15 ways to wear gingham outfits, as the picnic print becomes everyone's favourite summer staple

Cosmopolitan

5 hours ago

It's official: summer is fully in bloom. What does that mean? Well, apart from setting out to find the perfect nostalgic pair of jelly shoes and strategising ways to make denim work in this heatwave, we're also thinking a lot about how to integrate gingham into our wardrobes.
And when we say 'gingham', no, we're not meaning just any old check print (nor are we referring to houndstooth, tartan, or plaid, thank you very much). We're very specifically talking about g-i-n-g-h-a-m: the picnic tablecloth print, turned beloved summer wardrobe pattern.
Lately, gingham has been everywhere: from Bella Hadid x Frankies Bikinis prairecore bikinis and midi dresses to Copenhagen fashion influencer-style gingham blouses and scrunchies. But there are also plenty of other ways to style the trend if you want to branch out from swimwear and Copenhagen street style: whether it's festival-friendly bloomer shorts (y'know, the ones that have been soooo popular this szn), a voluminous bubble skirt, Sabrina Carpenter-esque retro capris, or even tailoring.
Below, we've rounded up a whopping 15 ways to wear gingham, complete with shopping recs hand-picked by our fashion team. And, yep, we tracked down the perfect gingham bandana for ya... Thank us later!
Behold: gingham bloomer shorts. Bloomies proved to be one of the dominant trends at Coachella this year, and the micro shorts with lacy fringing are undeniably comfy and generally easy to wash, making them a winner on practicality alone. Style with a peasant blouse or crop top and stick on a pair of cowboy hoots and, congrats, you've ticked the gingham, bloomie and western trends all in one...
If you're anything like us, you're always looking for a summer staple that can take you from work meetings, to dinner, to a nice ol' winebar. And voilà: the gingham midi dress has got your back. Despite the summery pattern, the longer hem length is a bit more formal (dare we say...'grown up'?) and can work for all manner of occasions depending on your choice of accessories. We'd opt for heeled flip flops or kitten heels for a date/drinks, loafers for work, and jelly shoes for a summery casual day out.
If you are looking to prolong the indie sleaze trend, well, we don't blame you! The late 2000s and early 2010s are a treasure trove of under-explored nostalgia, and a bubble skirt is an easy way to tap into this time period and the era's love affair with maximalist silhouettes (à la the peplum). The trick here is to let the skirt take centre stage, so try your gingham bubble skirt with a short-sleeved tee or a plain tank top.
Product Details
There's a reason that 'jeans and a nice top' was a generation's guiding motto for assembling an outfit: it just works! With a gingham top, you can easily summer-ify a pair of jeans, and bring a bit of sunshine to your outfit even if the British weather necessitates a more sensible fit. However, you can also go full gingham and try a pair of gingham trousers in a contrasting colour, styled with some sandals.
This blouse features tie straps and a crinkled taffeta material with a red and white check pattern.
We love a good shirt. You can style your gingham shirt over a pair of matching gingham boxer shorts (see below!) or use it as an eye-catching top to go with linen shorts or trousers, and a simple pair of trainers. Depending on your work vibes, you can also wear a gingham shirt with a pair of light trousers to the office: the sky's the limit.
The Classic: Linen, Green Gingham. Our mid-length, flattering fit shirt meets lightweight linen in this cool-but-cute shirt. Pair with the matching boxer shorts for a co-ord look or throw over a white t-shirt and jeans.
Designed in London, made in Turkey
Product Details
Slightly dropped shoulder
Single buttoned, regular cuff
Two pleats across the yoke
Materials
100% Linen with Shell buttons. Made in Turkey.
Fit Advice
Take your normal size, intended for a slightly loose fit
The model in image 1 is 177cm/ 5'9" and wears a UK10
The model in image 2 is 179cm/ 5'10.5" and wears a UK10
The back length of a UK10 is 71cm/ 28"
Find out more about our Shirt Shapes and Sizing
Product Care
Machine wash at 30°C or below, on a regular cycle with similar colours.
Hang to air dry after a quick shake, and to ease the ironing effort, always hang on a hanger. If possible, avoid direct sunlight unless the fabric is white, and never tumble dry.
Ironing is optional due to the relaxed nature of the shirt but is recommended for a pressed finish. It's an easy fabric to iron: make sure the shirt is reversed, use low-medium heat, and finish by steaming.
We would always recommend rolling instead of folding to help reduce wrinkles.
Personalisation
Whether it's for yourself or a gift, our monogramming service is the perfect personal touch to add to your WNU shirt. For inspiration and to learn more, take a look at our Monogramming Page
As mentioned above, a pair of gingham boxer shorts can work well in a co-ord with a matching (or contrasting, if you're feeling wild) gingham shirt for a nice lunch date or a cute day out. You can also style with a baseball cap, t-shirt and trainers for a more low-key, comfy look (FYI, it works v well as an airport fit).
If you're meeting friends or a date for an al fresco dinner or cocktails, a gingham mini dress can be a great option. There are so many different variations, from a more structured, strappy gingham dress to a short and sweet cutesy, gingham, mini dress with a peter pan collar. Regardless of the style, you can tap into a western/prairiecore vibe with a pair of cowboy boots or go more preppy with a pair of ballet flats or Mary Janes.
If you're looking for a statement summer wardrobe piece, look no further. On holiday, everyone needs a lightweight pair of trousers, and selecting a gingham pair in an eye-catching colour is a great outfit hack. Dress up with statement jewellery and a strappy top and sandals, dress down with a pair of Birkenstocks, a denim jacket and a simple tee.
This product has a smaller fit than usual. The easy pull-on style of these green and white gingham wide-leg trousers makes them perfect for pairing with dressed up or down outfits, made from a comfortable cotton blend with an adjustable elasticated waistband and side pockets. Regular fit Elasticated waistband Wide leg Cotton-blend Side pockets Short to fit inside leg 27" x 69cm. Regular to fit inside leg 29" x 74cm. Long to fit inside leg 31" x 79cm. XL Tall to fit inside leg 33" x 84cm. 65% Recycled polyester, 35% Cotton. Items with the curve logo are available in sizes 18 and above., Our tall collection is designed to fit women 5'10" and above. This has been proportionally increased through the body, leg and sleeve to achieve the perfect fit. Available in sizes 8-20.
Midi skirts are a staple of two major summer trends: westerncore and boho chic. With gingham, you're taking things well up a notch. Wear with a peasant blouse and boots for the former, and a long tank top and a medallion belt (yep, those are back) for the latter, during festival season. You can also rock a more structured, contrasting top in a neutral like black or white and put on a pair of smart sandals and you've got the ideal look for a garden party, dinner at a friend's house, or a particularly trend BBQ engagement.
'Gingham' and 'tailoring' aren't words that immediately seem to go together but, like with peanut butter and jelly and other unlikely yet iconic duos, they work together perfectly. From blazers to waistcoats or smart trousers, there are a number of gingham tailoring options out there, which tend to work well when styled with smart sandals, loafers or ballet flats (the latter in leather/pleather, not mesh or jelly, if you're going into the office). We recommend opting for either a larger check and/or darker colours to make this one work appropriate, if that's your aim.
Heading on a beach holiday this summer? An easy way to tap into the gingham trend is with gingham swimwear, either a one-piece or a bikini. Despite obviously having a purpose by the beach or pool, depending on the level of support required, bikini tops can also double up as a tiny crop top in a pinch (specifically in a laidback club or bar, or for a relaxed day of mooching). Level up your poolside look with a pair of heeled flip flops and a straw sunhat.
Composition & Care
While it's summer, we still need a cover-up from time to time. A gingham jacket works perfectly for chillier days when styled with regular capri pants and a t-shirt, or with a full gingham look (bonus points for contrasting colours). This one's great for the weekends or for nippy evenings on holidays.
Gingham can serve major retro vibes and nowhere is this truer than when applied to gingham capri pants. Capri pants have had a major resurgence this summer for their 90s-chic energy, but a pair in gingham throws it back even further, channelling a Sabrina Carpenter 1960s nostalgia. Rock yours with with some matching headgear (see below), a crop top, and some espadrilles for a party-perfect, TikTok-ready look for when you're bopping around to Sabrina's latest single on the dance floor.
House of CB is a leading British womenswear brand, internationally acclaimed for its feminine, luxury and versatile pieces.
Scruncies are a fave for a reason, a way of delivering a fun hair look even when you're between washes. When it comes to the gingham trend, a fun hair accessory in the pattern can be an easy way to dip your toe in and see if the look works for you. Try it in a bright colour to inject some boldness into an otherwise lowkey look.
Our red bandana scrunchie features a gingham edge trim. We suggest pairing it with our Macy tote bag, available in the same print.
More about me
Bandanas, particularly in gingham, are going to be a major hair look this summer. They work well with festival attire like handkerchief tops and short-shorts, or with a more westerncore look like denim shorts and cowboy boots, or even your bikini.
Megan Wallace (they/them) is Cosmopolitan UK's Former Sex and Relationships Editor covering sexual pleasure, sex toys, LGBTQIA+ identity, dating and romance. They have covered sexuality and relationships for over five years and are the founder of the PULP zine, which publishes essays on culture and sex. In their spare time, they can be found exploring the London kink scene and planning dates on Feeld.