Why gingham maxi skirts are a fashion classic for all seasons

Charming and quaint, gingham can quickly tip too far into twee, country fair territory – more Great British Bake Off than street style. One clever way to embrace this wholesome print without feeling like a five year old, though, is to avoid anything else too girlish, such as headbands and frilly socks. Instead, opt for one piece realised in gingham, rather than styling it head-to-toe. Enter: the gingham maxi skirt.

Comme des Garçons spring/summer 1997.

Subtle tweaks to the silhouette and thoughtful detailing can also help elevate the look further, as seen with Posse’s chocolate and cream fitted ankle-length pencil skirt and Ganni’s maxi which has pockets at the hip. Rei Kawakubo was the first to reimagine and subvert gingham with Comme des Garçons’s 1997 collection that blended gingham with avant-garde, sculptural silhouettes. “It’s our job to question convention,” the Japanese designer told Vogue at the time. “If we don’t take risks, then who will?” Fast forward to today, and the “lumpy” maxi skirt has become a prize vintage find.

Thanks to its associations with picnic blankets, you’d be forgiven for thinking this is an item that should be tucked away when the clocks change, but if you style it with more grounded, autumnal pieces it quickly loses its whimsical charm. Add sturdy loafers, windbreakers, leather jackets and colourful knits, and you have an outfit that works for Sunday roasts just as well as afternoons in the park.

Shop gingham maxi skirts:

Gingham High-Rise Cotton-Blend Maxi Skirt – MyTheresa

Mira Gingham Maxi Skirt – Net-A-Porter

Gingham-Print Belted Cotton Maxi Skirt – Maje

Andi Linen Maxi Skirt – Reformation

Also read:

6 ways to wear a maxi skirt with trainers

How to style a long skirt and T-shirt in 8 unexpected ways

Ananya Panday’s gingham set will convince you to invest in a fun co-ord