Though many of us see gingham print as a symbol of our childhood past, gingham ruled the runway in Derek Lam’s spring ready-to-wear collection last September, and I’m bringing it back for summer! I am inspired by the innocence that the print brings to an outfit. The print itself is nostalgic and pastoral, but paired with the thick, structured belts in this collection, Lam created an eye-catching juxtaposition. I love this twist on the naiveté of gingham print.
Though I love Lam’s overt use of the pattern, I decided to tone it down a little to make the trend more wearable in my day-to-day life. In my own interpretation, I put together a laid back, summery outfit with a vintage gingham crop top. I have such a weakness for hidden details that make a piece of clothing really special. The buttons down the back of this top make it unique and really draw you in. I love the innocence that this top conveys through the fabric and buttons, yet the cut is still edgy and trendy.
I chose to pair the top with high-waisted shorts and layer a large button-down shirt over to make sure I wasn’t showing too much skin. Both of these were found in thrift shops and are classic staple pieces that I’m sure anyone could find for cheap. I love checking out local thrift stores for less expensive prices on simple items. It’s a great way to find things that you will wear often and will not be afraid to mess up.
Finally, I accessorized with a leather purse, round sunglasses and lace-up boots. I am very fond of boots for summer. They look great with bare legs and add just a little bit of edge to an outfit. They can also be a lot more functional than sandals for walking and traveling, which is definitely a plus. I tried to keep it minimal with the accessories and opted for the simple purse and glasses. Overall, functionality is the name of the game, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look good too!
Get My Look: 1. A summery gingham top with back details. 2. Lace-up boots. 3. An oversized button-down.