The checked shirt man

Hello Sir, what can I do for you? Hello, I’m looking for a men’s shirt. Would you prefer a plain, striped or checked shirt?

The choice of men’s shirts may seem limited, and the decision easy. But when you look at it, there are a lot of variations in each of those categories. Take the plaid shirt. Large, small, thin, thick, bright or dark, plain or multicolored…. each tile has its own history and projects a different style according to the fabrics on which it is declined. You may not wear a tartan plaid shirt in flannel in the same situation as a vichy plaid shirt in poplin.

1. The vichy man shirt

The vichy tile… or a succession of small tiles with thick edges, often with darker intersections. They are united on a white background or in duality of colors.

The vichy tile was popularized by Brigitte Bardot in the 1960s. It is for a long time the prerogative of the women’s wardrobe before conquering the male universe.  Both original and easy to coordinate, it gives personality to an outfit. It is found on men’s flannel shirts as on men’s poplin shirts. To wear at the office with a neutral color suit or casual on a chino in the same shades as the shirt. The male vichy shirt also has a country side and fits well during an escape to the countryside.

Flannel shirt black grey checks

2. The man tartan shirt

The tartan tile is composed of perpendicular lines of different colors, widths and spacings. It is originally Scottish. Available on wool kilts, it allowed each family clan to differentiate itself thanks to its own motif.

Below is a variation of different tartan tile patterns.

We find it on men’s flannel shirts for warm and comfortable winters, to wear on weekends, with friends, in a casual way, under a sleeveless jacket or with a big sweater. In spring, it is available on men’s poplin shirts, to wear on weekends in a relaxed atmosphere. We associate these two types of men’s tartan shirt with jeans, sneakers or boots in suede and a nice leather belt.  

Tartan shirt in flannel

Scottish Tartan Flannel Shirt

Tartan shirt man in poplin

3. The shirt with Prince of Wales costume

The Prince of Wales motif was introduced to England by King Edward VII and promoted by his son Edward VIII, who became a follower at the end of the 19th century. It is the little English brother of the tartan, originally exclusive to the Scots. Very elegant, it is easily recognizable by its interlocking tiles, some of which form rafters. The set is always underlined by a line of color. It is found especially on costumes and even coats, its winter motif lends itself well.  

The Prince of Wales costumes are associated with light-coloured shirts.

4. The shirt with chicken’s foot costume

A string of micro patterns in the shape of a hen’s foot print, usually in black and white tones. Elegant and timeless, the houndstooth pattern comes from Scotland as the tartan, and was popularized in the 1950s by great designers like Chanel. The rooster’s foot also exists; it’s a slightly larger hen’s foot. They are found mainly in costumes. We also choose shirts in neutral tones to accompany a man’s chicken foot costume.

5. The checked shirt window man                     

Large thin tiles drawn from a single line on a solid base, of different color, darker or lighter depending on the models. The window tile is worn in a casual way on a man flannel shirt and can be very elegant on a man poplin shirt, or even on a costume. Unlike its cousins, the window tile is all in finesse and clean lines.

Large grey plaid flannel shirt

I’ll choose a plaid shirt, please. Perfect, you prefer vichy, tartan, Prince of Wales, potfoot, or window tiles?