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If you like your tailoring with a sharp print, Prince of Wales check tweed could be perfect for you. This dapper pattern has a royal pedigree worthy of even the most style-conscious gentleman, and it’s just uncommon enough to stand out from the crowd.
This distinctive pattern is made up of a boxy check print. It alternates two darker and two lighter stripes, which are in turn crossed with four darker and four lighter stripes. This creates an attractively irregular criss-cross pattern.
True Prince of Wales checks are usually brown and cream, with red and blue overtones. These rules have been relaxed over the decades, and it’s now possible to find a Prince of Wales check tweed in a wide range of colour combinations.
The tweed design started life in Invernesshire as the Glen Plaid print. This was in the 19th century, when the Countess of Seafield developed the pattern as the Seafield Estate’s signature print. King Edward VII, who was then the Prince of Wales, became very fond of the print while shooting at the estate, and later adjusted the colour of it to brown and cream to create his own signature tweed.
However, it wasn’t until Edward VII’s grandson Edward VIII came on the scene that the Prince of Wales print developed a real following. Edward VIII was a true style icon, and when he was the Prince of Wales, he added the blue and red undertones to the tweed. This popularised the check, and cemented it’s place in the tailoring world.
Are you thinking of introducing the Prince of Wales check to your wardrobe? The great thing about tweed is that it’s effective in both large and small doses. If you’re not sure about wearing a full tweed suit, it can also be a great choice for a blazer or sports jacket.