'Gingham Who?'

A stack of crisp, folded men’s dress shirts sat on a shelf in front of boyfriend, who stared back at the mishmash of patterns with one eyebrow raised.

He pulled out a men’s shirt in black and white gingham, and looked over at me. “I like this one.” he said.

“The gingham?” I asked. It was impossible to hide the disappointment in my voice – not only does my boyfriend always wear black, but he was going to look like a black picnic table at my girlfriend’s Miami wedding.

“What’s gingham?” he asked. “You know I don’t know anything about fabrics. You’re the one who works in fashion.”

True.

Black Gingham Shirt

The Saturday shopping experience – I managed to have my boyfriend surrender and purchase a light blue shirt with tie – made me realize that there might be others in need of a fashion tutorial.

Whether it’s dressing for a gala or redecorating your house, knowing which fabrics work for the occasion is essential. Here’s a list of some common fabrics found in home & fashion:

Lavish and luxe

Damask is known best for its rich and sumptuous appearance. Originating from Damascus, damask is a flat and reversible pattern made from fibers like silk, wool, linen, cotton or synthetic. Weavers will often add gold and silk thread to the weave to give the pattern its metallic luster.

It is a fabric that typically resonates with the aristocracy of centuries past, of lush parlors with tufted chairs upholstered in damask, velvet drapes and gold trim. For an Old World inspired look, this contemporary set of damask curtains has blue-blood written all over it.

Burgundy damask curtains

Light and care-free

This weightless and fresh fabric dates back to 3,500 years ago when linen was discovered on mummies in Egyptian tombs – a symbol of purity, light and luxury. It’s popularity eventually led to its introduction to Europe, where it was the chief textile of the Middle Ages.

Linen is often worn in the balmy summer months to keep cool. Linen pants, shirts, dresses and shorts are often a staple in coastal regions. In home furnishings, you might find linen in the following places: window treatments, tablecloths, bed sheets, upholstery and handkerchiefs. If you’re looking for a stiff fabric that is highly absorbent and resistant to high temperatures, then linen is the fabric for you.

Linen tablecloths

So what’s gingham, you’re asking? I’ll get to that later.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of tmlwin.images,nowvalley.com; decorinnovation.com; oldcolonial.biz