Checked Shirt Women: Outfit Ideas

You can style a checked shirt with straight jeans, a plain long sleeve top in white or cream and boots in a calm colour. The shirt stays open, buttoned up or tied around your hips, depending on the look.

On cool autumn days the checked shirt hangs ready on its hanger in the morning, and the question is what goes with it. This guide shows which trousers and skirts go with a checked shirt, what you wear underneath, which shoes belong with it and what three outfits for everyday, the office and the weekend look like. You can find checked shirts in the Checked shirts category.

Which trousers go with a checked shirt?

The check already supplies the pattern, so the trousers can stay plain:

Straight jeans. Straight jeans in blue are the classic with a checked shirt. You can find matching styles among the jeans.
Wide jeans. A balloon shape takes the strictness out of the check and goes with a shirt that falls loosely.
Tailored trousers. Tailored trousers in a muted tone make the look more polished, for the office, for example. You can find more among the tailored trousers.

The picture shows the crop shirt in Grey/Black, buttoned up, with light, wide-leg jeans.

Woman in a buttoned crop shirt with a grey and black check and wide sleeves, with light wide jeans | Lisa’s Boutique

Styling a checked shirt with a skirt

With a skirt, the checked shirt becomes a softer look. You wear the shirt open or loosely over it.

Knit skirt. A mini knit skirt in black, brown or taupe stays plain and lets the check stand out. You can find ideas among the knit skirts.
Skort. A skort looks like a skirt and is still a pair of trousers with wide legs. The knit skort in brown or black goes with a shirt in muted colours, and there is more among the skorts.

What do I wear under a checked shirt?

Under a checked shirt goes a calm piece that picks up one colour of the check:

Long sleeve top. A long sleeve top in white, cream or brown is a simple choice when the shirt is worn open. You can find a selection among the long sleeve tops.
Basic top. A plain top in white or black works when the shirt goes over it like a light jacket.
Jumper. A jumper with a crew neck or V-neck lets the shirt collar peek out. That looks cosy on cool days, and you can find jumpers in the Jumpers category.

Which shoes go with a checked shirt?

Shoes that ground the look suit a checked shirt:

Boots. Ankle boots and boots in brown or black go with jeans just as well as with a skirt. You can find styles among the ankle boots.
Tall boots. With a skirt, tall boots look coherent when the shaft picks up one tone of the check. How skirt and boots go together in winter is covered in the guide How to style a skirt in winter.
Trainers. White or light trainers make the look practical for everyday, especially with straight jeans.

In the picture she wears the shirt in brown with brown boots with a buckle and zip.

Woman in a checked shirt with chest pockets, sitting on a stool, with brown boots with a buckle and zip | Lisa’s Boutique

Checked shirt open, buttoned up or tied around your hips?

Three variations work with almost any checked shirt:

Open. The shirt hangs like a light jacket over a top or long sleeve top. This is the relaxed version.
Buttoned up. The button placket stays closed and the shirt is tucked slightly into the waistband at the front. The look seems tidier, for example with tailored trousers.
Tied around your hips. The sleeves are knotted loosely and a jacket goes on top. That way the check brings pattern into the outfit without you wearing the shirt.

If you prefer a jacket with a check, you will find ideas in the guide How to style a checked jacket.

Which colours go with a brown checked shirt?

Tones that appear in the check itself go with a brown checked shirt:

Beige and cream. Light tones soften the brown, for example with a long sleeve top in cream.
White and black. They keep the look clear. That also applies to a checked shirt in grey or anthracite.
Denim blue. Blue and brown complement each other, which is why jeans go so well with the check.

You can find more pieces in brown among the brown clothing.

Three outfits with the checked shirt

Everyday. You wear the Checked Crop Shirt in Beige/Brown open over a white long sleeve top. Add light straight jeans and boots in brown.

Office. The Checked Shirt in Anthracite stays buttoned up. Add dark tailored trousers and plain boots in black, and the look needs nothing more.

Weekend. The Checked Shirt in Beige and the Checked Skort in Brown/Beige share the same colour play, with a brown top and boots. The pattern is the only highlight here. You can read more about the skort in the guide Skort in winter.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wear a checked shirt to the office?

Yes, a buttoned-up checked shirt in muted tones such as anthracite or brown goes with dark tailored trousers and plain boots. The pattern is then the only eye-catcher.

How do I tie a checked shirt around my hips?

Place the shirt around your waist with the sleeves at the back and knot them loosely at the front or side. This goes with straight trousers and a plain top.