Prince of Wales Check 2026: What It Is and How to Wear It

Prince of Wales check is a glen check with an overcheck: small blocks of broken check and fine stripes grouped into larger squares, crossed by a thin windowpane line. It is one of the classic suiting patterns, and the Emilia Wickstead Alban Trouser in black and white Prince of Wales check shows it on a high rise, straight leg check trouser for women.

• Best Prince of Wales check coat: the Valentine Coat in black and white Prince of Wales check, double breasted with a self tie belt.
• Best check trousers for women: the Alban Trouser in black and white Prince of Wales check, high rise with turned up cuffs.
• Best check shirt: the Michio Shirt in black and beige Prince of Wales check, straight with a chest patch pocket.
• Best pleated check skirt: the Lilianeve Skirt in black and white Prince of Wales check, a high rise pleated midi.
• Best houndstooth trousers: the Adam Lippes Wyatt Pant in Houndstooth Plaid, in camel brown virgin wool.
• Best glen check trench: the Max Mara Scoglio Glen Plaid Wool Twill Trench Coat, in tobacco.

What is Prince of Wales check?

Prince of Wales check is a woven pattern built from a glen check base with an added overcheck. The glen check base alternates small areas of broken, houndstooth style check with areas of fine lines, so each large square has four quarters of different texture. The overcheck is a thin line, often in a contrasting colour, that runs over the base in a wide grid.

From a distance the pattern reads as a soft grey, beige and camel; up close the separate parts become clear. That double reading is why it suits tailoring: it looks quiet across a room and detailed at a desk. In the new Emilia Wickstead pieces it comes in black and white and in black and beige, and at Coveti the house also offers it in black and camel and in charcoal and black.

Prince of Wales check, glen check and houndstooth compared

Glen check is the base pattern of broken check and fine stripes in large squares, without the overcheck. Many labels call it glen plaid. Prince of Wales check is a glen check with the overcheck added. Houndstooth is a single broken check of four pointed shapes repeated evenly, with no larger square; in the glen check it appears only as one part of the grid. Windowpane is the overcheck line on its own over a plain ground. If you want a bolder, more colourful square pattern, see our tartan dresses guide and plaid skirts guide.

How to choose check trousers for women

Check trousers are the easiest way into Prince of Wales check, because the pattern sits on one part of the body and pairs with plain tops. Four checks matter.

Cloth and finish

Traditional suiting checks are woven in wool, but houses now use other fibres too. The new Emilia Wickstead Prince of Wales check pieces are 53% acetate and 47% viscose with a structured finish, which gives a smooth hand and a cleaner drape than a dry wool flannel. Houndstooth trousers in wool, such as the Adam Lippes Wyatt Pant, feel warmer and have more texture. Read the composition line and choose by season and climate.

Rise and waist

A high rise, like the Alban, lengthens the leg and lets you tuck in a shirt. Side waist adjusters are useful on check trousers because they let you set the fit without the waistband bending the pattern.

Leg shape and hem

A straight leg keeps the check lines vertical, which looks tidy and long. Turned up cuffs add weight at the hem so the trouser falls cleanly. A wide leg shows more of the pattern and suits a flat shoe; a slim leg works under a long coat.

Pattern placement

On good check trousers the lines meet at the side seams and the overcheck sits in the same place on each leg. Check the product images at the front and the back, and look for a straight line at the centre seam.

Houndstooth trousers as an alternative

Houndstooth trousers give a similar tailored effect with a simpler, more even repeat. Small houndstooth reads almost as a texture; larger houndstooth is bolder. Treat houndstooth trousers like Prince of Wales check: pair them with a plain knit, a white shirt and a solid coat, and match the shoe to the darker colour of the pattern. Our houndstooth blazers guide covers the jacket side.

How to wear Prince of Wales check

As a full suit

The coat and trouser together give a complete look. With the Valentine Coat over the Alban Trouser, wear a plain black knit and a polished shoe and let the check carry the outfit.

As separates

Wear the trouser with a solid jacket and the coat over plain trousers. The Michio Shirt works alone, tucked into black trousers, and layered under tailoring. For plain shirts to pair with check, see our black shirts for women guide and white poplin shirts guide.

Mixing two checks

Two checks work together when they share a colour and differ in scale. The black and beige Michio Shirt with the black and white Alban Trouser is a house pairing of the same pattern in two colourways. For coats, our check coats for women guide explains how to layer check over check.

By occasion

For the office, trousers with a fine knit and a loafer. For lunch and gallery visits, the pleated Lilianeve with a fitted knit and a slingback. For winter weddings held in the day, a Prince of Wales check dress, such as the Thea Dress in black and white Prince of Wales check, with a solid coat.

How to care for Prince of Wales check

All four new Emilia Wickstead Prince of Wales check pieces are dry clean only, and the house recommends hanging them on a padded hanger in a breathable cover between wears. Hang trousers by the hem from clip hangers, and keep the coat on a broad hanger so the shoulders hold their line. Brush the cloth after wearing, air it before storing, and steam out creases. Press through a cloth, since a hot iron can leave a shine on acetate and viscose.

The new Emilia Wickstead Prince of Wales check pieces

Emilia Wickstead is a London fashion house founded in 2008 by the New Zealand born designer Emilia Wickstead, who studied at Central Saint Martins. It is known for waist defined tailoring, and its flagship is at 152-153 Sloane Street. The four new Prince of Wales check pieces are from Autumn Winter 2026, made in the United Kingdom in 53% acetate and 47% viscose, and sized UK 4 to UK 18 (UK 10 equals US 6 and EU 38). See the Emilia Wickstead hub and our Emilia Wickstead tailoring guide.

Valentine Coat in Black and White Prince of Wales Check

The Valentine Coat ($4,960) is double breasted in black and white Prince of Wales check with a structured hand. Wide notch lapels and flap pockets shape the front, a self tie belt sets the waist, and layered draped panels fall at the back so the coat moves as you walk.

Fit: tailored, belted at the waist. Sizes: UK 4 to UK 18. Care: dry clean only. Styling: wear it over the matching Alban Trouser for a full check look, and over a plain black dress for evening.

Alban Trouser in Black and White Prince of Wales Check

The Alban Trouser ($2,660) is a high rise trouser cut with a straight leg and finished with turned up cuffs. Back welt pockets and side waist adjusters let you set the fit at the waist.

Fit: high rise, straight leg. Sizes: UK 4 to UK 18. Care: dry clean only. Styling: the house pairs it with coordinating jackets, crisp shirting and fine knitwear. The Alban shape is also live in black birdseye suiting, and the Alix Trouser in black and camel Prince of Wales check offers a warmer colourway.

Lilianeve Skirt in Black and White Prince of Wales Check

The Lilianeve Skirt ($3,090) is a high rise midi skirt pressed into sharp pleats. A wrap front, button detailing and side flap pockets give it its tailoring, and the pleats keep it moving.

Fit: high rise, pleated midi. Sizes: UK 4 to UK 18. Care: dry clean only. Styling: pair it with a fine knit and a slingback, and with the Valentine Coat for a coordinated look.

Michio Shirt in Black and Beige Prince of Wales Check

The Michio Shirt ($2,960) is a straight shirt in black and beige Prince of Wales check, with a pointed collar, long sleeves, a button through front and a patch pocket at the chest.

Fit: straight. Sizes: UK 4 to UK 18. Care: dry clean only. Styling: wear it alone with black trousers, and layered under a solid blazer. For a matching jacket in a related colourway, see the Sorrel Jacket in black and camel Prince of Wales check.

Other designers to consider at Coveti

Max Mara Scoglio Glen Plaid Wool Twill Trench Coat

The Max Mara Scoglio Glen Plaid Wool Twill Trench Coat in tobacco ($4,730) brings glen check to a trench. The name tells you it is a wool twill; the page does not list percentages.

Adam Lippes Wyatt Pant in Houndstooth Plaid

The Adam Lippes Wyatt Pant in Houndstooth Plaid, camel brown ($2,300) is a tailored trouser. Its page lists 92% virgin wool, 6% polyamide and 2% elastane. The matching Tess Skirt ($2,440) uses the same cloth.

Max Mara Umile Wide Houndstooth Jersey Trousers

The Max Mara Umile Wide Houndstooth Jersey Trousers in tobacco ($1,380) are wide leg houndstooth trousers in a jersey, as the name states. Fibre content is not listed on the page.

Brunello Cucinelli Sparkling Houndstooth Trousers

The Brunello Cucinelli Sparkling houndstooth trousers in light brown ($4,470) add a sparkle finish to houndstooth, as the name indicates. Fibre content is not listed on the page.

Max Mara Aguzze Slim Houndstooth Jersey Jacket

The Max Mara Aguzze Slim Houndstooth Jersey Jacket in tobacco ($1,980) is a slim jacket that pairs with the Umile trousers in the same colour.

Johnstons of Elgin Balmacaan Shale Houndstooth Coat

The Johnstons of Elgin Balmacaan Shale Houndstooth Coat ($3,370) is a balmacaan coat in shale houndstooth, as the name states. Fibre content is not listed on the page.

Dice Kayek Navy Houndstooth Silk Shirt

The Dice Kayek Navy Houndstooth Silk Shirt with Tassel Collar ($2,090) is a shirt with a tassel collar. Its page lists 100% silk.

Prince of Wales check and houndstooth comparison

Wearing it around the world

The US

American shoppers often search for glen plaid and check trousers for women as well as Prince of Wales check. A check trouser with a knit works from autumn to spring in most states, and the acetate and viscose cloth of the Emilia Wickstead pieces suits heated offices. Remember the UK sizing: UK 10 equals US 6. See the Emilia Wickstead size guide.

The UK and Europe

Prince of Wales check is a standard of British tailoring and reads as correct for the office and for daytime events. In cold, wet weather, wear the coat with leather boots and an umbrella rather than a waterproof over the top, so the lapels and draped back panels keep their shape. UK 10 equals EU 38.

The Gulf (GCC)

In the Gulf, the coat suits the cooler months and evening, while the trouser and shirt suit air conditioned offices all year. The Michio Shirt has long sleeves and the Alban a full length leg, which makes a modest outfit on their own; the Lilianeve is a midi and pairs with a long sleeve top. Sizes run UK 4 to UK 18.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Prince of Wales check and glen check?

A glen check is a pattern of small broken checks and fine stripes arranged in larger squares. Prince of Wales check is a glen check with an overcheck added: a thin line, often in a contrasting colour, that runs over the pattern in a wide grid. Every Prince of Wales check is a glen check, but not every glen check has the overcheck.

Is Prince of Wales check the same as houndstooth?

No. Houndstooth is a single broken check of four pointed shapes repeated evenly across the cloth. Prince of Wales check is a larger, more complex pattern: a glen check, which includes small houndstooth style areas alongside fine stripes, with an overcheck on top. From a distance both look grey, but up close the Prince of Wales check shows a clear grid.

What are the Emilia Wickstead Prince of Wales check pieces made from?

The four new Emilia Wickstead Prince of Wales check pieces, the Valentine Coat, Alban Trouser, Lilianeve Skirt and Michio Shirt, are made from 53% acetate and 47% viscose with a structured finish. They are made in the United Kingdom, belong to Autumn Winter 2026, come in UK 4 to UK 18 and are dry clean only.

How should women wear check trousers?

Wear check trousers with a plain top in one colour taken from the pattern, such as a black knit with black and white check. A high rise and a straight leg, as on the Emilia Wickstead Alban Trouser, give a long line. Add a loafer for the office, and a solid coat over the top in winter.

Can you wear Prince of Wales check to a wedding?

Prince of Wales check suits a daytime winter wedding, a civil ceremony and a smart lunch, worn as a dress, a pleated skirt with a fine knit, and a coat over a solid dress. For black tie and evening weddings, a solid occasion dress is the better choice, with the check kept to an outer layer.

How do you care for Prince of Wales check trousers?

Follow the label. The Emilia Wickstead Alban Trouser is dry clean only. Hang the trousers by the hem on clip hangers in a breathable cover, brush them after wearing, and steam out creases. Press only through a cloth, because direct heat can leave a shine on acetate and viscose, and keep them out of direct sunlight.

More from Coveti

See the full Emilia Wickstead collection at Coveti and browse tailored pants, then read our guides to check coats for women, plaid skirts and the Emilia Wickstead Autumn Winter 2026 collection.