Plaids & Checks: Spruce up Your Work Wardrobe with a Little Pattern

Made in Italy, this windowpane plaid suit from Brooks Brothers is a distinguished work option. It’s in their Fitzgerald model, which is a modern silhouette with a narrower lapel, shorter jacket and closer to the body fit – a more versatile choice than some of their more gentlemanly fits. The subtle and sophisticated plaid is actually an update, based on a classic plaid from the Brook Brothers archives. With a history spanning almost 200 years, when they go back to their archives, they always end up with something timeless that you’ll want to wear for years. Treat the suit as a solid grey when selecting shirts and ties. Try a medium spaced plaid shirt (this means there is an even amount of ground space to pattern) with a solid or pattern tie. And don’t be afraid to skip the jacket sometimes and just wear the vest – super classic, and effortlessly stylish.

Sport coats are an investment. We know that. So, you want to make sure they will have more than one use in your lifestyle. You’ll be happy you have this one from Canali - you can wear it for a meeting with a client and also with your jeans on days when you’re going to be at your desk all day and then head out to dinner. On meeting day, team it with a charcoal or navy pair of wool dress pants, a white of blue solid shirt and widely spaced striped tie. On casual days, just add your favorite dark wash jeans to pick up the rich deep blues of the sport coat. You will love the fit and luxury of Canali.

This tan/blue cotton plaid from Brooks Brothers is another versatile plaid sport coat option. Dress it up with wool dress pants, a white or blue shirt and tie. Or wear it with twill pants and a more casual chambray shirt. The cotton fabric makes this a wear now blazer that will easily take you well into fall. This is in their Fitzgerald model, so it has a more modern fit than some other Brooks Brothers options, but sill fits most gents.

Santorelli is a favorite here at Mark Shale for work wear, and these pants are a perfect example of why. The quality is unparalleled – these are partially lined and the Italian wool has a bit of stretch, so they will be comfortable for a long day at the office. The windowpane plaid pattern is very subtle, giving these pants endless uses in your work rotation. We recommend treating them like a solid pair of pants, and wearing them with an interesting patterned shirt – very sharp. Add a solid fine gauge (=thin) sweater in cooler weather for a finished layered look.

This Hugo Boss plaid shirt is in a terrific shade of blue – a little bolder than your basic dress shirt, for sure, but entirely sophisticated for any office, when paired with a navy blazer, suit, or even a grey herringbone sport coat. This contemporary fitting shirt is equally great with khaki, grey or navy cotton twill pants for a casual office day. As the weather gets cooler, it will work really well with your dark washed jeans and a solid sweater.

From Peter Millar, this clean blue and white windowpane button-down shirt is effortless. You don’t even need to think twice when deciding what to wear with it because, really, anything goes – wool dress pants, khakis, or jeans. If you like to wear a blazer to the office, a navy one is an easy pairing.

Even in the most casual office setting, it can be fun to wear a tie – especially when it’s an Alexander Olch one. We are currently pretty obsessed with this line of handmade ties, we’ll be honest. This wool plaid actually makes us wish the weather was colder already. The width is narrow for a modern look. Try it with a white shirt with short button down collar, jeans and a navy or charcoal sweater or sweater vest. (This one is pretty great, too – it will look great with a classic black cashmere sport coat.)

A pocket square is an important finishing touch that easily lends itself to plaids and checks for a pop of sartorial fun. We really like this silk navy glen plaid from Hugo Boss. Wear it with both the solid boarder points and plaid showing or folded so just the plaid shows. Works with all your blues, greys and browns. Don’t worry about how to pair this with your tie – the plaid is even and tight, so almost any tie pattern is going to work with it. The only way you’ll go wrong is if you try to be too matchy and find a tie in the same plaid.