Zara’s Gingham Jacket Went Viral – These are the Best Gingham Jackets & Alternatives for Autumn 2026
There are some fashion trends that creep up on you, and then there are the ones that seem to be absolutely everywhere overnight. Gingham jackets are definitely having a moment for autumn 2026, and Zara’s checked jacket is the one that first caught my eye, as well as a lot of you on TikTok.
I’ve been seeing the ecru and maroon version all over my feed, and after having a proper look at it, I understand the appeal. It’s the kind of jacket that can make a very simple outfit feel instantly more put together – jeans, a white T-shirt, loafers, done.
But I don’t particularly like buying something just because it’s having a moment. If I’m going to spend money on a new jacket, I want to know what’s actually out there first. So, the team at DupeFinder went down a bit of a gingham jacket rabbit hole to find the best alternatives, from high-street options to more expensive pieces that I think are genuinely worth considering.
And there are some very good ones, so it’s only right that I share!
Our Favourite Zara Check Jackets
Zara has gone quite hard on checks this season, and there are actually several jackets that caught my eye. I don’t think they’re all trying to do exactly the same thing, either… some feel much more like transitional jackets, while others are substantial enough to take you properly into winter with much thicker padding.
Zara Check Jacket - £35.99
Shop the Zara Check Jacket here
This is the one I first spotted online. It’s a high-neck style with elasticated cuffs, front pockets, an adjustable drawstring hem and button fastening. It’s also the more cotton-rich of the Zara options, with a 56% cotton, 44% polyester composition.
Our verdict:
I think this is a nice option for the transitional period, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations when I saw it in person. The material felt cheaper than I’d hoped, and while I don’t think £35.99 is unreasonable for what it is, I personally wouldn’t choose to spend my money on this one.
If you’re after an affordable gingham jacket for those early autumn days, it’s worth considering – but with so many lovely checked jackets around at the moment, I think there are better alternatives in this edit.
Zara Check Bomber Jacket - £35.99
Shop the Zara Check Bomber Jacket here
I actually prefer this one to the first Zara jacket. The shape feels a little more relaxed and considered, and I much prefer the bomber-style silhouette without the tie waist. The non-elasticated cuffs are also a small detail that makes quite a difference to me.
It has a high neck, long sleeves, front welt pockets and a slightly puffed hem, with a concealed zip and popper fastening. At £35.99, it’s another very affordable way to tap into the checked jacket trend.
That said, while I like this one more, I’m still not completely sold. There are some better-looking options in this edit that feel more substantial and, for me, more worth spending the money on if you’re looking for a jacket you’ll wear well beyond the first few weeks of autumn.
Our verdict:
I prefer this to the first Zara jacket, but I still think there are better options out there. I like the cleaner cuffs and the bomber shape, and I’d choose this one over the £35.99 check jacket without hesitation.
But if I’m buying a new jacket, I’d rather find one that feels a little more special – and thankfully, there are plenty of gingham jacket alternatives that do.
Zara Check Bomber Jacket - £49.99
Shop the Zara Red Check Bomber Jacket here
This was another one I spotted in store, and I actually think it’s a much better jacket than the £35.99 version.
The shape is similar, but the details feel a little more considered. It has a high collar, adjustable cuffs with press-stud tabs, front welt pockets, a pleated hem and a zip fastening. It’s also noticeably more substantial than the lighter Zara jackets I’ve looked at, which makes it feel much more appropriate as we head further into autumn. It’s currently £49.99 in this red check.
I really like the red and black check here. It feels quite fashion-forward without being difficult to style, and I think it would look particularly good with dark denim, black trousers or even a chunky knit underneath once it gets colder.
Our verdict:
Now this is more like it! I think the extra £14 compared with Zara’s cheaper checked jackets is justified. It feels better made and more substantial, and I can see myself getting much more wear out of it as the weather cools down.
I also loved the Zara Trafford styled this one in store (see image below), pairing this cool autumn staple with another black jacket for layers, grey button down top with a matching red trim, and a pair of gorgeous balloon leg white jeans.
It’s still not my favourite Zara option, though – there’s another one that completely stole my attention when I saw it in store…
Zara High-Collar Checked Puffer Jacket - £49.99
Shop the Zara High-Collar Checked Puffer Jacket here
This is my favourite of the Zara checked jackets I’ve seen. I spotted it in store and immediately preferred it to the lighter options. It’s noticeably thicker, with a high collar and a padded construction that makes it feel much more like a proper autumn jacket rather than something you’ll only reach for during the transitional weeks.
I also really like the drawstring a good few inches above the hem. You can leave it loose for a more relaxed shape, or pull it in to create that slightly puffed, rounded effect. You could even pull it tight and tuck the hem under to create the bomber jacket effect. It’s a small detail, but I think it gives the jacket much more personality than a standard checked puffer.
The black-and-white check feels particularly easy to wear, too. I can see this working with everything from straight-leg jeans and trainers to black trousers and chunky boots once we’re properly into autumn. And because the check is fairly small, it doesn’t feel quite as loud as some of the larger heritage checks we’re currently seeing.
At £49.99, it’s still firmly in the affordable category, but I think it looks and feels like a more considered purchase than Zara’s £35.99 options. Zara currently lists it as a high-collar checked puffer jacket at £49.99.
Our verdict:
This is the Zara one I’d buy. I love the high neck, the thicker fabric and the adjustable hem, and I think it has much more longevity going into the colder months than some of the lighter checked jackets.
If you’re looking for a Zara gingham jacket alternative that’s still affordable but feels like it has a bit more going for it, this would be my pick. It’s trendy enough to feel very autumn 2026, but the classic black-and-white check means I don’t think it’ll look dated once the current gingham moment passes.
For £49.99, this is a yes from me.
Zara Checks Trench Coat With Belt - £79.99
Shop the Zara Checks Trench Coat With Belt here
If you’re not quite sold on the cropped checked-jacket trend, this is the Zara piece I’d look at instead.
This new checked trench feels like a much more grown-up take on the trend, with a classic double-breasted shape, regular collar and matching fabric belt. The brown and blue check is also much more understated than some of the brighter gingham jackets we’ve been seeing, which makes it feel easier to wear beyond this particular autumn.
At £79.99, it’s obviously more of a commitment than Zara’s £35.99 checked jackets, but I think the difference in style is worth noting. Rather than feeling like a jacket you’ve bought because checks happen to be everywhere right now, this is much closer to a proper, sophisticated wardrobe piece.
I also love that it’s made from 100% cotton, with a polyester lining.
Our verdict:
This is probably the most sophisticated of Zara’s checked jackets. If you’re looking for something that feels a little less trend-led and a little more timeless, I’d choose this over the cropped options.
I don’t think I’d buy it just because gingham and checks are having a moment, but if you’ve been looking for a trench anyway, this is a really lovely way to wear the check trend without feeling like you’ve bought into it too heavily.
And honestly, I think this is the kind of piece that will make much more sense in your wardrobe next autumn too, which is always what I’m looking for when I’m spending a little more on a high-street, trend-led piece.
Alternatives to the Zara Check Jackets
If Zara’s checked jackets have caught your eye but you’re not completely sold on the options above, there are plenty of alternatives to Zara check jackets worth considering. I’ve found a few that offer something a little different – whether that’s better quality, a more timeless shape or simply a style I prefer.
Barbour Audrey Showerproof Jacket - £219
Shop the Barbour Audrey Showerproof Jacket here
I have to admit, this is the jacket that really made me stop and think about whether I actually needed a new checked jacket.
The Barbour Audrey has that slightly oversized, bomber-inspired shape I keep gravitating towards, but it feels much more substantial than the cheaper Zara options. It’s a relaxed-fit style with blouson sleeves, a sit-down collar, detachable hood and drawcord hem, so it feels like a genuinely practical autumn jacket rather than something that’s been made purely to tap into the current check trend.
I particularly love the Cranberry/Brown Gingham colourway. It’s warm, autumnal and feels very Barbour without being quite as predictable as the brand’s classic waxed jackets. There’s also a Vicuna Gingham Check version if you prefer something more neutral. Both are currently £219 on Barbour’s UK site.
The fabric is also worth mentioning. It’s a cotton-touch checked fabric made from 65% polyester, 33% viscose and 2% elastane, with a polyurethane membrane and polyester lining, and Barbour describes the jacket as showerproof.
At £219, though, we’re obviously in a completely different price bracket to the Zara jackets. You’re not buying this because it’s a cheap way to try the gingham trend. You’re buying it because you want a proper jacket that happens to be very now.
Our verdict:
Mango Checked Jacket With Funnel Neck — £89.99
Shop the Mango Checked Jacket With Funnel Neck here
If you like the slightly sportier shape of the Zara jackets but want something that feels a little more elevated, this Mango jacket is such a good alternative.
It’s a bomber-style jacket in a brown check, with a funnel neck, buttoned cuffs, two welt pockets and a concealed zip-and-flap fastening. It’s also fully lined, which I think helps give it that more substantial, proper-jacket feel we’re looking for as we head further into autumn. It’s currently £89.99 on Mango’s UK site.
For me, though, it’s the colour that makes this one. The brown check feels warm and autumnal without looking overly traditional, and I love it paired with the funnel-neck shape. It has that slightly outdoorsy, heritage feel that’s everywhere at the moment, but still feels polished enough to wear in the city.
I can see this looking incredible with dark denim, a simple knit and loafers now, then layered with heavier pieces as it gets colder. And compared with some of the more obviously trend-led Zara jacket alternatives, I think this one has a bit more staying power. I’m always looking for pieces that you can wear and wear and wear.
Our verdict:
Damson Madder Myrtle Trench Coat - £145
Shop the Damson Madder Mrytle Trench Coat here
If there’s one brand I always think of when I see a good gingham or check jacket, it’s Damson Madder. They do that slightly playful, vintage-inspired take on checks so well, while still making pieces that feel very wearable.
The Myrtle Trench Coat is a particularly good example. It’s an oversized, multi-way style that can be worn as a full-length trench or shortened into a jacket, with an adjustable waist, frill detailing and a button-front fastening. It’s made from a breathable 61% organic cotton, 39% recycled polyester fabric with a water-repellent finish. It’s currently £145 on the UK site.
I think this is such a fun alternative to the more traditional checked jackets in this edit. It has much more personality, and the navy gingham makes it feel slightly different from the brown, red and black checks that are everywhere at the moment.
I also love that you can change the shape depending on how you want to wear it. The fact that the lower section can be removed means you’re essentially getting two jackets in one, which makes the £145 price tag a little easier to digest.
Our verdict:
H&M Scarf-Collar Bubble-Hem Jacket - £37.99
Shop the H&M Scarf-Collar Bubble-Hem Jacket here
Okay, this is the one I’d put firmly in the “very autumn 2026” category.
I love how different this feels from the other checked jackets in the edit. The oversized, cropped shape has a really lovely rounded silhouette, while the scarf-style collar gives it something a little more interesting than a standard checked jacket.
It’s made from a 65% polyester, 35% cotton woven fabric and has dropped shoulders, long sleeves with pleated cuffs, diagonal flap pockets and a bubble hem that creates that slightly puffed shape. It’s lined, too.
At £37.99, I think this is a particularly fun way to experiment with the trend without spending a fortune.
Our verdict:
In all honestly, I did actually purchase this H&M jacket, but returned it. Not because I hated it – I actually loved it! But I never keep pieces that I KNOW that I won’t wear next year. The neck-tie detail is very autumn 2026, and I know that it’s very unlikely that I would rewear this for Autumn 2027.
Nobody's Child Brown Check Funnel-Neck Jacket - £139
Shop the Nobody’s Child Brown Check Funnel-Neck Jacket here
I think this is such a good alternative to the Zara jackets if you’re after something that feels a little more polished, but still cool and a little sporty.
The first thing that caught my eye is the brown check. It’s warm and autumnal without feeling overly traditional, and I love the way it works with the funnel neck and slightly oversized shape. It has dropped shoulders, voluminous sleeves, elasticated cuffs and hem, and flap pockets, which give it that relaxed, slightly sporty feel without making it look like a standard bomber jacket.
I also really like the funnel neck. It gives the jacket a bit more structure and means you can wear it zipped right up when it gets colder, rather than relying on a scarf every time you leave the house.
It’s made from 78% recycled polyester, 20% viscose and 2% elastane, with a recycled polyester lining, and it’s lightly lined.
At £139, it’s obviously a bigger investment than the £35.99 Zara options, but I think it sits in quite a nice middle ground. It’s more elevated than the very affordable high-street options, without reaching the £219 Barbour price point.
Our verdict:
I really like this one. It feels like a more grown-up take on the checked jacket trend, and I think the brown check and funnel neck give it enough personality without making it feel overly trend-led.
It’s also the kind of jacket I’d be much more comfortable spending £139 on than a piece with a very obvious 2026-specific detail. I can see this working just as well next autumn as it does this one, which is exactly what I’d want from a more expensive purchase.
If you want something that sits somewhere between fashionable and timeless, I’d definitely have this one on my list of Zara jacket alternatives.
Found a great dupe we should know about?
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