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Three ways to wear statement checks this autumn

Bold checks and plaids are well and truly in. Here’s a first taste of the new season’s sharpest checked statement pieces.

Wearing bold checks is the kind of style-quandary that puts many men in a spin. And, at this time of year, as temperatures start to drop and six-months worth of checked suits and coats hit the shelves, anxious cries of protestation ringing out across the capital, ‘I couldn’t possibly wear that, it’s far too loud!’ Well, au contraire, checks are easier to wear than you think – even the loud ones. The key is to play up to them, and let them do the talking, while keeping the rest of your look simple.

In other words, let the fabric do the talking. After all, checks are a great tool for showing off the lines of your clothes; a checked suit has the power to make you look taller and slimmer than you actually are, and on the weekends a striking checked knit or blouson makes for a sleek point of difference to everyone else’s plain grey and navy go-tos. Wear with dark, plain shirts or tees beneath, and you can guarantee that your jacket will turn heads without raising eyebrows this winter.

1. Checked power suits

Now, we know that not all offices will permit a confident checked suit, but if yours does, this is the one to go for. Gieves & Hawkes’s Autumn / Winter ’18 collection takes the house back to its roots as a tailor to the Royal Navy’s officer class, reintroducing sartorial patterns and sharp lines to its tailoring. This elegant single-breasted two-piece hits the nail on the head; mixing a classic Prince-of-Wales check flannel with a rich Burgundy overcheck (the check’s colour is inspired by Royal Navy medal ribbons) with broad lapels, straight shoulders and a jacket that’s cut just that little bit longer for a contemporary take on Savile Row’s structured silhouette. This is a suit to dress as seen here, with a plain dark shirt and tie, or a burgundy merino rollneck – let the suit speak for itself, and you’ll look as cool and clean-cut as can be.

£995, shop now

2. Truckers and blousons

The humble trucker is a ubiquitous casual jacket, and needn’t be restricted to its traditional denim fabrication. This autumn/winter, there are plenty of options in suede, cord and velvet to choose from, too. The sharp looking thing from precision engineered German brand, A Kind Of Guise, is well suited to the weekends, or to creative office environments. The way it mixes a casual jacket with a formal tailoring cloth is chic, and its generous collar and pressed metal buttons add a dressy edge to the design. Note also how the check is pattern-matched across the jacket’s seams and pockets, giving the impression of a seamless pattern across its front. Pair with a white t-shirtblack jeans or tapered dark-coloured chinos for a pin-sharp look.

£370, shop now

3. Chunky knits

If a checked jacket doesn’t do it for you, a luxurious checked knit is, if anything, even easier to wear. This piece is from Johnston’s of Elgin, and shows off a sophisticated tonal glen check knitted from pure cashmere, spun in Johnston’s own historic mill. It mixes navy and charcoal for an understated take on large-format check, and while soft and warming, it isn’t too thick. It’s dark colours will also pair comfortably with just about anything you’d care to choose; grey flannelsselvedge denim, sky blue button-downs or chambray shirts and top coats, the world’s your oyster. Plus, this is a design that simply won’t date; invest this autumn and you’ll wear it for many winters to come.

£349, shop now

Author: Daily Ting