The Best COS Checked Styles Took Over New York Fashion Week

Autumn has arrived and with it comes a shift in the fashion mood. The light, playful motifs of summer—polka dots, florals, lace—are giving way to things that are more serious and more grounded. On the high street, one pattern is cutting through the noise: checks. Never too far away from the zeitgeist, the classic print has been reimagined into something a little less traditional for AW25. True to form, COS is delivering some of the best interpretations of the season.

A guest wears the COS Alpaca Jumper teamed with grey trousers and a yellow crossbody bag.

That much was clear at the brand’s fashion show last weekend. Amidst the expensive-looking knitwear, elegantly cut coats and polished accessories, all of COS’s It items had one unifying theme: they were checked. On the streets of New York, guests arrived in head-to-toe COS, and almost every outfit hinged on the pattern—whether it was the Draped Checked Skirt styled with elevated shirting, or the Merino Wool Jacket worn with its coordinating micro-check skirt, which nodded to the year’s ongoing obsession with preppy style. Even the humble Checked Flannel Shirt, available in classic beige or statement blue and black, was spotted repeatedly, cementing its place as a new-season essential.

Marilyn NK wearing the Draped Checked Skirt styled with a grey shirt.

And if you were wondering how to actually wear the check trend, the street style gave us the answers. Tamu McPherson took a maximalist approach, pairing her checked shirt with the draped checked skirt, finished with loafers and a woven bag. Marilyn NK kept things pared back, letting her checked skirt shine against a simple shirt, while Jihoon Kim styled her checked jacket and mini skirt together, channelling peak Clueless energy. The best part? Unlike many fashion week outfits, these looks aren’t out of reach. In fact, you can shop the exact pieces now, proving that COS’s new-season checks are as wearable as they are covetable.

Jihoon Kim wearing the COS Merino Wool Jacket with the matching Merino Wool Mini Skirt.