Oversize Checked Jacket – Brown

Oversize describes a deliberately roomy cut. It usually means more width through the upper body, dropped shoulder seams and loosely falling sleeves. Oversize jackets do not sit close to the body but drape over the outfit and leave room for a sweater underneath.

A check pattern is created when dyed stripes cross in the warp and the weft and form a grid. Well known variants are glen check, gingham, tartan and the fine windowpane check. The tighter the grid sits, the calmer the pattern reads from a distance.

A checked jacket already brings pattern with it, so it goes with an otherwise calm outfit. Plain jeans, smooth pants or a basic top keep the balance. To tie the look together, pick a shade that already appears inside the check.

Brown is a warm neutral and works with cream, beige, off white, rust and deep green. Light denim adds contrast, black keeps the look quieter. Because brown holds back on its own, the pattern is free to take the lead.

A transitional jacket is made for spring and fall, for the days when a sweater alone is not enough and a coat is already too much. Light woven fabrics keep the wind out without warming as strongly as a quilted lining.

For the office, combine a check jacket with plain fabric pants or a simple skirt and a basic top or blouse. If one piece picks up a shade from the check, the outfit looks calm and coordinated.