What is Prince of Wales check? It is the classic check created by combining groups of small and large stripes into complex, layered squares with real visual depth. Born from the personal style of the Prince of Wales, the pattern carries a quiet elegance, a rich history and an easy adaptability to modern life.
What Prince of Wales check is, and the noble heritage behind the name
In tailoring, Prince of Wales is the heritage name for a complex checked pattern — usually a Glen Check variant carrying an additional coloured overcheck, which gives the cloth a more layered character. The name belongs to the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII and one of the most celebrated dressers of the early twentieth century, whose taste carried this Scottish Highland pattern into the global vocabulary of classic elegance.
Four qualities define the pattern:
- Aristocratic heritage — rooted in British royal style, a byword for classic refinement.
- Visual depth — interlocking layers of stripe create a subtle, dimensional surface rather than a flat one.
- Ease of wear and pairing — it works across many colourways and suits both the office and the weekend.
- Longevity — the pattern never dates, holding its aesthetic value across decades.
As tailors have long observed: heritage patterns endure because they reward a second look — composed at a glance, complex on closer inspection.
Six reasons Prince of Wales remains an icon
- History and heritage — bound to British aristocratic style, it carries a story and cultural depth few patterns can match.
- Depth and subtlety — the layered construction creates visual dimension that lifts the whole garment.
- Versatility — it moves easily between business dress, formal occasions and relaxed daily wear.
- A refined focal point — no bold colour is needed; the pattern alone provides distinction and interest.
- Suited to every season — it exists across cloth weights, from light spring-summer to substantial autumn-winter.
- A statement of taste — the choice of men who understand dress and value the classics.
How Prince of Wales differs from ordinary Glen Check
The two are close relatives, built on the same principle of interlocking stripe groups. The most common point of difference is the overcheck — a coloured line (blue, wine, brown) running across a grey-and-black checked ground, adding a further visual layer and a note of personality. Where pure Glen Check leans toward scholarly neutrality, Prince of Wales leans toward heritage narrative and a discreet accent of colour. When choosing cloth, one rule suffices: a coloured line laid over a grey check is the spirit of Prince of Wales.
How to wear Prince of Wales in your wardrobe
The pattern appears most clearly in suits, blazers, trousers, overcoats and smart casual dress. A few practical suggestions from Mon Amie:
- Business: a grey Prince of Wales suit with a white shirt and a plain tie in a muted tone — quietly luxurious, assured without display.
- Semi-formal: a patterned blazer with plain charcoal or navy trousers, tie omitted.
- A rule of composition: let the pattern be the single focal point; if the cloth carries a coloured overcheck, echoing that exact shade in the tie or pocket square gives a seamless result.
- A long-term investment: because it follows no trend, it retains its own value — a safe, effective and lasting choice for the wardrobe.
Complex patterned cloth demands precise matching across the shoulders, lapels and pockets. Prince of Wales suits at Mon Amie are always finished with natural horn buttons, fine silk lining and meticulous, durable stitching, refined in every detail — the details that elevate the whole through the subtlety of each individual square.
A word from Mon Amie's artisans
For Mon Amie, Prince of Wales is a pattern for the man who already understands the value of discretion: it draws no attention from across a room, yet convinces entirely at handshake distance. When advising clients, we usually suggest a check scaled to the wearer's frame, beginning with a grey ground and a blue overcheck — the easiest to combine and the most enduring in taste. A well-cut Prince of Wales suit can serve you for a decade without ever looking dated.
You are welcome to visit any of Mon Amie's five showrooms in Ho Chi Minh City (Nguyen Trai, Ho Van Hue, 3/2 Street, Caravelle Hotel District 1, Nguyen Thi Thap) to see Prince of Wales cloths from Canonico, Holland & Sherry, Dormeuil and Scabal in person, or call our hotline at 0888.111.118. You may also book an appointment for a private consultation and explore our bespoke service — where every check is matched by hand, your measurements are kept for life and every suit carries an alteration guarantee.