It’s starting to get to that time of year when we need to think about bringing a warm layer out with us. Even if the sun is still shining, the days are starting to feel a little breezier, and the temperature is noticeably dropping come the evening. A jacket might feel a little too heavy right now, so instead try a button-down shirt. Thrown on over the top of T-shirts and tank tops, a button-down can be worn loose and left open for easy laid-back style. And when not needed, simply tie it around your waist like all the coolest fashion It girlies have been doing.
If you want to earn extra style points, make sure your shirt of choice is in a check pattern. The distinctive plaid print was spotted all over the autumn/winter 2026 runways at the likes of Celine, Chloé, Acne Studios and Louis Vuitton, to name just a few. The patterned design is synonymous with autumn, meaning you can wear your shirt now in late summer and well into the new season too. When the mercury does eventually drop, wear it buttoned up as designed. You could even slip a thin knit roll neck underneath for extra warmth come wintertime.
Top of our new season shopping wish list is M&S' pure cotton checked shirt. In a brown colour mix ranging from soft tan shades to rich chocolate, it leans more preppy than grunge, making this 100% cotton shirt look far more expensive than its high street price tag. While it works effortlessly with blue denim for a cool and casual outfit, you could just as easily dress it up with cream palazzo trousers and kitten-heel boots for sophisticated style all autumn long.
Below, find more check shirts available to shop now:
M&S Pure Cotton Checked Shirt
Nobody's Child Brown And Black Check Shirt
WNU The Classic - Navy Check
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Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
