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Trends: Checks

We're now in autumn in Australia. Check patterns are almost ubiquitous now. Thank tartan for being a recurring trend for quite some time. However, patterns like houndstooth, gingham and Prince of Wales check popped up on the runways as well as various types of tweed (houndstooth is the most popular). Now I love my checks but there's only so far I would go for them.

Autumn/Winter 2013/14

Houndstooth
The classic tweed was featured on various runways. In Christian Dior, it was mostly kept classic and minimal. Comme des Garcons featured the classic houndstooth on some unusually shaped garments. Rag & Bone opted for a grey and black houndstooth and used various textured fabric to create an asymmetrical garment. 

Left to Right: Dior, Comme des Garcons, Rag & Bone

Tips: Wear houndstooth in moderation for a casual look but if you're daring enough, you could do a houndstooth suit.

Pattern-on-pattern / Pattern-mixing
Pattern-in-pattern is exactly what it is. Tommy Hilfiger introduced a series of garments in which a houndstooth pattern is contained within alternating diamonds in a harlequin print or an argyle with a houndstooth overlay. I think it was more of a hit-or-miss think with the pattern-in-pattern but I do adore the argyle sweater with houndstooth overlay. 

Pattern mixing isn't a foreign concept as of lately as it is no longer a fashion faux pas to wear more than one pattern at a time. There is an art behind picking patterns that don't clash and that's by sticking to a colour palette. 

Left to Right: Mulberry, Tommy Hilfiger (last two)

Tweed
It isn't a Chanel F/W without tweed. However, other brands are picking them up and I like the look of the jumbo tweed. However, I do find tweed is a bit 'old-lady' and very difficult to pull off. I think the jumbo tweed is the way to go if you're younger and want to wear tweed.
Left to Right: Chanel, Junya Watanabe, Mulberry

'Laundry Bag' Plaid
Not really digging this. It does offer the illusion that it looks like it's actually a laundry bag made into a garment. I think it's cool to look at but not really sure if it'd work for casual wear.
Both from Celine

Top-to-toe Check
Emilia Wickstead had some large neutral plaids. For the top-to-toe looks, one used just one pattern whilst the other paired it with another neutral plaid.
Moschino went for a some plaid for the equestrian look and had a subtle D&G Baroque influence. Their top-to-toe plaid suits are over-the-top but it'd work for anyone who's game enough for it.

Tommy Hilfiger utilised different checks of varying colours and size (pattern-mixing) to keep the top-to-toe check interesting. By using neutral colours, you can avoid making it look like a crazy mess. The key is to keep to a colour palette.

Left to Right: Emilia Wickstead, Moschino, Tommy Hilfiger

Tips:
  • Smaller print if mixing 3+ different checks/patterns together (keep to a colour palette and have same background colour to avoid clashing)
  • If going for bold, stick to 1-2 patterns 
  • Larger patterns is easier to pair with if they're neutral-coloured
  • Be careful not to overdo it

Autumn/Winter 2014-15

Sheer Tartan
I like the idea of this, especially for those warmer autumn days.
Left to Right: Polo Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang

Sequined Tartan
I don't normally like sequinned items (too shiny/sparkly). I think YSL has made me rethink sequins because this sequinned tartan skirt looks great for nightwear. The reason why I probably like it is because it's not completely sequinned - the lines of the tartan are made from sequins. Gotta love her hot-pink bag too.
Yves Saint Laurent
In all honesty, I haven't spotted many check items lately in stores. There'd be a couple in a store but it's definitely not a huge trend here but they still linger around. I reckon monochrome is going to be bigger. 

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