Brunette Girl Undresses Her Blue Tartan Dress On The Bar Stool In The Dark Room

In the Victorian and Edwardian eras, tartan-clad garments featured in fashion catalogues. By then, tartan had shifted from being mainly a component of men's clothing to become an important part of women's fashion. In consequence of its association with the British aristocracy and military, tartan developed an air of dignity and exclusivity. Because of this, tartan has made reappearances in the world of fashion several times. For instance, tartan made a resurgence in its use in Punk fashion. In the late 1970s punk music was a way for youth in the British Isles to voice their discontent with the ruling class. The unorthodox use of tartan, which had long been associated with authority and gentility, was then seen as the expression of discontent against modern society. In this way tartan, worn unconventionally, became an anti-establishment symbol.
Not always a fashion symbol signifying rebellion or anti-authoritarianism, plaid has been more recently adopted by members of the hipster fashion scene. While not used as a statement of any specific belief or idea like others who have adopted the pattern, plaid has become undeniably linked with the subculture's fashion. This mainly stems from the motif in the hipster scene of thrift store shopping, where plaid shirts are often in abundance.