Are Checks the Autumn / Winter equivalent to Florals in the Spring? Groundbreaking… I rarely think about checks in the summer, with the exception of gingham dresses of course, but as the nights draw in, I feel compelled to break them all out, Tartan, Houndstooth, Blanket and, at a push, Windowpane. Is Blanket an actual type of check? I’m not sure, I may have just made that one up.
I will be wearing my new checked Jigsaw coat with an abundance of corduroy. I also added to my corduroy collection this week with another marvellous dress from Kemi Telford. She makes dresses that speak to me, and they always have pockets. You should know by now how I feel about pockets…
CHECK COAT
What to wear when the rest of your outfit is simple? A check coat of course. I know I should maybe be a bit braver with mixing up my prints. I see some people mingling their Florals, Leopards and Checks together with ease, but I find that so hard to get right without looking like I’ve got dressed in the dark.
Although, to be fair, most of us are getting dressed in the dark now that the clocks have gone back. The darkness of winter is my least favourite thing about the season, and don’t get me started on the grey drizzle days where you have to make the hat/no hat decision every morning before you leave the house. Being someone who has never suited a hat (and has an unfeasibly large head) yet is prone to very frizzy hair at the first sniff of moisture, these kind of days are not my friends.
1. Mango Checked Structured Coat
2. Cos Leather Tote Bag
3. Cos Frilled Shirt Dress
4. & Other Stories Leather Chelsea Boots
5. Gucci Leather Embroidered Loafers
CHECK OVERSHIRT
I’ve featured a few of these check overshirts in previous blog posts, it’s definitely a trend for this season, and on I can get on board with. My husband, who is from Vancouver, would call these ‘Maple Ridge Dinner Jackets’. A somewhat derogatory comment about people from Maple Ridge who would think these jackets are something to wear to a smart occasion. I don’t think you can call yourself a proper Canadian if you don’t own a lumber jacket over-shirt.
If I had a dog, I’d be wearing this outfit to walk it on crisp sunny mornings. But of course I don’t have a dog because,
A. Most mornings aren’t crisp and sunny.
B. We have 4 cats. It would eat them.
1. Arket Oversized Wool Blend Overshirt
2. Anine Bing City Love Sweatshirt
3. H&M Straight HIgh Ankle Jeans
4. & Other Stories Pink Lurex Ankle Socks
5. & Other Stories Leather Hiker Boots
CHECK BLAZER
Check blazers do sometimes conjure up images of ladies of a certain age from the Countryside. Probably called Fenella, Maybe also wearing a matching tweed fedora with a jaunty Peacock feather in it, and a pair of those tan knee high boots with the quilting at the top. She’ll probably pop a jerkin over the top if it gets a bit chilly when she’s walking Biffy and Miffy, the Chocolate Labs, over the fields. Sorry. I think I’ve been reading too much Jilly Cooper.
Wear your checked blazer with your Navy wool trousers from Cos, and put a Carloe London bag on your Christmas list. Every girl should have one.
1. LK Bennett Houndstooth Check Blazer
2. Carloe London Navy Edie Box Bag
3. Cos Navy Cropped Wool Mix Trousers
4. Cos Navy Wool Cotton Jumper
5. Genevieve Sweeney Wool Linen Socks
6. Dune Navy Leather Lace Up Brogues
CHECK SKIRT
If I was to ever wear shoes or boots with heels, I would wear these boots from John Lewis & Partners with a pleated checked skirt. I would feel ever so grown-up and would probably get my hair blow dried and meet someone for brunch on a Thursday. I’d also only eat fruit and yoghurt because I’m watching my figure. But I can’t do that because I’m still basically a child who lives in clompy boots and trainers, doesn’t like ANY fruit and would order bacon with a side of bacon for brunch. I still like those boots though.
1. & Other Stories Mock Neck Sweater
2. Mango Croc Effect Handbag
3. & Other Stories Oversized Blazer Coat
4. Mango Checked Pleated Skirt
5. John Lewis & Partners Leather & Suede Boots
CHECK TROUSERS
My Granny always favoured a pair of stay-press central-creased polyester checked trousers. She was also very keen on golf. She had that look down to a tee (see what I did there). Doubtful she would have worn DMs though. But she would never leave the house without a full face of make-up, bright lipstick and her customary shimmer pink nail polish. I don’t think I ever saw her without her finger nails painted. I feel naked without mine done. Maybe I got that from her.
1. & Other Stories Shell Button Satin Shirt
2. Gucci GG Dionysus Mini Bag
3. Toast Tattershall Check Wide Leg Trousers
4. Jigsaw Maxi City Coat
5. Dr Marten Cherry Red Leather Shoes
Thanks for sticking by me while I ramble on about things that not even related to fashion. Truth be told I wrote this whole blog post mid-week but forgot to save it, so this is what I came up with last minute. The ramblings of a stressed fool with a self-imposed blog deadline.
Don’t forget to vote for me to win an award. There’s still time. If you’ve got 2 email addresses, may I suggest you vote using both here.
K x
