Despite Pinstripes pin up as a suiting pattern staple, Houndstooth, Windowpane and Herringbone amongst other patterns are making their way back into modern wardrobes.
The below patterns are considered timeless with origins as far back to early 1800's Scotland for the Houndstooth pattern. Each pattern has stood the test of time and can produce a classic look, whether fitted into a suit or sports jacket.
Pinstripe
With origins to the roaring 20's in America, then the pattern was considered highly flashy, a symbol of the economic high point America was experiencing post WWI.
It has been the most popular of the below patterns consistently, it can be used to add a personal flair to your business suit through stripe spacing, thickness and colour. It has been widely popular due to its elongating effect for the shorter gentleman.
Pair a pinstripe suit with a more subdued plain shirt and striped tie. A great InStitchu pinstripe material is Fabric 42 - a 100% wool blend in traditional navy.
Glen Urquhart Plaid
With origins from the Urquhart Valley in Scotland, this famous pattern also known as Glen Plaid or the Prince of Wales due to the Duke of Windsor's affinity for it. Glen Plaid is a perfect pattern to introduce first into your wardrobe.
The bolder and larger the checks, the more ideal the material for a sole sports coat while a smaller Glen Plaid material is perfect for a business suit. Be bold and add a peak lapel to distinguish it, the next step? Make it double breasted. Now that will turn heads.
InStitchu carries two excellent Prince of Wales patterns in Fabrics 67 and 69 - Both are a subtle smaller check grey material with Fabric 69 distinguished by an eye catching blue thread within the checks.
Windowpane
Considered very outdated only a few years ago, this pattern made its reappearance through bold sports jackets, however, has now become a popular full suit material. The large checks ensure the pattern is one of the more flamboyant out of this range. To pair a shirt and tie with this pattern, you can play it safe with a crisp white shirt or, mix it up with a pinstripe shirt or smaller gingham check style to offset the large checks.
Houndstooth
Houndstooth's origins are from early 1800's Scotland, then, it was considered a safe jacket pattern to avoid mimicking another tribes tartan pattern - an offense that was sure to be settled physically.
The pattern was next adopted by the upper classes in England due to its classic black and white checks. Houndstooth has since spread into more diverse colours. Be bold and make a suit out of the pattern, or keep it simple in a two button notch lapel single breasted jacket combined with dark crisp denim and sharp brown oxford or monk strap shoes.
Fabric 70 is a 80/20 wool and poly blend in classic black and white small check, a perfect Houndstooth pattern for a classic sports jacket.
Herringbone
A pattern common in overcoats, tweed jackets and other fall/winter wear due to its robust appearance and material construction. A classic staple pattern in any mans wardrobe throughout jackets, suits and shirt.
Tweed Herringbone creates an excellent sports coat to be modernized with dark denim, smart brown shoes and a pocket square. David Ogilvy, the father of modern advertising was a fan of full tweed herringbone suits over a crisp white shirt. The modern take on this look has seen the pattern move off tweed into other fabrics and colours.
InStitchu's fabric 163 is an excellent wool/cashmere blend in navy blue with a small Herringbone pattern. It is a great fabric to introduce a herringbone suit into your wardrobe with.
Checked Plaid
A pattern that resembles the common gingham check pattern in shirts often composed of small-scale checks over a complementary coloured background. The pattern was a hit in American sports clubs in the 1870's.
Some of InStitchu's good Checked Plaid patterns include fabrics 128, 130 and 193, all wool/cashmere blends. Fabric 193 is a subtle pattern over a great navy blue. Fabric 128 and 130, primarily blue and charcoal respectively, adopt a pattern more akin to the great gingham pattern. All three are excellent base fabrics to construct a sports jacket out of.
Look to introduce some classically timeless patterns into your wardrobe, firstly through sports jackets and then move onto full suits. To rejuvenate these fabrics, modern day touches such as slim and tailored fits, coupled with softer deconstructed shoulders than traditional jackets, a slightly shorter body length in sports jackets and ticket pockets add a great modern take. Go experiment and find what you are comfortable with.
T.W Mitchell