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8 Checkerboard Shirts To Help You Get In On This Retro Trend

Prepare to be a walking optical illusion.

by Margaret Blatz
Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Checkerboard shirts are your new BFF. The funky print is bold but can mesh well with your existing wardrobe. You can easily find vibey checkered prints to really get the optical illusion look going, and after debuting on several runways, this trend is one to get in on.

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Emmiol Checkered Print Crop Tank Top
Emmiol

Although it’s made from a knit fabric, Emmiol’s Checkered Tank Top ($19, Emmiol) is still lightweight and ideal for summer. It comes in four different color patterns, so you can get the right colorway to mesh with the rest of your closet

$19
LightInTheBox T shirt 3D Print Graphic Optical Illusion
LightInTheBox

To really trip up people on the street, your best bet is to rock LightInTheBox’s 3D Print T-Shirt ($15, LightInTheBox). I’m almost positive that, if you stare at the red square in the middle long enough, the rest of the print will begin to move.

$29
$15
TeePublic Warped Checkerboard on White T-Shirt
TeePublic

With sizes ranging from S to 5X, TeePublic’s Checkerboard White T-Shirt ($20, TeePublic) will give you the coveted skater look, perfect to wear with checkered Vans. Pair it with wide-leg jeans to appear like the disaffected youth you want to see in the world.

$20
Midcultshop Warped Checkered Shirt
Etsy

Midcultshop’s Warped Checkered Shirt ($33, Etsy) is a heady, trippy option. However, the pockets of white on the sides keep this shirt from being overwhelming to the eyes.

$33
Forever 21 Checkered Print Shirt
Forever 21

Get ricocheted back to 2010s scene culture with Forever 21’s Checkered Print Shirt ($12, Forever 21), which is as classic as you can get. This pattern lacks the singular tricks of the other tops, but you can still capture the bold, brilliant look of checkerboard with this shirt in your cart.

$15
$12
Shirtcent Funny Checkered Black White Lip Cute Checkerboard Shirt
Shirtcent

You can really load up on graphics with Shirtcent’s Lip Checkerboard Shirt ($25, Shirtcent). It’s made with 100% cotton for ultra-comfy wear, and can easily be dressed up under a black blazer or down with some baggy, ripped jeans.

$25
PastelRelics Checkerboard Drip Crop Tee
Etsy

PastelRelic’s Checkerboard Crop Tee ($30, Etsy) has an even more unique style unlike the rest of these options. The dripping-paint design is fresh and painterly which will make you feel like your own walking mural.

$30
Romwe Colorful Checkerboard Sleeve Ribbed Tee
Romwe

Checkerboard can be a lot, even in its most basic styles. However, you can just flirt with the print by purchasing Romwe’s Checkerboard Sleeve Tee ($7, Romwe). The pastel rainbow is playful yet softer than the usual stark white-and-black choice, making it even more gentle.

$7
Lana Top
Lisa Says Gah

The Lana Top ($59.50, Lisa Says Gah) is a true optical illusion that somehow works with any bottom or color you want it to — I guess that’s part of the illusion. The sheer top is stretchy, comfortable and romantic in silhouette, giving you the opportunity to elevate it or dress it down to your liking.

$119
$59.50