Checked Shirts

Business and Formal Shirts for men, in check pattern

A checked shirt these days is as popular in men's formal dress as it is in casual dress. There's plenty of choice for formal checked shirts, such as gingham check, fine check, mini check, block check and Prince of Wales check. We've searched through all the top menswear and fashion web sites to bring you the very best in checked formal shirts below. The choice includes formal shirts from some of the best shirt makers and shirt brands around, including TM Lewin, Austin Reed, Joseph Turner, Charles Tyrwhitt, Paul Smith and many more, from the most respected men's fashion retailers in UK. We have hand picked what we think are the best in checked formal shirts, and all are available to be bought online, quickly and easily.

Our Choice: Checked Formal Shirts

There's no doubt that checked shirts look great for formal wear. If you find the right tie to match, a check shirt can be a great colourful addition to your business wardrobe, and allows you to wear something with a bit more life to it than the standard business uniform of plain white shirt or light blue shirt. Not that there's anything wrong with those, but everyone needs a change every now and then. See below for more information on choosing the right checked shirt, or see above for a great choice of the best men's formal checked shirts available to buy online in UK.

About our Formal Checked Shirt Selection

There are 100s of checked formal shirts available for men. We have tried to pick out the best styles and colours above so that you to give you the best idea of what's available. We've picked out a variety of checked shirts, hopefully in price ranges to suit all pockets, and in all styles of check and a wide choice of colours. We hand pick our shirt selections, always keeping an eye on value for money as well as style. But value for money doesn't mean cheap: for us it means getting the best quality shirt for the best price. We have also only selected shirts from trustworthy fashion and menswear retailers in UK. Our checked shirt range includes shirts made from 100% cotton, in all the usual range of quality weaves and finishes, such as Oxford Weave, Poplin and Twill cotton, as well as some easy to iron shirts. There are checked shirts with button cuff or with a double cuff if you prefer wearing cufflinks. There is also a variety of collar styles available too, such as cutaway and button down collars. But considering just how many different styles of check pattern there is available in men's shirts, we thought it would be helpful to set out what is meant by certain terms such as mini check or block. So below we have included some information to help you understand more about formal shirt terms and hopefully help you make the right choice in checked shirts.

Gingham Check Shirts

Gingham check is probably one of the most famous checks, and can be found used for a variety of different clothing, including men's shirts. The standard colour for gingham checked shirts is light blue, but there are pink and lilac gingham checks to be found, and possibly bolder colours such as red, purple and green. Gingham check is symmetrical, and makes consistent use of the main colour, a lighter shade of the colour, and white. The overall effect is colourful without being too dominant or "blocky", and gingham is now one of the classic styles of men's formal shirts. We feel a blue gingham check shirt should be one of the many formal essentials in a man's wardrobe.

Fine Check Shirts

A fine check pattern is simply when a shirt includes a thin coloured line over a base colour to create the check. It's a very simple yet effective way to add interest and colour to a shirt. There are no set rules regarding fine check, other than it should be subtle, with the base colour being the predominant element.

Mini Check or Micro Check Shirts

Mini check, sometimes referred to as micro check, is a small checked pattern, which from a distance is quite hard to see, and so gives the overall impression of one colour, but with added texture or interest. A mini check is usually symmetrical and consitent in pattern. Think of the squares in a gingham pattern, but much smaller - mini even! However, a mini check shirt deosn't necessarily have to include white as a colour, as is the case with gingham.

Block Check or Bold Check

As with the fashion for bold stripes in men's formal shirts, there's also a fashion for block or bold checks too. A bold or block check is a great style if you want to stand out, although there is a choice of colours, from purple to light blue, so it's possible to choose a paler, pastel colour to make the overall look less imposing. A block check shirt is probably best worn with a plain or subtle tie.

Prince of Wales Check Shirts

A Prince of Wales check is probably more famous for its use in men's suits. This is a busy check, almost tartan like, although not necessarily as colourful. The pattern gets its name from Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) and has been popular since the 1930s. Many of the shirts available these days have a freer interpretation of this style check compared to suits and men's jackets for example.