Did you know that the grey suit worn by Cary Grant in North by Northwest was in fact a ventless glen plaid check with a blue-ish weave and not in fact, plain grey? Do you also know the difference between a glen plaid check and a Prince of Wales and from which Royal we have that name? Check tailoring is good for the average pub quiz, but it’s even better for your wardrobe.

Check blazers are everywhere this season. Tartan, tweed, Prince-of-Wales, glen plaid, window-pane, gun-check; from the subtle to the bold, checks are a thing. The season’s runways were awash with fashionable check patterns of all iterations. But that’s not why we’re telling you to embrace pattern in your wardrobe.

For all its timelessness, a check blazer is a point of difference, a break from the norm and could be just what you need to spice up both your formal and casual dress.

Reiss

One of the most stylish designers out there, Patrick Grant – creative director of E. Tautz – tell us, “We’ve always believed that tailoring needs to continually evolve, it needs to feel new and relevant, whether that’s in its construction (softer, more fluid), its cut (straighter longer, squarer), or its pattern. For AW18 we’ve continued to make the patterns in our jackets more vivid, with heavier contrast and grander scale. Because we think tailored clothes should say something bold.”

That’s the low down. Here are five stylish ways to wear a check blazer.

Zara

How To Wear A Check Blazer

Pattern Pro

If it’s your first foray into the pattern, then start with a casual take on the check blazer and keep it simple. By its very nature, checks carry an air of formality, especially if they’re weaved in contrasting colours. For a casual style, keep the check tonal and in a smaller scale – the gun check offers a great sporting take on this notion.