Dressing for transitional weather can always be tricky, but especially when you live in the UK. One minute, you’re contending with balmy temperatures, the next, there’s an icy chill in the air or a sudden downpour. Whilst we have had our fill of layering over the last few years (be it dresses over jeans, polo over polo, or doubled-up T-shirts), in 2026, there’s one piece which feels fresher and cooler, layered or not: the plaid shirt, a piece everyone is styling in 2026.

Now more recently a signifier of prep and polish (Ralph Lauren, anyone?), the plaid shirt’s roots are a little more humble. Made popular in the 70s and ‘80s as women increasingly adopted men’s practical workwear, by the time the ‘90s rolled around (and plaid shirts met visionaries like Vivienne Westwood and Kurt Cobain, Lorelai Gilmore, Dolly Parton and, of course, the cast of Friends), their transition into a slightly rebellious, grunge Americana was well and truly cemented.

Whether you call it flannel, plaid, or a simple checked shirt, fast-forward 30-odd years and the laidback button-down has become the hottest layer to wear. It’s latest reinvention at the hands of Matthieu Blazy era Bottega Veneta (the Spring/ Summer 2023 show, to be exact), transformed the check from dull to one of the most luxurious pieces going. And who better to bring about a shift than supermodel Kate Moss herself? Sauntering down the runway in croc-print ballet flats, low-waisted washed jeans, a white tank top and a plaid button-down, its simple proportions and eye-catching hues instantly made it a favourite. I mean, Jacob Elordi adored it so much he wore the look in the last season of Euphoria.

After The Row’s viral red checkered iteration garnered a cult following when it strutted down the runway for S/S ‘2025, a rotation of vibrant lumberjack-inspired silhouettes lined the high street, and it couldn’t be clearer that plaid shirts are back on the fashion agenda. But once you’ve found the one, the next big question becomes: how do you style it?

For Amy Shaw Creative Director of London based brand Fuchsia Shaw, the appeal of the throw-on-and-go layer always been there. “I first came out with shirts in 2020 and when I relaunched in 2024, I always got questions about whether we’d bring them back. They are quite a timeless piece that people never tire of!” And when it comes to styling, Shaw has a refreshingly unfussy approach. “I’m always tying one around my waist over a really simple outfit, usually a long-sleeve basic with corduroy trousers, because it adds something without feeling overdone and it’s there if I get cold.”