Thursday, June 12, 2014

Bring on the gingham!






















With the coming of spring, gingham has taken over the spotlight and ended the reign of plaids.

The charming checked prints may invoke countryside connotations but this need not be the case anymore. Major household names from Derek Lam to House of Holland to Balmain have revamped this timeless classic and turned it into the new stripe.
History serves to prove the versatility of gingham. We can channel the sweet innocent “Americana” from the Wizard of Oz or better yet – the untempered sex appeal of Bridget Bardot. Actually, her look with a full skirt, paired with neutral black and flats couldn't be more time appropriate today. Perhaps due to this latter reference, gingham is reminiscent of Parisian chic and a taste of summer.
Forget the associations with picnic, table cloths and boarding schools. The new gingham with exaggerated prints in fresh colors has a modern touch to it, with just the right amount of nostalgia for the glorious 50s and 60s. It has certainly gone trough a fashion makeover since Dorothy but it has retained its youthful DNA. Trend setters such as Olivia Palermo and January Jones rock the retro vibe in a modern cool-girl-way.
Gingham comes with an additional advantage – you can find it on everything. If you are not sure whether this trend is for you, you can still enjoy a fashion moment with gingham espadrilles, a purse or even sunglasses – the opportunities are endless. I however am on full on gingham mode and prefer to dive into the trend with cool separates – from t-shirts and bomber jackets to full skirts and pants. Served in the right amount, the cross-hatched lines will take you to the streets of a bustling metropolis, rather than to Kansas or rural France.
Gingham prints can be small-scaled of exaggerated. The former is easier to style because it blends from afar. The larger print is certainly more out there and represents a challenge but also an opportunity to truly flash your styling credentials. Pair it with a solid color or be bold and add … more gingham, channel the S/S runways and mix patterns.
It is time to de-minimalise your wardrobe. If you can overcome the associations with school uniforms, you are free to experiment with gingham and let your unique personal style shine trough the checkered print.


p.s. This is straight out of Bitchy Online UK:  it's a great new London-based online magazine. You can find the original article here.


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