TREND REPORT

If Brigitte Bardot Had Instagram, She Would Probably Wear Gingham

The traditional summer pattern is everywhere right now, from the runways to Instagram.

by Emilia Petrarca

Brigitte Bardot
Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

At one point this summer, I took a real, hard look at the contents of my closet and wondered: Is there such a thing as having too much gingham?

My wardrobe was starting to look less like a clothing collection and more like the Central Park lawn on a warm day—and by that I mean a picnic blanket explosion. I couldn’t get enough of the print: classic red for day, black and white for night, plus yellow for a summer wedding. And it didn’t help that everywhere I turned, there were seemingly endless options, each more innovative than the next.

For example, Thom Browne showed tromp l’oeil gingham for his Spring 2017 show, Altuzarra offered matching separates of different colors, and Christopher Kane mixed it up with mesh and sequins for Resort. People were tying gingham ribbons around their ankles, à la Miu Miu, wearing everything from gingham pumps to flip-flops, and of course, donning gingham bathing suits that evoked old Hollywood actresses sunbathing at Cannes and Slim Aarons pool parties.

Reader, I bought it all. And so did Kendall Jenner.

As with anything, too much of a good thing is almost always not great. And alas, as summer rolls on, we come closer and closer to the gingham tipping-point. But the July 4th holiday weekend is the perfect time to bring out all the summer classics, and do summer style icon Brigitte Bardot proud. (Even if she’s French.) The actress even wore gingham to her first wedding, in case you needed any more convincing.

Related:

Celebrities like Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner Are All Obsessed with Gingham This Summer

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Taylor Swift sighting on August 1, 2014 in New York City.

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Emmy Rossum is seen on May 27, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

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Sienna Miller poses at a photocall for “The Lost City Of Z” at Corinthia London on February 16, 2017 in London, England.

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Hailey Gates attends “The Beguiled” New York Premiere at The Metrograph on June 22, 2017 in New York City.

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Laura Harrier is seen on June 26, 2017 in New York City.

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Shop the look, below.

How To Shop Gingham, This Summer’s Most Popular Print

Solid & Striped navy and cream gingham printed swimsuit with a low scoop back, $168, solidandstriped.com

House of Holland mid-rise purple and white gingham printed trousers with flared bottom, $248, houseofholland.com

Altuzarra cotton black and white gingham printed skirt, with anglaise-trimmed red detailing and a peplum bottom $627 , net-a-porter.com

Zimmermann black and white bikini with a black contrast trim and clip back closure, $235, zimmermannwear.com

Brother Vellies orange and navy gingham sandals with leather sole and bow-tie detail; $285, brothervellies.com

Eberjey green and white gingham one-piece swimsuit with a bandeau style top, $170, net-a-porter.com

Rosie Assoulin black and white gingham printed skirt with an elastic red and white colored waist and asymmetrical hem, $911, modaoperandi.com

Preen by Thornton Bregazzi blue and pink gingham wide-leg trousers with a high waist and pleated legs, $334, matchesfashion.com

Alexander Wang black and white tweed gingham dress with leather studded waist detail and mock neck, $845, Nordstrom.com

Lioness black and white gingham printed bikini with a scoop neck top and matching bottom, $69, lionessfashion.com

Miu Miu black and white cotton button-down gingham printed cardigan with a yellow trimmed collar, $479, matchesfashion.com

Shrimps green and white gingham frill blouse with a trim collar and matching cuffs, $201, avenue32.com

Lisa Marie Fernandez red and white gingham bikini with a strapless top, exaggerated sleeves, and a matching bottom, $385, matchesfashion.com

Miu Miu leather pumps with a black and white gingham printed elastic ankle strap, $345, net-a-porter.com

Caroline Constas cotton green and white poplin gingham skirt with an asymmetrical hem and black trim, $495, carolineconstas.com

Diane von Furstenberg orange and white sleeveless wrap dress with a asymmetrical hemline and ruffle detail, $598, dvf.com

Sandy Liang cotton button up top but black and white gingham top and contrasting blue and white stripes, $217, fwrd.com

NO. 21 black and white gingham heeled sandal with patent leather straps and knotted detail, $644, net-a-porter.com

Rochas pink and white silk organza gingham printed button-up blouse, $332, matchesfashion.com

J. Crew navy and ivory bikini top with underwire, $58, jcrew.com, and gingham printed boy short, $50, jcrew.com

HVN pink and white cotton gingham printed short-sleeve midi dress with a v-neck collar, $665, matchesfashion.com

Christopher Kane pink, orange, black and white gingham printed dress with a mock collar and paneled-style bottom, $1,497, christopherkane.com

Michael Kors cotton black and white gingham printed wrap top with cropped waited and wrapped tie, $330 , net-a-porter.com

Rosetta Getty blue and white gingham printed dress with knotted sleeves and a keyhole open back, $810, stylebop.com

Marques Almeida black and white gingham printed mules with solid black four inch heel, $380 , farfetch.com

Jonathan Simkhai red and white gingham printed off the shoulder top with short sleeves and cropped waist, $295, bergdorfgoodman.com

The Reformation black and white gingham short with elastic waistband and relaxed fit, $58, thereformation.com

Commes des Garçon vintage black and white short sleeve midi dress with a flared skirt and ruffle detail, $1,140, farfetch.com

Simone Rocha red and white tweed gingham printed pumps with clear acrylic heel and pearl trim, $483, yoox.com

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