The Fashion Buzzword We've Noticed Over at Zara

Charlotte Groeneveld of The Fashion Guitar wearing a Rosie Assoulin gingham top.

Gingham: Every girl we know (personally or via the magical medium of social media) has bought into it over the past month. From tablecloth-checked shirts and monochrome trench coats to ruffled plaid skirts, ribbon-tied shoes and simple sundresses, there is no shortage of gingham available, and being purchased.

Already our level of interest has been sufficiently piqued to give you a rundown on the best gingham pieces across the high street, but during our e-tailer travels, we started to notice one important thing. Some of the most trusted brands weren't calling gingham gingham at all. Why? Well, it all comes down to the origin of this archetypal summer print…

Alexandra Stedman of The Frugality wearing a Next coat.

So it turns out if you want to get really involved in this number one print trend, you'll need to start referencing it as "Vichy." The term is a noun in French and is basically the equivalent to "gingham" in English. However, there's an extra depth to this meaning: This particular woven fabric has traditionally been manufactured in a French town called Vichy, where these now-whimsical cotton fabrics were produced to make aprons and shirts.

Step back in time, and gingham can be derived from Dutch-occupied Malaysia, Indonesia and also India—almost every continent has a version it would like to claim as the original. Therefore this humble pattern has lived a thousand lives under a thousand different guises: from all-American pinup to practical (it's cost-effective because the check is the same on the both sides), cool to overly cutesy. Vichy, or gingham, has never failed to be reinterpreted by designers, and here it is yet again.

So now that you can talk the talk, let's walk the walk. Shop our favourite Vichy-check trend pieces below…

Mansur Gavriel

Mini Volume Clutch

Just. Too. Adorable. For. Words.

Finery + Malone Dress

Finery

Malone Dress

If black-and-white checks are your bag, head over to Finery ASAP.

Zara

Gingham Frilled Skirt

This has been doing the rounds on Instagram—and we can see why.

MSGM

Gingham Ruffle Blouse

A checked blouse with jeans provides the easiest route into this popular trend.

Miu Miu

Lace-Up Patent Ballet Flats

Every fashion girl's favourite pumps are back in stock.

Clare V.

Supreme Gingham Leather Clutch

Set this off against a red or light blue gingham dress.

Gul Hurgel

Tiered Cut Out Dress

The dream holiday packing list ticket.

Solid & Striped

Gingham Skirt

Be savvy, and seek out discounted checked gingham pieces on The Outnet.

Topshop

Ruffle Waist Gingham Trousers

Gingham doesn't have to be ultra-girlish, as proven by these tailored trousers.

Zara

High Heel Platform Shoes

If you want to follow the retro route, these do the trick.

M&S Collection + Cotton Blouse

M&S Collection

Cotton Blouse

Ruffles, frills and cut-out detailing are the NBFs to gingham.

Bimba y Lola

Vichy Top

This Spanish brand currently stocks a wide range of Vichy-check pieces.Next up, the best high-street wedding dresses you'll ever find.

Hannah Almassi is the MD for Women’s UK at Future PLC. Following a decade-long tenure as Who What Wear UK’s first Editor-in-Chief, she now oversees Who What Wear and Marie Claire in the UK. Hannah has been part of the the Who What Wear brand since 2015, when she was headhunted to launch the UK sister site and social channels, implement a localised content strategy and build out the editorial team. As an expert at the intersection of content, commerce, building brands and monetising digital platforms, she now combines her editorial experience alongside business acumen to help guide digital titles into the future.