I’d Argue That Every It Girl’s Autumn Wardrobe Includes This Stylish Jacket Trend

At this point in the year, I'm starting to turn my attention to jackets again. Whilst I'm not quite ready to commit to coats just yet, I still want to find a really good outerwear piece that can make my everyday outfits feel a little more considered. Summer often requires a bit more thought from head to toe, so I thoroughly enjoy making the most of autumn, when a great jacket can do most of the hard styling work for you. Throw one over your favourite jeans or black trousers and suddenly the whole outfit feels considerably fresher. Enter 2026's checked jacket trend.

Gazing into my open wardrobe, I realised I have plenty of chic cropped wool jackets and a short trench that I know I'll wear on repeat, but what became clear was that I missing was something with personality. Something printed that could inject a new lease of life into my staple jeans and, when I’m feeling fancy, slip skirts. I now know a checked jacket is the answer.

If you've been paying attention to what fashion people have been wearing this year, the print probably won't come as a surprise. Checks had a major moment over the summer, particularly in the form of the ‘90s-fashion-coded checked flannel shirt, which was styled with everything from linen shorts to more polished pencil skirts. Now, I'm seeing that same plaid appreciation carry over into jacket form, and I think it's an even better way to wear the trend.

The appeal, for me, is that a checked jacket instantly makes a simple outfit feel more interesting. I'm a big wearer of black, navy and neutrals, so I'd be inclined to choose a check that picks up on those shades to ensure a cohesive look every time. But if your wardrobe is already full of colour, a more neutral check could be a clever way to bring those brighter pieces into the cooler months, where deeper tones tend to prevail.

That said, despite myself, I find I'm equally tempted by bolder iterations, too. The Row's now-sold-out red-and-blue checked Tina jacket has repeatedly cropped up on the high-fashion gang, and I appreciate how easily it can overhaul an otherwise simple outfit. It's proof you don't need to rethink your entire wardrobe to make a statement; a checked jacket and your favourite jeans can be enough.

We're also seeing the trend filter through to plenty of other brands. Barbour has given its typically heritage waxed outerwear a checked update, whilst Balzac Paris and Damson Madder have their own more directional takes complete with built-in scarves and rope-detail drawstrings. I've also spotted checked bombers, barn jackets and even a cropped, tie-waist trench at Zara, which just so happens to be the first new thing I’ve treated myself to this season.

Whilst you can’t scroll for two seconds before seeing someone stylish that you follow wearing a checked jacket, the motif was also present across the A/W 26 runways, with Burberry, Chanel, Dries Van Noten, Paul Costelloe, Missoni and Emporio Armani all offering their own interpretations—everything from supersize puffers to woollen blazers with power shoulders.

If, like me, you’re looking for an easy way to make everything else you wear feel like new, scroll on to shop my edit of the chicest checked jackets of 2026 below.

Shop Chic Checked Jackets for Autumn 2026: