By Sandra Dick

BURNS Night is looming, but there's no need to cancel the chance to celebrate the Bard's birthday just because you can't find a thing to wear, not when tartan and – cover your ears, Edinburgh kilt makers – plaid-style check is already lurking on the fashion rails. Thanks to top-notch designers like Alexander McQueen and, of course, doyenne of punk Vivienne Westwood – punk was awash with tartan – the traditional clan uniform fabric and its watered down checked cousins are still making catwalk news.

Take Homecoming Scotland's official designer, Edinburgh-based Irene Wadsworth, whose breathtaking tartan bustle skirts and figure enhancing corsets were last seen on the catwalk in New York's Dressed to Kilt fashion show hosted by Sir Sean Connery.

For the rest of us, there's the High Street for fashion staples in fabrics and prints that might not be official Scottish clan originals but at least take their inspiration from our national dress.

Mini kilts can still be found lurking among the sale stock at various High Street fashion stores, or go online to oli.co.uk for a teeny Cheryl Cole style Yumi strapless grey tartan dress with bubble skirt (reduced from £31 to £25).

Alternatively, you might go for a Liquorish zip detail bandeau tartan dress reduced from £65 to just £19, a delectable PPQ white and tartan band silk dress, slashed from £295 to just £59, and a striking Warehouse black and red ruche puff sleeve shift (£120).

Try Matalan's Be Beau range for punk inspired thigh-skimming tartan skirts (£14) worn with little box pleat matching jackets (£30), T-shirt and leggings, tartan belted dresses (£20) and even tartan tights – ideal if you simply want to give a Burns Night twist to a little black dress.

If you're feeling flush, head to Corniche in Jeffrey Street, where some of the queen of tartan style, Vivienne Westwood's Anglomania range, featuring tartan skirt suits, mini kilt skirts and a striking 'square' blouse in russet and pink check feature in the winter sale.

If you're looking for more mainstream everyday checks and tartan, Marks & Spencer Per Una's sophisticated grey and purple check cap sleeve shift dress (£45) and, from the Autograph range, a simple grey check skirt teamed with a sleek satin blouse.

Neither are pure tartan, but at least you'll still be able to wear both for the season ahead.

If you simply can't embrace a full tartan outfit, then Impractical Clothes designer Irene suggests simply brightening up a plain little black dress with a tartan touch, such as her tartan sporran shaped handbags, for example. She says: "Cut the right way, with the right design, it's fabulous – and it's a lot of fun."

www.impracticalclothes.com, prices for outfits available on request, handbags from £20.