If you’re still finding it hard to associate gingham with anything but Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, it’s time to rethink your position.
The print may once have been paired with images of Oklahoma! Southern Belles and wholesome girls-next-door but Brigitte Bardot gave the checkered pattern an edge when she wore a pink gingham dress down the aisle at her wedding to actor Jacques Charrier in 1959.
The following decade saw gingham shirts made by brands like Fred Perry, Lambretta and Ben Sherman and worn with pride by mods, while Barbara Hulanicki launched her swinging '60s brand Biba off the back of an early gingham A-line design in 1963. Since then, often as a nod to nostalgia, gingham has made its way in and out of fashion.
This season, however, it landed firmly on the catwalks of fashion month: at Pringle of Scotland we saw form-fitting sundresses and football-inspired long-sleeved shirts, while at Dolce & Gabbana cute cropped jackets with Matador-style ruffles were paired with embellished skirts. Erika Cavallini gave us proportion play with frilled gingham, and Paul Smith super-sized the print in pinks and oranges. House of Holland made pastel work of the pattern, clashing varying sizes across jackets, shoes and skirts, and flashes of check were glimpsed in Rahul Mishra's gingham coat linings.
While the fabric looks very much at home on a beach, with a straw basket and some cat eye sunglasses, in the slides ahead you’ll find workwear- and festival-appropriate gingham as worn by our favourite ladies on Instagram. Click through to see how to style the print of spring 2017.
Paloma Elsesser mixes '60s Bardot vibes with '00s sports casual; those extreme shaped sunnies will be your go-to pair this summer, too.
Man Repeller's Leandra Medine makes transitional dressing much more fun with her Dorothee Schumacher duster coat.
Camille Charrière's gingham blazer tackles two trends nicely, and we're digging her matching Mango earrings and T-shirt font.
Loulou de Saison's Zara ruffled skirt is a spring staple; she clashes her prints well with a striped tee.
Fanny Ekstrand taps into three SS17 trends here: pink, statement shirts, and gingham. Top it off with simple loafers and a pair of sunnies.
Débora Rosa's H&M baby blue blouse again featured ruffled sleeves. Pair with pale denim or a pencil skirt for a casual workwear look.
This is every inch the perfect picnic outfit from Hanna Stefansson. Gold star for matching neckerchief.
Lizzy Hadfield's cute off-the-shoulder blouse is high-waisted mum jeans' best friend.
Trine Kjaer proves gingham doesn't have to be girly. Add your favourite oversized hoodie and trusty kicks for streetwear cool.
This is Sunday strollin' perfection: slogan T-shirt, picnic basket, gingham trousers.
Gia Seo's take on gingham is all wrapped up in corsetry – just look at that tie top and belt-effect skirt.
Take your picnic to the beach like Tamu McPherson in her pretty Lisa Marie Fernandez two-piece.
ASOS Insider Hannah makes her gingham pop with a sunset orange frilled hem top. Matching fire engines not necessary.
Megan Ellaby proves gingham needn't be overly feminine. With that Alexa for M&S patent coat and killer boots, it'd look equally at home on stage as in the park.
Sukeban co-founder Erika Bowes works an NSFW gingham two-piece – layer over a white tee for a daytime-appropriate look.
Reese Blutstein wears her Pale Swimwear gingham bikini top over a folklore-inspired shirt. The statement sleeves, halfway buttoned-up and collarless aspects of the shirt elevate the outfit. Top marks.
Just look at Bettina Looney's draped Jacquemus jacket – she's got gingham all wrapped up.
This is everything you want in a deconstructed shirt: extra-long sleeves, pulled off-the-shoulder, tied at the waist. Pair with washed jeans and some Cobain-style sunnies for '90s know-how.
Weather permitting, Marie Jedig's ASOS gingham two-piece is your festival essential. Just add heavy duty sandals.
Monica wears the Urban Outfitter's dress of the season with some classic Ray-Bans at Coachella - the perfect festival attire.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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