As much as the AW 16/17 collections were some of the most directional and experimental seen in recent seasons, there was also a healthy dose of tradition, and it doesn’t get more traditional than good old fashioned checks….Prince of Wales, dogtooth, tartan, windowpane, we saw it all. Monochrome continued to be a favourite colourway but there were also plenty of blue and red variations on show.
Heritage brands like Burberry, Gieves & Hawkes, and Pringle of Scotland continued to use the pattern in a timeless way by working in a darker colour palette but there were designers giving the classic check a modern and youthful twist; Coach kept it cool by inserting check panels onto jackets whilst Christopher Shannon went one better, covering everything from parkas to shorts in a patchwork of different patterns.
[URIS id=63246]HOW TO GET THE LOOK…
If classic is your bag, you really can’t go wrong with a sharp checked suit….whether you go for a bold tartan or simple windowpane is totally up to you. The pattern also adds an edge to more casual items, like bomber jackets and sweats, so can still wear the trend if feeling formal isn’t your thing. And there must be at least one flannel shirt lurking in your wardrobe, so dig it out and put it on.
Bomber jacket
Oliver Spencer, £329
www.oliverspencer.co.uk
Shirt
Gitman Vintage, £165
www.goodhoodstore.com
Suit
Topman, £210
www.topman.com
Jacket
Acne, £480
www.acnestudios.com
Shirt
Whistles, £110
www.whistles.com
Sweatpants
Jack Wills, £49.50
www.asos.com
Trench coat
Zara, £99.99
www.zara.com