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Tartan Outfits for the Family for Holiday Card Photos.

tartan fashion for family portrait

*Image above via Ralph Lauren, my sartorial touchstone. When in doubt, go to RL for inspiration.

**A quick headnote that CPC Kids is back on Zulily — and they have a few darling tartan longalls left as well as these duck embroidered longalls (perfect for Thanksgiving) and Christmas print ones, both of which Hill owns! Note that though other pieces of CPC Kids I have purchased in the past run small, these longalls run big. I would size down if you want for current season.

Do you send a family portrait out with your holiday cards? We have never done this ourselves though I have talked on and off about wanting to do it. I had big plans to make it happen this year but with COVID, it just fell right out of my priorities. Next year…! I know I will one day kick myself for missing the opportunity to document our life as a family in this way. I must make it happen!

Anyway — I often receive questions about what to wear for family portraits, and what I am daydreaming of right now is a Ralph Lauren-inspired tartan look for the family. (And I love the idea of having your little one tote a Steiff puppy for the portrait — my parents-in-law gave mini a vintage Steiff airedale stuffed animal when she was born, and it’s one of our family’s treasured possessions.) Below, some amazing tartan finds for the entire family:

Tartan Finds for Little Girls.

THIS TARTAN-SASHED CORDUROY DRESS

TRADITIONAL TAFFETA

CHEERY RED COAT (WOULD LOOK PRECIOUS TO HAVE A PLAID DRESS PEEKING OUT UNDERNEATH)

RED VELVET ROMPER (IN CASE EVERYONE ELSE IS DECKED OUT IN PLAID — GOOD TO BALANCE WITH A FEW SOLIDS)

TARTAN BLOUSE (CUTE WITH DENIM IF GOING THE CASUAL ROUTE)

OVERSIZED HAIRBOW

THE ABSOLUTE PERFECT BLACK WATCH DRESS — ALSO ADORE THIS DARLING CHRISTMAS PLAID DRESS

SWEETEST CHRISTMAS SHOES

THIS $10 RUFFLE-TRIM DRESS (PRECIOUS WITH CABLEKNIT TIGHTS)

Tartan Finds for Little Boys.

THIS TARTAN BUBBLE (MATCHES SISTER’S SASH)

THIS CHRISTMAS PLAID SHORTALL (MATCHES SISTER’S DRESS)

WOOL BOW TIE (TO PAIR WITH NAVY BLAZER, WHITE SHIRT, KHAKIS)

WOOL TROUSERS (GREAT WITH A SHAWL COLLAR SWEATER — AND MATCHES SISTER)

BLACK WATCH BUTTON-DOWN (OR BODYSUIT IF ITTY BITTY, PERFECT UNDER THIS VELOUR SHORTALL SET) OR RED PLAID BUTTON DOWN

TARTAN JON JON

CUTE FLANNEL SHIRT FOR A DRESSED DOWN LOOK

Tartan Finds for Her.

I MEAN, THIS IS RIDICULOUS BUT CAN YOU EVEN?!

PLAID TOP KNOT HEADBAND OR SLIM PROFILE HEADBAND — GREAT WAY TO TIE IN WITH THE KIDS IF YOU END UP WEARING A SOLID DRESS

THIS PLEATED SKIRT COULD LOOK AMAZING WITH A MORE CONTEMPORARY-LEANING SWEATER, LIKE THIS ON-TREND CHUNKY KNIT OR THIS SCULPTURED MOCK NECK — OR EVEN THIS AVANT-GARDE BOW SWEATSHIRT

THIS TOPCOAT (FINAL DAY TO BUY ON SALE TODAY!) LAYERED OVER TROUSERS AND A SWEATER

THIS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TEXTURED BLAZER WITH SKINNY JEANS (EVOCATIVE OF BALMAIN BUT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE)

THIS PLAID PONCHO

A MAJOR SPLURGE, BUT I’M IN LOVE WITH THIS SMART TOP — IT WILL NEVER GO OUT OF VOGUE, AND THE SHAPE WORKS FOR ANY AGE

TARTAN BOOTIES!!! AMAZING WAY TO TIE IN WITH THE FAMILY

TARTAN TWEED SKIRT

Tartan Finds for Him.

WOOL TIE

THIS PLAID VELVET SUIT IS SO DELIGHTFULLY EXTRA — I’M DEAD OVER IT

FOR A MORE CASUAL LOOK (AMAZING WITH DARK DENIM)

TARTAN SMOKING LOAFERS (SO COOL IF THE REST OF THE OUTFIT IS TONED DOWN — DARK DENIM, A SIMPLE IVORY SWEATER)

PLAID SCARF

TARTAN SPORT SHIRT

P.S. And for the dog!

P.P.S. More first hints of holiday

P.P.P.S. What to wear to Thanksgiving and the prayer that represents the holiday best for me.