It's A Plaid Plaid Plaid Plaid World

Fun fact: The first tartans known to man probably existed before 100BC. And it's still fashionable. Pretty impressive.

I can't think of a fabric more versatile than plaid. You can wear it to a black tie gala, a Texan rodeo or a Hoxton rave, and look stylish in every situation. For me, there's nothing more thrilling than finding a really beautiful colour combination or an an unusual weave - at it's best, it can be a real art form.

These two treasures are from my (rapidly growing) tie collection. They're both from the 60's, and are, like all good tartans, Scottish. The green tie came from London's Broadway Market, the burgundy from Portobello.

Here are some close-up views:

I love the subtlety of the colour combination here - with the transitions between shades, it's like a tiny little Rothko that you can wear around your neck.

This one is a perfect mid-century modern palette - that jolt of yellow gives it just the right amount of 'kick'.