Gingham - All about the famous checks

For this summer season, we have got a lot of fantastic styles in the popular gingham checks.

On the blog today, we take a look at the famous checks, while also showing you all the great news in the popular pattern.

There is much disagreement as to who invented the exact gingham weave, a weave consisting of only two colors of thread, but which forms the two colors plus a mixture of the two. It can probably have arisen in several places at roughly the same time, but one version is that it originates from the town of Guingamp in France, an intriguing idea, as it explains how the not particularly colloquial word gingham arose. It may also have come from Malaysia, where it is called genggang, which means separate, or from Vichy in France, as the terns in France and Spain are called vichy terns...

However, it is generally agreed that it appears in fashion in the 18th century for the first time, and that it is associated with a certain simplicity and the home.

In Denmark we use both kitchen checker and Pepitatern, but Pepitatern is actually a slightly different black/white weave, and checkerboard is just not very cool to describe your clothes as, is it?

The fabric represents 'home' more than anything else, it is rural idyll, nostalgia and a longing for the simple life. At the same time, it is youthful and summery. Since fashion and history are connected, gingham check has also been used throughout the 20th century in fashion to create associations with these virtues.

If we jump forward to the 20th century, there is no doubt that Gingham has filled a lot and has actually had a come back in every single decade. Each decade has used the well-known check in its own way and emphasized it to fit the prevailing ideal of the time.

Gingham is first and foremost traditionally a very durable fabric in hard-wearing cotton. The fabric is also the same on both sides, which is why it was practical for the home seamstress in the first half of the 20th century. It was used for children's clothes and kitchenware, but from the 1920s - 1940s, it also became popular for adults such as summer and the new smart beachwear.

Perhaps it is from there that it becomes the ultimate 'summer tern'?

In 1939, gingham appears on the big screen for the first time! And it's absolutely huge! Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz wears the famous pale blue gingham dress. The dress symbolizes childlike authenticity and the rural idyll. It is actually said in Hollywood that gingham is used for costumes to express that "there's no place like home" - a bit like "it's best to be out and about at home".

Also in the 1940s we see popular actresses in gingham checks, these are adult actresses and the checks even appear in the Film Noir genre. Lauren Bacall in "To Have and Have Not" and Ingrid Bergman in "Notorious". Also Katherine Hepburn wears gingham in the movie "The Philadelphia Story".

In the 1950s, gingham is all the rage again. The women were mostly back at home, and the checks are usually delicate pastels that suit this decade.

In the USA, it is Doris Day, among others, who rocks the style with gingham, and country and western music adopts gingham as a 'trademark' for the patriotic style. Brigitte Bardot makes the checks super hot when, as the biggest It-girl of the time, she gets married in a pink gingham checkered swing dress. Icons who wear gingham in the 50s and take the famous checks with them into the 60s are, for example, Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy. Audrey Hepburn is known for the gingham pants look, worn with a simple top and ballerina flats.

The 1960s also sees gingham check in the fashion picture. Here the colors are stronger, 'funnier', and you see the typical 60s models such as trousers and miniskirts in gingham. It is the 60s obsession with youth that probably comes into play here.

Again in the 1970s, gingham becomes popular, and here it is nostalgia and the rural that come into play, it is long dresses and frills, perhaps with a touch of country and western. And in the 80s, it's the pastels and slacks that come into fashion in gingham form. Yes, even the 90s, which were thought to be too engrossed in grunge, use the checks in new ways, especially interpreted by the designer behind Comme des Garcon.

Now we have come to the many wonderful gingham summer dresses and summer styles at Mondo Kaos.

We have both beautiful dresses and trouser suits in the famous checks this summer. We have got a lot of different summer dresses in gingham checks, many are inspired by the 50s, with the swing skirts and the lighter pastel checks, but there are also dresses in the fit 'n' flare style and some wonderful 60s inspired pantsuits.

From Heart and Haute come 2 beautiful summer dresses; our bestseller Hilda in swing style, which can sit both on the shoulder or straight off. It comes in summery light yellow checks. Betty-Lou is a new dress with us, which is a nice cut between swing and A-line, and with nice buttons down the front. It comes in both yellow and orange, and with its lapel collar and shirt look, is a really good everyday dress in gingham check, and the look is a little more simple.

Unique Vintage brings us two fantastic overalls/pantsuits for summer wear in pink and blue checks. The suit has suspenders and a sweet sweetheart neckline and can be easily styled with a T-shirt or simple blouse underneath. From Unique Vintage also come 2 fantastic dresses, namely Ohara with small puff sleeves, and the Prairie dress which is tied on the shoulders.

Two simple summer dresses in gingham come from Very Cherry, it is the favorite dress Sunny, which with its simple A-cut, is a fantastic versatile dress. Last but not least, there is the skirt with the yellow checks from Pretty Dress Company, which can easily be styled for both a light summer look, or a more cool look, like Stine here with a black top and accessories.

If you need more advice and tips for styling your summer dress with gingham, stop by the store, where we are ready to help you with your summer wardrobe.

Summer greetings,

Ditte and Team Mondo Kaos 💋