Tattersall is a small check woven from fine horizontal and vertical lines in contrasting colours, producing a surface that is both refined and rhythmic. It is the pattern most closely associated with English country style, appearing above all on shirts, waistcoats and outerwear. If you are looking for a pattern with character that can be worn all year round, tattersall is the safe answer that is never dull.
What tattersall is and where it comes from
The name comes from Tattersalls, the celebrated English horse auction house, where checked horse blankets were in common use from the nineteenth century onward. From the dress of the British aristocracy at the hunt and in the saddle, the pattern gradually entered the everyday wardrobes of gentlemen around the world.
Technically, tattersall is a regular squared pattern formed by fine lines — usually two contrasting colours alternating — on a pale ground such as ivory or cream. Because the lines are fine and the squares small, tattersall reads crisply up close and softly at a distance, quite unlike broad checks such as windowpane or tartan.
The value of tattersall in a man's wardrobe
Tattersall offers a rare balance between tradition and flexibility. It suits many settings, giving an air of refinement, neatness and depth without ever shouting. Specifically:
- English tradition: bound to a country style at once elegant and scholarly, carrying the heritage of aristocratic sporting dress.
- Refined and easy to pair: the small squares read clean, at home in the office and at the weekend alike.
- Visually soft: the fine lines create harmony and rest easily on the eye.
- Broadly applicable: at home on shirts, waistcoats, country jackets and classic accessories.
Why tattersall deserves a place in your wardrobe
Mon Amie finds tattersall one of the most genuinely useful patterns for Vietnamese men, for very practical reasons:
- It reads polished without being severe — proper enough for work, relaxed enough for the weekend.
- It signals refined taste and an understanding of style without any need for display.
- It pairs easily with tweed, corduroy, flannel and knitwear — the materials of cooler weather.
- It does not date: a pattern that has held its ground for nearly two centuries follows no trend.
- It is a safe choice that is still distinctive enough to stand out among plain shirts.
Six qualities that define tattersall
- Small, harmonious squares: the fine scale creates an even, refined surface that never busies the eye.
- Balanced colour: contrasting yet restrained combinations — usually brown, navy, moss green or brick red on cream — that sit well with many palettes.
- Versatility: from shirts and waistcoats to country jackets, tattersall keeps its elegance and correctness throughout.
- Friendly to texture: it combines perfectly with tweed, corduroy, flannel and knitted wool without overwhelming them.
- A scholarly note: tied to the English gentleman, the sporting field, riding and long-standing academic tradition.
- Never out of fashion: always appropriate, making the wearer look well-dressed without chasing trends.
Where tattersall appears most clearly
You will meet tattersall most often on shirts, where it shows its refinement fully as it emerges beneath a jacket. It also appears on sport jackets, waistcoats, overcoats and accessories such as scarves. A cream tattersall shirt checked in brown and navy, worn with a tweed jacket and a plain wool tie, is the classic English country formula and almost impossible to get wrong.
For made-to-measure pieces in this pattern, the finishing decides the class: natural horn buttons, durable and refined; fine silk lining for longevity and comfort; and meticulous, robust stitching in every detail.
A word from Mon Amie's artisans
For a tailor, tattersall is a test of restraint: the pattern looks best when the lines are matched absolutely true at the placket, chest pocket and yoke. Mon Amie favours a softly pale ground and a gentle pair of check colours so the shirt flatters Vietnamese skin tones, and we keep your measurements for life so every subsequent shirt fits like the first. As tailors say, a fine classic pattern is one with culture that never tries to impress.
If you would like a properly cut made-to-measure tattersall shirt or waistcoat, you are welcome at 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), or call 0888.111.118. You may book an appointment for a personal consultation, and read about the tailoring process at Mon Amie beforehand.