If you’re a guy, you might have noticed: Gingham is everywhere. Bored of plain white shirts, men are opting for something with a little more pizzazz. Gingham, with its tiny, checkered patterns and pop of color, seems to fit the bill. Just how popular is gingham right now? Esquire magazine reports that “Sportscasters are wearing gingham,” an implicit endorsement if I’ve ever heard one. And apparently, so many men are wearing the exact same blue gingham shirt from J. Crew that there’s even an Instagram feed for this particular shirt.

The reason gingham is so popular is that it’s versatile. It can be totally casual – great for a barbeque. It can be slightly more formal – great for work or a dressy date. It can be worn just about everywhere. So how do you bring gingham into your wardrobe other than with the popular blue and white check version?

Gingham Up Your Accessories

Instead of wearing a gingham shirt, pull out your gingham bow tie, gingham pocket square and gingham tie. With such a bold pattern, sometimes a little goes a long way.

Dress It Up With A Tie

Take a basic gingham shirt and add a knit tie. Maybe you and the guy at the cubicle next to you are wearing a very similar shirt, but because you’re wearing a cool tie, you stand out. You: 1. Other dude: 0.

Try A Different Gingham Pattern

Larger checkered patterns will stand out from the crowd, which seems to favor a smaller checkered pattern. Variations in the colors will make you unique. Rather than just red and white, or blue and white, go for gingham patterns that play with color—I’ve seen pale pink combos that seem downright racy.

Reverse It

Rather than wear a gingham shirt, don a gingham jacket. Pair it with white slacks, shorts or jeans. This bold sartorial choice may not be for everyone, but if you’re a fashion risk-taker, it might be for you.

With gingham having its moment, there’s no better time to “check” it out.

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