Farmers wear check shirts because a well-cut shirt gives them room to work and is easy to layer as the weather changes. If you’ve ever started feeding up in a jacket and taken it off before you’ve finished, you’ll know the value of a shirt that’s comfortable on its own. And because checks have long been part of British countrywear, that same shirt looks just as much at home at the livestock market as it does in the yard.
What makes a check shirt practical on the farm?
Ever reached over a gate and felt your shirt pull across your back? A shirt can look roomy enough in the mirror, then feel tight as soon as you reach forward. When you try one on, bend down as if you’re picking up a bucket. You want enough room through the chest and shoulders to get back up without feeling the fabric pull or the buttons gape. If you wear it tucked in, try raising your arms, too. A hem that comes loose every time you reach up will soon get on your nerves.
Once the fit feels right, look at the bits you’ll use throughout the day. A chest pocket gives you somewhere to keep a pencil or a folded note to hand. Button cuffs come in useful when you want your sleeves down at the start of the day and rolled up by lunchtime.
It’s also worth looking at the stitching around those pockets and cuffs, as well as around the buttons. Think how often you’ll reach into the pocket, undo the cuffs, and put the whole thing through the wash. A heavier shirt can feel more substantial, but try it under your usual jacket to see how easily you can still move.
Why checks stuck around in farmwear
A shirt that sees that much wear is bound to pick up the odd mark. If you’ve spent the morning shifting feed or clearing out a shed, a darker check can make a bit of dust less obvious. A larger check in olive, navy, or rust tends to look more relaxed, while a finer one on a pale background can feel a little smarter for a trip into town.
You’ll often see tattersall among those finer checks. Its coloured lines cross in a regular grid, usually on a light background. The name comes from the checked horse blankets used at Tattersall’s horse market in London.
You can find a fine check on a lightweight shirt or a thicker one. Once you’ve found a pattern you like, think about what you’ll be doing in it. Standing outside at the market on a cold morning feels quite different from spending an hour clearing the yard.
Choosing a check shirt for the weather
For a mild day when you’ll be on the move, a lighter cotton shirt is a good place to start. Our men’s farmer shirts come in long and short sleeves, so you can pick the coverage you want. A lightweight shirt also fits easily under a waterproof jacket if a shower catches you halfway through a job.
If a lightweight shirt feels a little thin on a cool morning, try one of our brushed cotton checks under a gilet. The brushing raises the fibres at the surface, giving the shirt a softer feel. And when the day warms up, you can slip the gilet off.
For colder starts, some of our men’s farmer shirts pair a brushed cotton outer with a fleece lining. The lining adds warmth if you’re heading out in the frost or spending a while standing about. Try your usual jacket over the shirt, especially if you’ll wear a T-shirt underneath as well. You want enough room for the layers without losing the freedom to reach and bend.
From the farm to the weekend
A shirt might sit under overalls for a muddy job in the morning, then under a gilet for a run to the feed merchant. The same way of dressing works away from the farm, too. Heading to an agricultural show? A fine check, straight-leg jeans, and a plain gilet make an easy outfit. Picking out one of the colours in the shirt for your gilet ties the two together.
You can also wear a button-through check open over a plain T-shirt with jeans and boots. If you’d rather dress it up a little for a Sunday lunch, tuck a fine check into chinos or tailored trousers. A plain jumper works well over the top, with a bit of the pattern showing at the collar and cuffs.
Frequently asked questions
Are check shirts and flannel shirts the same?
A check is the pattern you see, while flannel is a woven fabric with a soft, brushed surface. That’s how you can have a checked flannel shirt as well as a check in smoother cotton. If warmth is what you’re after, look at the fabric and lining of the shirt.
What’s an overhead check shirt?
An overhead shirt pulls on and usually has a short row of buttons at the neck, which you can undo to give yourself a bit more room as you put it on. If you prefer to wear a shirt open over a T-shirt, go for a button-through style that opens all the way down.
How should you wash a check shirt after farm work?
If you’ve come in with mud on your cuffs, brush off any loose, dry dirt before washing. Empty the pockets while you’re at it, especially if you tend to keep valuables close by. Check the care label for the right wash temperature and drying instructions, particularly if the shirt’s lined.
Find your next Rydale check shirt
Start with the sort of day you’ll wear it for, whether that’s an early start in the yard or an afternoon at a show. You can compare different checks, fabrics, and sleeve lengths in our ladies’ country check shirts, men’s check shirts and men’s farmer shirts.
