Check Mate!: Summer Prints for the Guy Next Door

Get close enough to the king in a game of chess, and you are set to utter two of the most triumphant words known to the English language: “check mate.” This season check patterns are making a big comeback in menswear, yet it’s of the utmost importance to avoid looking like an actual checker board. Try some of these easy-to-integrate pieces to look polished, not like a picnic blanket.

Kenneth Cole New York Mini Check Shirt

As this subtly patterned shirt shows, sometimes bigger isn’t always better.

Scotch & Soda Men’s Short Sleeve Check Shirt

As pirates have known for years, a few patches go a long way towards giving a look some edge.