Style favourites are constantly coming back around, those pieces that we loved, we put away for a time or got rid of all together, yet some day in the near or not so near future they always come back to us.
Whether it's the power shoulders of the eighties, the flares of the seventies or the mini skirts and white boots of the sixties it seems nothing is all that fresh nowadays, but as someone who takes great inspiration from looking to the past I have to say I really rather like it.
I discussed a short while back about how I wish there was some sort of i-Cloud for storing our currently unloved clothes for a while until they inevitably come back around, now wouldn't that be all kinds of awesome!?
But alas, that is not the case and things come and go quicker than you can say "Peri Peri Chicken" (yeah, you can tell what I'm craving for dinner tonight can't ya!)
But I have to say, one trend I didn't see coming back around as quickly as it did and tbh, ever, was the humble checked shirt. A piece that is synonymous with the 90s grunge movement but that goes way back to the 1800's when the first plaid shirt was designed for workers in a Pennsylvania-based Woolen Mill. In the 1940's checked shirts were a weekend staple for most men and eventually women when Marilyn Monroe borrowed from the boys and began to wear them.
And the rest is quite literally history the plaid shirt became a part of our every day attire, particularly when I was around the age of 16-19(ish), when I was exploring the whole "indie kid" phase. Plaid shirts teamed with a pair of cut off denim shorts, DIY slogan T-shirts, tights, ankle socks and a pair of cheap brogues, anyone else?
Since then they have somewhat dwindled in popularity. Yes, they're still the kind of item that most people have in their wardrobes for down days, DIY days and not doing much else days, but I for one said sayonara to my checked shirts long ago so I'm rather surprised to see them back again today.
Surprised, yes! But pleased, HELL YES!
There's something so cool, so relaxed and so "I don't give a fuq" about checked shirts. I rocked my first checked shirt in a long ole time last week in Paris for an exciting trip with Maison Margiella Fragrances. It was a bit of a curve ball of a look but one I truly, truly adored for many reasons.
First off, I felt a lot like one of my style crushes Mary Kate Olsen, albeit a budget version. She rocks a checked shirt like nobody else, she throws caution to the wind when it comes to dressing for her shape and size and she works to create the most interesting of silhouettes, if you could even call them that. As a fellow petite gal, she's someone I really look up to for ignoring what it is society says she "should" wear.
Whilst this look wasn't necessarily made for me and all 5ft4 of me, somehow it worked and I felt both seriously comfortable and pretty damn great too.
The humble checked shirt is back and I for one am thrilled about it. I can't wait to see how far I can push it this season whether that be with more "unflattering" silhouettes, more layering like this, for both casual and for dressier occasions, I think this is going to be fun.
What do you think of the whole checked shirt resurgence? Are you happy to see that it's back in business? Will you be investing in a checked shirt or are you one of the lucky ones who didn't get rid of your trusty checked shirt the first time around? Any fun ways you're planning on styling them? Let me know, I'm intrigued to hear if it's just me who's got the whole checked shirt bug.
I've also listed some of my favourite checked shirts below for y'all just in case you're keen to explore this micro trend some more or to update your trusty checks entirely.
x M
Loooove a checked shirt, they literally go with everything! But i did make the big mistake to get rid of them when I had a very posh fashion face a couple of years ago…. I desperately need to get one tho but which colour scheme? Decisions decisions decisions… Love styling them in an 80s kinda way!
Lots of love! xx
Don’t they just. I totally forgot just how awesome and versatile they are! So many colour schemes out there right now, let me know what you go for x
plaid look brought to another level
http://7-sevendays.blogspot.gr/
Thanks boo x
Loved this post, so interesting to hear the back story of the humble checked shirt! I will be dragging my (slightly) paint splatted House jobs checked shirt out from storage now i think!!
YAAAAAS! I think the paint splats will deffo add character to the look. LOVE IT! x
I love a good checked shirt, I haven’t worn one in such a long tim. I used to wear them all the time when I was in college and put a hideous wide belt over the waist. Not a good look, I think looking back at photos of that has put my off. A belt free situation might alright though haha x
AHAHA I LOVE items like this that we’ve all worn a million times before in our lifetime but in so many different ways. I used to wear mine open with a customised Tshirt underneath ( I customised my tee’s A LOT back then ha!) and then with cut off levis and thick black tights with socks and brogues…Not a good look!
Go for it girlie, give it another whirl for sure! x
Hey Megan, I daily read your posts. your blog is just amazing. I really appreciate you. Good job, keep it up.
Ohhh thanks so much x
Excellent read, Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting
I used to wear mine open with a customised Tshirt underneath
WOW! These are simply awesome.
I always like to wear these type of checked shirts going to buy another for sure!