The gingham that gets you ready for summer

There is nothing new or revolutionary about a gingham dress, but that is why I love it so much. It’s that perennial print you can pull out of your wardrobe time and time again, making you feel more summer-ready than any other outfit.

If you can ignore the tablecloth comparisons (usually from my husband), you’ll find a gingham dress is a good investment. It’s a pattern that feels relevant and modern year after year – just switch up your accessories to suit the occasion. A bright check, like this buttercup yellow maxi from Turkish brand Gul Hurgel, makes such a sunny statement. I can imagine wearing it just as happily to a wedding with heels as on holiday with sandals.

If yellow is a little too bold for you, consider ice-cream shades, such as pastel pink or lilac. You could also consider a classic palette of navy or blue, which can be smartened up for the office with a blazer.

There are styles to accommodate every size and body shape. I love a pretty detail such as a bow, scalloped trim or pleating, but a simple style can have just as much impact.

It’s a classic print that won’t date, so once you’ve found your hero gingham dress, you’ll be able to channel your inner Dorothy every summer. No Yellow Brick Road required.

Isabel wears

Dress Up: linen dress, £710, Gul Hurgel (gulhurgel.com); gold lamé sandals, £315, Loeffler Randall (loeffler randall.com); crochet satin ribbon bag, £105, Isla Risa (islarisa.com); jasper, agate and gold-plated beaded necklace, £410, Timeless Pearly (matchesfashion. com)

Dress down: linen dress (as before); acetate sunglasses, £75, Boden (boden.co.uk); woven leather sandals,

£99, Anthropologie (anthropologie. com)