Andrea, check this one:

http://us.asos.com/ASOS-Tartan.....VyL1Byb2Qv

Love the colors too.

14 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Plaid is a term I stumbled across on YLF, I grew up with the terms tartan and heritage fabrics but through assimilation I now think of tartan as being a form of plaid. Being married to a scotsman I just had to share the family tartan.
http://www.lochcarron.com/reiver/johnstone.html
Having thought some more I would say that tartan depicts a clan/family/area whilst plaid is somewhat more generic.

14 years ago

Beth

Veteran

Una, love the blue pants, whatever we end up calling the pattern:)

I also think of "plaid" as a generic term and "tartan" as specific types of plaid related to Scotland~

Jules, I love your family tartan!

14 years ago

Freckles

Veteran

It's the difference between a certain kind of garment (plaid) and the pattern of cloth that the garment is made from (tartan).

It's more complicated than that but basically that about covers it.

This is my family's tartan:
http://www.lochcarron.com/reiver/gunn.html

14 years ago

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

Thanks, Una! That blazer is darned cute. I had something a little louder in mind but that sure is tempting. The cut is exactly what I have in mind.

14 years ago

Laurel Pederson

Active Member

As an american who loves "plaid" and has lived in the uk, I think that when americans say "plaid" they mean what brits (and everyone else) means by "tartan" and when brits plus say "plaid" they mean something like "buffalo plaid" : http://www.google.com/search?c.....iQKDyMW9BA

(which i think is less than attractive...)

and I'm not sure where the term "checked" fits into this whole scheme.

14 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Did someone say already? Tartan is the patterned cloth, plaid is the garment.

14 years ago

Laurel Pederson

Active Member

Yeah, Rachylou, I think someone referred to that. I have heard it before, but... do you mean that plaid = a bagpiper's kit? a kilt/cape thing?

UK Tartan = US Plaid... even though it's probably a bastardization of the correct terminology. like usual!

14 years ago

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