Sunday, January 9, 2011

Argyle is a familiar pattern that is most popular in the wildly popular argyle socks and argyle sweaters, consisting of layers of overlapping diamonds and crisscrossing lines that create the illusion of three dimensions. Although the original origins of the argyle pattern are not completely clear, one thing is for certain -- argyle is here to stay in fashion, design, and pop culture.

The history and original origins of the argyle pattern are clouded with mystery. The legend of the earliest origins of argyle dates back to clansmen living in the county of Argyll in West Central Scotland. Supposedly, the men cut their traditional plaid tartans to create foot coverings (the first argyle socks), and the cuts ultimately created the first argyle diamond pattern. Some historians are skeptical about the stated origins of the pattern due to the difference in spelling between Argyll and argyle, but there is general consensus that the argyle pattern originated in Scotland.


Argyle is the signature pattern of the luxury fashion brand Pringle of Scotland, who has been rumored to have created the first
Argyle sweater in the 1920s. Celebrities like Madonna, David Beckham and Nicole Kidman have helped to make the argyle-emblazoned brand popular and to bring argyle socks and argyle sweaters to the mainstream. Argyle is popular with both teens and adults looking to achieve the trendy "preppy" look for which argyle has become an icon.

Argyle first found its way onto the American fashion scene in 1949 when the president of Brooks Brothers came back from a golf tournament in Scotland with the argyle pattern in hand. He saw a golfer wearing argyle and immediately saw the argyle pattern's potential as a new casual look for American customers and returned to the United States to produce the first ever argyle stocks in North America.


The traditional argyle pattern has made a huge comeback not just in modern fashion, but in a few unexpected places as well. For example, the popular Slipstream Chipotle cycling team uses blue and orange argyle in all of their cycling uniforms and
promotional materials. A search on eBay for argyle returns almost 2,000 items as of this writing, including not just the usual fashion items like argyle socks and argyle sweaters, but also in collectibles like argyle lunchboxes, argyle lighters, and even argyle dinnerware. 
There's just one thing about these multi-colored socks that generations have found interesting in a variety of fashion presentations.

Argyle socks have gone in and out of fashion, only to return as the "latest thing". Maybe it is the flexibility of vogue applications or possibly it is a pure retro item. In addition to golfers, the most important audience for these distinctive socks are youthful people.


Though there are various tales on the origin of these socks, it's typically agreed they first confirmed up round 1500 as the footwear of the Scottish clan of Campbell within the town of Argyll in Scotland.


The clan's colours have been inexperienced and white, represented of their kilts and later, footwear product of the same cloth. From this easy beginning, argyle socks were born.


Sir Walter Scott, a Scottish writer and poet was largely responsible for immortalizing the argyle pattern when he brought attention to the design in a casual point out in his writings.


By the late 1700's, the argyle pattern was commercially produced, and knitters quickly followed the trend with diagonally stitched plaid stockings. These creations had been dubbed "argyle socks".


The name stuck. Today you can find these in any department retailer in any mixture of two or more colors, as standard as ever.


In case you're of an older technology, you may remember the trendy golfer of the 1920's, proud in his plaid golfing hat, pullover sweater vest and matching knee-excessive argyle socks, posing together with his golf equipment in all his vogue glory. This appearance was arguably the birth of argyle socks as an American fashion.


These patterned socks enjoyed immense recognition as a trend accessory for young individuals throughout the Roaring Twenties, fading as America entered the Great Depression.


Surfacing again in the 1940's and lasting nicely into the 1950's, argyle socks were a favorite knitting mission for younger ladies to make as presents for his or her boyfriends or for their very own wardrobe.


Subtle collegiates soon built-in argyle patterns in vests, sweaters and hats, as coordinating fashions to be worn with the esteemed argyle sock. So pervasive was the style, the argyle sock look eventually grew to become cliched, dying of overuse and changing into dated and out of fashion once again.


Then came the Preppies of the 1980's, with their Retro interpretation of penny loafers, that smart shoe of 1950's fame, teamed with argyle socks.


Right now, the famous socks are again enjoying a resurgence of fashion correctness, with a brand new twist. Now the argyle sock could also be worn with grunge shorts or tuxedos in a contrasting and incongruous model statement. Uncoordinated is the brand new expression of individualism.


Argyle socks are a part of trend history. As the saying goes, "history repeats itself", so that you might be a trend setter with your own new tackle the argyle sock. 
Argyle is the repeated pattern of diamond shapes in a fabric or article of clothing.  There are many interesting variations incorporated into argyle patterns, such as small and large sized diamonds paired in a design, or geometric lines interspersed onto or around the argyle pattern.
Color plays a major role in spicing up an argyle pattern on an article of clothing or a fashion accessory. Two or more complementing colors are what add interest and attractiveness to an argyle design.
* Vests
Vests have cycled back around in the fashion arena. Argyle patterned vests for both men and women are popular, in both business and leisure wear. A conservative business suit with an argyle vest underneath eliminates any hint of stodgy or boring. Argyle vests look good paired with jeans, skirts or shorts. The shirt under the vest can be either pristine white or a color matching one of the colors in the argyle pattern. More adventuresome fashionable might get away with wearing a striped shirt under an argyle vest.
* Socks
Argyle socks never go out of style. Darker tones work well with business attire. For leisure wear, the wilder the colors, the more fun to wear.
* Sweaters
Argyle patterns work well on sweaters for males, females, children of both genders and babies. A cardigan, or a sweater vest, in a bright, cheerful argyle design, makes an ideal gift for all ages.
* Coats
High fashion this year is argyle patterned coats. Belted half-coats in black and white argyle geometric patterns are all the rage.
* Hat, scarf and glove sets
Knitted winter outerwear is especially conducive to argyle patterns. The entire item can be argyle, or the band of the hat and matching scarf, with an identical pattern on the upper surface of the mittens or gloves.
* Argyle accessories
Nowadays it is not unusual to see an argyle pattern on a woman’s purse. Black and white are an especially popular current design.
You can also find argyle patterns on costume jewelry, slippers, headbands and myriad other clothing accessories.
Argyle patterned clothing is trendy and youthful-looking. If you don’t currently own anything in an argyle pattern, remedy the situation with a spiffy sweater, or some fun argyle socks.
If it can be considered an accessory, the item most conducive to an argyle pattern is the afghan.  Whether you are snuggling up by your  television, or buying a gift for a new infant, argyle-patterned afghans are ideal. 
If your overall wardrobe feels boring and worn looking, spice it up with some colorful argyle items of clothing or accessories. Argyle is versatile and can add zest and expand your wardrobe possibilities.