Check mate: How gingham became the print of the summer
Your guide to styling the timeless check this season
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Before we begin, let me say that gingham doesn’t exactly bring to mind fond fashion memories. I remember wearing my summer school dress, with its blue and white checked print, and thinking I looked like a giant J-cloth. Looking back, while I wasn’t wrong about the similarity to the household cleaning product, the simple micro-check was actually very en vogue. Much like many other childhood throwbacks (jelly sandals and graphic tees, to name just a couple), gingham is back in full force. In fact, this summer it has become one of the prints of the season.
And for good reason. With gingham’s nostalgic retro charm, reminiscent of our school days, also comes a highly chic and feminine style. A timeless print that brings to mind long balmy picnics and quaint Italian trattorias, no wonder it’s become a long-time favourite with celebrities and the style set. This summer alone has seen the Princess of Wales don a classic black and white gingham midi dress from Temperley London at the Royal Charity Polo Cup, while Sienna Miller wore a red and white mini style at the opening of Debute’s London boutique. Both go to show that the checked print can be worn in multiple styles and anywhere from country fields to city dwellings.
Versatile and effortlessly sophisticated, fashion houses have turned the classic gingham print up a notch to make it cool for 2026. Adding in bold colours, contemporary designs and pieces spanning from dresses to headscarves, the once youthful look once synonymous with Dorothy and the Yellow Brick Road is now an easy breezy summer staple with a vintage edge.
Want in on the trend? We’ve curated an edit below of the best gingham pieces on the market now, from midi skirts and shirts to beach-ready swimwear and accessories. Happy shopping.
Gingham dresses
Images: If Only If
Dresses are a great starting point for hopping on board the gingham bandwagon. Timeless, flattering and a brilliant all-rounder, there are plenty of styles to pick from, whether you’re on your morning coffee run, off to the office, stepping onto a sandy beach or dolling up for a glamorous party. Choose from mini, midi and maxi styles in floaty, airy linens (ideal for heatwaves), soft cottons or structured fits and dress up or down for the occasion. Throw on a jacket and wear with sandals for an effortlessly laidback everyday look or complete with a pair of killer heels for something elevated, smarter and sexier.
Gingham shirts, tops and blouses
Not a fan of dresses? Or looking to get in on the trend in a slightly more subtle way? Opt for a gingham shirt, top or blouse paired with plain bottoms. An easy, effortless style that screams Parisian chic, play with different styles and colours depending on your taste and occasion. For a great work appropriate option, you can’t go wrong with a slick structured shirt in a monochrome palette or a tailored waistcoat adorned in tonal checks. For weekends, why not be a little more experimental and go for a cropped silhouette, a bright colour palette or a blouse adorned with big bows for a feminine and fun style.
Gingham trousers, shorts and skirts
Prefer to go patterned on the bottoms? Gingham trousers, shorts and skirts are your gateway to scoring high style points. Easily complemented with block coloured tops and shirts, a gingham bottom half is an easy way to a covetable look. Whether that’s tailored trousers for work and smart events, boxer-style shorts for a borrowed-from-the-boys look, or a swishy, feminine maxi or risqué mini skirt. Alternatively, for a showstopping, statement aesthetic, pair with a matching gingham top for a coordinated, head-to-toe look that will turn heads.
Gingham swimwear
Image: Hunza G
Image: nounou
It’s only natural that gingham has swept into swimwear too, ready to kit you out for sunrise swims and poolside sunbathing, cocktail and good book in hand. Whether you’re team bikini or swimsuit, from pretty pinks and seaside shades to classic black and white tones, there’s a style for every sun worshipper. Opt for seersucker and crinkled fabrications and flattering designs that will cinch you in at the waist for your very best beachside look.
Gingham accessories
It doesn’t stop there. Whether choosing top-to-toe checks or just a subtle touch, gingham accessories are a fun and sophisticated way to play with the trend. Throw a check bag over your shoulder (even if you’re headed to Waitrose, not a cute farmer’s market), and ooze instant retro glam. Or slip into a pair of checked shoes – flats and heels alike – for a little bit of French flair and je ne sais se quoi. For the real fashionistas, the crème de la crème has got to be a gingham hat or headscarf for some serious vintage glamour.
Read more: The grown-up way to nail the fruit trend this summer
