Scotland: Cutting Edge of Fashion

Move over Paris, Milan, and New York, a revolution in fashion is breaking with Scottish Designers at the helm. The notion that Scottish design starts and ends with the kilt is coming under attack as big-name designers and independent boutiques are churning out the looks that are making waves on catwalks and sidewalks around the world.

Who to wear / the designers

Whether it’s the indefinable punk rocker, director, and designer Pamm Hogg, or the exuberant print and pattern designer Jonathan Saunders, Scottish designers are at the top of the fashion charts.  Scotland’s native son, Christopher Kane, is roaring at the forefront of the industry. Having won the Young Scottish Designer of the Year award in 2006, Kane is churning out collections for TopShop and top retailers.  There are more designers on the way, so be sure to also keep an eye out for Scott Ramsay Kyle and Olanic.

Where to get the Look:

Glasgow and Edinburgh are in neck and neck competition for the title of Scotland’s style capital. Unique looks and designer labels can also be found throughout the country.  Unlike designer stores in London whose new collections and sales get picked bare in hours, Scotland’s ample offerings and more relaxed pace equal awesome designer savings.

The grande dame of designer emporiums in Glasgow is Cruise which sits proud amid a run of designer stores in Ingram Street. Cruise stocks classic Diane Von Furstenberg wrap-dresses, Gucci, and cheeky Moschino pieces.  Check out House of Fraser for the grand daddy of department stores in Glasgow.  In Edinburgh’s oldest department store Jenners or at the more recently arrived Harvey Nichols, you’ll find top Scottish designers in one expansive location.

On the smaller boutique scene, Pink Poodle in Glasgow’s west end is packed with the kind of pretty skirts and peasant tops that remind you of summer holidays. They also carry a good selection of bold jewelry. Don’t even think of missing Che Camille in Glasgow, a fashion blogger favorite. Fifi and Ally, in Princes Square, was voted one of the best shops in the world and has welcomed celebrities from across the globe.

On the vintage scene, go to the fabulous Saratoga Trunk. Slightly further afield, a trip to this emporium of antique clothing is well worth the adventure. The shop is famous for supplying the costumes for Hollywood blockbusters.  Mr. Benn also gets an honorable mention for vintage treasures, and Starry Starry Night in cosmopolitan Glasgow’s West End. Not to be outdone, Edinburgh’s vintage scene is headlined by Threadbare Vintage on Broughton Street, and the ever popular Joey D.

For a full breakdown of the designer options in Glasgow, check out Scotland with Style
For the full breakdown of the Edinburgh scene, see Come to Scotland.

Where to be: Scene

Celebrities and fashion denizens are showing up in chic bars and restaurants all over the country. First off, don’t go to Scotland without hitting the pubs. However, your best bet for a night out with the stylish set will be the restaurants and bars most recently nominated as Scotland’s Most Stylish, including: Chez Roux in Inverness, The Saint in Edinburgh, and The Two Figs in Glasgow.

In Glasgow you can show off your Jonathan Saunders inspired outfit at Brel, The Ivy or the SubClub – the latter is world famous for its electronic music. If you are outside the city, you might want to show up at Cuan Mor in Oban, or the Ailsa Bar, in Turnberry.

Scotland’s Hip Hotels

When an Italian fashion label Missoni launched its plan to imprint the signature name and look to a chain of super-chic hotels around the world, Edinburgh, not Paris, not Milan, not New York, was the first stop. Other top contenders for the most fashionable and super-chic hotel in Scotland include Blythswood Square, Malmaison and 21212. But that’s just a few of the luxurious and sexy hotels that have recently landed in Scotland.

Of Tartan and Tweed

Scottish Tartan (or plaid) has a long history of craftsmanship.  While the traditional appeal of the fabric will never fade, there has been a resurgence of interest in the world of high fashion.  From knitware designers to celebrities, people are finding their Tartan,

Harris Tweed is one of the last great surviving craft industries. Made by weavers in their own rural homes using pure virgin wool, Harris Tweed by law can be produced only in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. This much loved material is back in vogue with tweed jackets, scarves and blazers showing up on the shoulders of the glitterati around the world. (Tip: Hotel Hebrides, Isle of Harris was nominated for the most stylish hotel in Scotland.)