Forget the lumberjack look - the plaid shirt is having a moment, and these are the high-street styles we're wearing on repeat this autumn, from £23

SHOP: SHANE WATSON: The simple joy of jeans and a special top is backREAD MORE: How to wear the slip-skirt trend whatever your height – our fashion experts reveal the tricks that work and the mistakes to avoidSee more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Updated: 05:28 EDT, 10 September 2026 Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn moreI’ll admit it: the plaid shirt hasn’t always been the easiest sell. For years, I’ve associated the checked button-down with one of two things – a lumberjack chopping wood in the Canadian wilderness, or a student heading to a university lecture in October. But this autumn, I’m looking at it rather differently. In fact, searches for ‘plaid’ are reportedly up 600% on shopping platform LTK, so it seems I’m not the only one suddenly seeing the appeal.The trick, I think, is all in how you wear it. While I love the cosy, oversized flannel shirt as much as the next person, the wrong styling can quickly veer into The Parent Trap territory (and, while I have nothing against Chessy’s relaxed approach to dressing, that’s not quite the look I’m going for on my morning commute).Instead, I’m treating the plaid shirt like any other wardrobe staple this season, using it to add a little autumnal pattern to outfits that otherwise feel polished and pulled-together. My favourite way to wear one is tucked into tailored trousers – particularly a pair of grey, pleated trousers – with loafers. It’s an easy office outfit that feels current without requiring me to rethink my entire work wardrobe.For the weekend, I’ll be reaching for jeans, but not just any jeans. An off-white barrel-leg pair instantly makes a checked shirt feel more fashion-forward, while a bootcut jean is perfect if I want to lean into the shirt’s more Western side. Add a statement belt and you’re there. And if you prefer a more relaxed look, cargo or utility trousers work surprisingly well, too.As for the shirt itself, I have a few rules. I’ll nearly always tuck it into whatever trousers I’m wearing, leaving a couple of buttons undone at the top to create a little more balance. When the temperature drops, I’ll layer a white T-shirt or fine-knit roll neck underneath, rather than reaching immediately for a chunky jumper that can make the whole thing feel bulky.And then, at the weekend, I’m willing to embrace the plaid shirt in its most relaxed form: worn open over a simple T-shirt, sleeves pushed up, in that aforementioned Chessy-from-The Parent Trap kind of way. Because, really, there’s nothing wrong with a little lumberjack energy – it just needs the right trousers, shoes and styling to make it feel chic.So, if you’re tempted to give the plaid shirt another chance this autumn, these are the seven styling rules I’ll be following – plus the high-street and investment buys I’ve got my eye on, starting from just £23.