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STYLE ADVICE
Five important checked shirts
By Gavin Jewkes, 2 April 2015
You’re probably tired of being told the only way to live your life is with a giant beard on your face and some sweet checks on your back – but it’s the truth, son. Yes, we’re talking about the refusal of the lumbersexual trend to ‘do one’ anytime soon, pretty much because it’s been adopted by every sartorially accomplished celebrity in the land and it increases your chances of pulling by 92%*.
Now we’re not suggesting you grow a set of whiskers if that’s not your vibe, but throwing on a shirt constructed of quality buffalo-checked flannel is something we’re putting our full weight behind. Check out a few of our favourite check-ified outfits below for inspiration on how to wear yours.
*Not scientifically proven.
Picture: REX
Ryan Reynolds
When amazing shirts happen to people who aren’t you, life can seem unfair. In this instance, Ryan Reynolds’ heavy-duty fleece shirt is the perfect foil to a crisp spring day and looks the absolute bee’s knees – so naturally we’re on the lookout for a version of our own. A tip for when you’re wearing buffalo checks is to pair your shirt with a white crew neck T-shirt underneath, because, as Reynolds shows, this combination looks really fresh and effortless.
Picture: REX
Ricki Hall
He may have the most famous hair and beard in the biz (not that you can tell under that hat), but model Ricki Hall is also into heavy checks – in a big way. Part tattooed pirate, part check-toting lumberjack, Hall’s signature look is on the verge of cartoonish. But he pulls it back from the brink of ridiculousness by styling it out with low-key denim and plenty of black.
Picture: REX
David Beckham
There are few men who do checks quite like David Beckham. Importantly, he goes for distressed styles that look a bit like he’s got a guy employed specifically to stonewash his threads. This lends his outfit an authentic look and feel – one that makes you question whether he’s shuttling an arsenal of rusty tools in the holdall slung so casually over his shoulder.
Picture: REX
Tinie Tempah
Wearing your shirt like a skirt became a thing last summer. Here’s Tinie Tempah rocking his buffalo checks around his waist, creating cool, interesting layers and added depth to his look. The best bit about using his shirt in this way is the fact that he’s broken up all that monochrome with a very subtle flash of colour, bringing some much-needed personality to the outfit.
Picture: REX
Kanye West
Leave it to Yeezy to throw an oversized checked shirt over his hoodie and accessorise it with a giant chain. This lumberjack number is great because it’s heavier than your average shirt, firmly entering ‘shacket’ territory. Layers with an intermediate heft to them (shirt x jacket = shacket), like his, are great for spring as they provide an extra level of warmth when it’s cool but won’t cause you too much aggro should the mercury rise again.
