How to update your checks for spring/summer

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(Image credit: Shutterstock/Rex)

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You may think of checks as being strictly winter-only, but let me tell you they're not going anywhere for SS18, if the catwalk is anything to go by.

There were folksy ginghams at Loewe, sweet red and blue plaids at Alexander McQueen, beautiful bright shopper-bag checks at Mary Katrantzou and a whole show of them at Fendi – even down to checked tights (check out - no pun intended - our full SS18 trends report for more inspo).

But where the print came in prim shades of mustard, brown and grey for autumn/winter, it's getting a fresh burst of colour for the new season.

In fact, the easiest way to upgrade the print is to wear it in a primary colour, a nice nod to another huge trend: crayola brights, you might even want to pick a shorts suit to tick off another trend.

However, if you're looking for something less corporate, you still can't go wrong with a checked blazer (wear with high-waist jeans, and a white t-shirt), and we're loving Clueless-style tartan mini skirts (wear with a puff-sleeve shirt).

For the more fashion-forward amongst you, try double-checking: a tartan jumpsuit over gingham shirt for example. Finish the look off with a sling-back sculptural heel for an office-appropriate yet on-trend look.

Shop my edit of the best checks for spring below...

Shop now: CHECK JUMPSUIT for £X49.99 from Zara

Shop now: Double Breasted Checked Jacket for £69 from Topshop

Shop now: LOEWE Elephant gingham textured-leather shoulder bag for £995 from Net-A-Porter

Shop now: Checked Pencil Midi Skirt for £35 from M&S

Shop now: Sleeve detail blouse for £39.99 from Mango

Shop now: MANSUR GAVRIEL Circle leather-trimmed checked cotton-canvas shoulder bag for £565 from Net-A-Porter

Shop now: Black check pointed sling back kitten hee for £40 from River Island

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.