A bit like its cousin Tattersall, Gingham can sometimes seem like a long-lost friend; a familiar face from your past that you’ve forgotten to call for a few years. But don’t worry if you’ve been neglectful, because gingham will always take you back, it will once again make you look sharp yet relaxed and will forever comfort you in its soft embrace.

Gingham is a snappy warm-weather fabric, both aesthetically and practically. It’s usually made from light or medium weight cotton, or a cotton blend, making it an excellent option for both work and play.  

If gingham feels and looks instantly familiar; it’s probably because, at some point during your childhood it was part of your school’s uniform. Lightweight, durable and easy-to-clean, it was a natural choice for dressing up potentially mucky kids. But now you’re older and wiser it’s time to look at gingham as a classic shirt choice which reflects a sophisticated but playful style.  

Jermyn’s Street shirtmakers Turnbull and Asser stock a number of different coloured variations of the gingham check, each of the high quality you’d expect.  The blue and pink options offer that little bit more excitement and vibrancy than their plain coloured cousins, ideal for dressing up some jeans and desert boots (go for either Clark's or try Grenson's) or adding interest to a grey work suit.

Gingham can be the perfect way of bringing colour into an outfit in a subtle way, adding a shade of intrigue without being overbearing. A great example is these pink gingham shorts from Ralph Lauren; even if you’d usually consider pink shorts a little too daring it’s easy to see that these don’t go overboard and can be stylishly paired with a clean tee shirt and some deck shoes (we love handmade Quoddy's from Maine!) to achieve a look of sophisticated continental cool.

In the warmer months the last thing anyone wants is heavy and restrictive underwear, making gingham the perfect fabric for crafting a pair of boxer shorts from.  Sunspel offer some finely made gingham boxers, ensuring a loose comfortable fit, breathable fabric and a dashing flash of colour.

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