Check Mate

I have resisted this one for a very long time – I have been aware and looked from afar but it just hasn’t floated my boat at all. However, slowly but surely I am finding myself rather drawn to the season’s new monochrome. Yep, gingham I’m talking about you.

It’s still a tricky one – girly at best, tablecloth at worst and neither are really where I intentionally aim for when getting dressed. So how to do it with style?

Starting at the bottom –  a little flash of gingham in the form of some slides, like these from New Look £7.99 is definitely an easy way to do the trend.

Or these Ankle Tie Sandals £19.99 which also come in red gingham.

More subtle yet are these Miss Selfridge Gingham Strap Flatform Espadrilles £39 on ASOS which are needless to say my favourite of the lot.

Moving on up now, and these New Look High Waist Gingham Shorts £17.99 on ASOS are also rather appealing. Definitely not with a cropped top for me at any point I would hasten to add. A simple white tee/cami either tucked in or left out depending on your preference. Or even a little slogan tee would be just fine. Or an off the shoulder style.

I have been lusting after some black and white gingham shorts but the only ones that I like are over £200 from Zimmerman and the Topshop ones are too frilly so look like knickerbockers.

For the office, a checked trouser would be a nice update to your workwear wardrobe. Boden has these Gingham Richmond 7/8 Trousers now £39 in the sale and which come in Petite, Regular and Long.

Or M&S has these Slim Leg Trousers £35 which come in black and white as well as blue and white and are in short, regular and long. Paired with an off the shoulder top is a nice look.

Warehouse also has this Gingham Jean £42. 

Otherwise, Jigsaw’s Gingham Stretch Cigarette Trousers £115 are autumn ready with a charcoal and black colour. The styling here doesn’t work for me – a crisp white oversized shirt yes, but the shoes should be loafers or block heeled mules.

There is of course, the M&S Gingham Ruffle Pencil Midi Skirt £35 which has been featured in magazines galore and on fashion-types too. It comes in two different lengths and you need a simple white or plain bright top to go with. The jury is out for me on this one…

Tops wise, I think you just have to accept that gingham and girly go hand in hand and that this is a casual/holiday buy. So go for it and make it ruffled/off the shoulder like this Gingham One Shoulder Top £20 from Warehouse. Wear with shorts or denim but try to take the rodeo out of the outfit by adding modern accessories/shoes ie steer clear of stilettoes and super skinny white jean combos. Or pair with a bright block colour for a statement look.

Or try this Gingham Bardot Top £25 from Dorothy Perkins – nice with a more relaxed pair of jeans and slides. Less nice like this.

Or this one from H&M £17.99. Much better styling here from H&M.

Going quite cowboy western with this Tie Front Shirt £29 from Warehouse which would look lovely with shorts and wedge espadrilles.

On the dress front, I like the Limited Collection Gingham Long Sleeve Shirt Dress £39.50 and so do others it would seem as it is out of stock in several sizes already. Wear unbuttoned, sleeves rolled and with white trainers for a modern look.

For a pretty summer dress try Warehouse’s Red Gingham Dress £39.

Checked swimwear is another option and this Gingham check Bikini Set from Topshop is a nice style.

What I really, really like above all is this Cold Shoulder Gingham Playsuit from M&S. It is a kids’ style but maybe as my 7 year old is already at armpit height, I might be able to squeeze into their biggest kids’ size…?