An image of two models wearing the psychedelic checker prints courtesy of the designer Paloma Wool
I rarely write about fashion in this space, but Iāve been thinking about the checkerboard phenomenon A LOT so letās tap into the digital discourse and debloat my brain. Are you ready to vibe with me? For the past year and a half, I have been digesting my mixed feelings about this design trend. It immediately caught my attention when I saw Paloma Woolās trippy āpsychedelic printsā pop up back in 2019. At the time, I wasnāt entirely sold on the color combinations so I refrained from riding the wave. If Iām being honest, I also got really turned off by it once someone I knew sporadically decided to hop on the bandwagon. (This was during the Before Times when we didnāt have the language to define the āavant basicā bingo board.) While I could not get down with any of this, I did appreciate how it looked on a desk chair. I didnāt bite until the Montehermoso/Castelbuono set dropped as it was very on-brand for me all around. Then PW made another style referred to as āpixelā that was giving race car energy, but I liked those pieces even less. After sitting on it for so long, I finally feel ready to take the plunge on this variation though.
Of course, we can't talk about checkerboard without mentioning MacKenzie-Childs. The check print has been this brandās signature since 1983 and eventually found its way into my childhood during the aughts. For nearly a decade, my mom has been going to the annual barn sale at their farmhouse upstate and returning with a trunk full of goods. It started with a teapot and now there is so much Courtly Check in the house that you would think you were walking around a showroomāwe are practically living in a catalog that is all her design. Itās not quite my taste in terms of home decor, but I donāt make a fuss because itās her vision!
Obviously, this is a print that has been around for centuries so no one person or brand can really claim it, but whenever I think about the pattern MacKenzie-Childs automatically comes to mind. It was only a few months ago that I became more receptive to it after stumbling upon some discontinued pieces from the 90s-00s that feature earthy-toned colorways like the Wittika Pickles collection. (While weāre on the subject, please indulge in this video of Victoria MacKenzie-Childs baking cookies in their ferryboat floating residence. I continue to be fascinated by the founders, they are such a crafty couple!) Iām also a big fan of the ceramicist Micaela Sharief DeMarquez and when she created this iridescent checkered tumbler I simply had to have it.
For as long as I can remember, gingham has maintained a strong presence in my life. Thereās this adorable photo of me that was taken during the early ā90s where I am playing the keyboard in a gingham dress at daycare. Not much has changed since then, especially now that I have Sandy Liang bringing the best parts of my childhood back to life. I was always drawn to the plaid and houndstooth and argyle pieces that I found in my parentsā closets, eventually inheriting a number of classic vintage pieces from Ralph Lauren, Burberry, and Tommy Hilfiger. Having been molded by the suburbs, I went through a preppy phase that was fully supportedāand fundedāby my parents. (The Clique series definitely had something to do with the appeal tooā¦) But when I think about the traditional checker aesthetic, I am reminded of the diners where we spent our entire adolescence. I miss carelessly walking around on those faded floors, squishing into the booths with my friends, and feasting on all the regional classics that we could afford with our allowances. Diners are a core part of my identity and those tiled floors are filled with a lifetime of wholesome memories that I cherish.
A photograph of the author as a toddler dressed to impress circa the ā90s
Patterns are probably the hardest commitment for me. While there is a vault of pivotal moments from my teens that I associate with the neon leopard and zebra print cardigans from dELiA*s that I wore like armor, I wouldnāt know what to do with them now. Stripes continue to be a hit or miss and anytime that I have played with polka dots it was out of pure recklessness. For some reason, patchwork seems to be foolproof. And if you must know, I am very particular about floral prints because thereās a fine line between being a wallflower and looking like wallpaper. The other night I was talking to my friend Tyler about how our tastes are perpendicular to each other, but the point where they intersect is fabrics and texture. I live and breathe for corduroy, he is a sucker for prints, and together we stan 100% silk.
In general, I donāt wear that much color. I go through phases where Iām really into one shade and will curate a whole palette around it with specific pieces that I carefully acquire over timeā2019 was green, 2020 was cream, and 2021 is brown. True to form, Iāll whip out a pastel pink every once in a while, but black is my safety net. I love going full monochrome because Iām a bit anal when it comes to matching so the idea of clashing makes me want to peel off my skin. Itās just soā¦ loud. I appreciate the subtle art of color blocking with two-toned pieces though, I think itās sophisticaed.
If you couldnāt already tell, Iām highly selective about the patterns that co-exist in my wardrobe, only welcoming in what I know will work with the rest of the ensemble. Cow print is probably the boldest trend that I latched myself on to, but it was really my affinity for brown spotted cows that won me over in the end. I also have a small selection of leather goods that are croc and snakeskin patterned which really elevate your look when you pick the right color.
People will carry on with dressing like a picnic blanket so all you can do is what feels true to you. Rest assured, you will probably never see me covered in the Studio KJP flower checkerboard unless Iām getting paid to promote it. Iāll always be a gingham girl at heart.
UPDATE 02/20/21 @ 7:07PM ET: I neglected to mention that despite rotating an assortment of slip-on Vans from middle school onward, I could never get on board with the classic B&W checkerboard. Iām still not sure why, might have been worth interrogating with my therapist when I was still in sessions.