Argyle: the history of a pattern that outlived centuries
The diamonds worn with a suit, golf and knitted vests come from the Scottish Highlands of the 18th century. The history of the pattern is a story of discipline and status.
Where the pattern came from
The name comes from the Argyll region in the west of Scotland. The first woven plaids with intersecting coloured yarns appeared there in the 18th century, and by the mid-19th century the pattern reached knitted stockings.
Popularity in the 20th century
In the 1920s argyle became a symbol of British country life: golf, country clubs, tweed. American manufacturers made the pattern mass-market by adding bright colours.
Why argyle does not get old
Geometric strictness, symmetry and recognition from a distance. A small argyle is calm under a suit; a large one carries an independent character in casual wear.
How to wear it today
Suit: a small argyle in tone with the tie. Weekends: a large pattern with jeans and loafers. One rule - do not mix argyle with another active geometric print.