Rachel Stevens proves why gingham skirts are the cheerful summer staple to add to your wardrobe before the weather heats up again
Her chic but simple skirt outfit formula makes playful summer dressing achievable in just two steps
Gingham is up there with the best of summer prints, and its picnic-ready feel means it goes hand-in-hand with the sunshine. A truly timeless pattern, the jumbo gingham trend might currently be dominating the high street, but Rachel Stevens has proved that you can never go wrong with a classic picnic printed piece when it comes to warm-weather dressing.
Taking to Instagram to show off what she called her ‘simple skirt and t-shirt combo,’ she styled Uniqlo’s tiered gingham maxi skirt with a pair of black kitten heel sandals and a simple charcoal grey t-shirt, which she tied in a knot at her waist to balance out the proportions of her long skirt and create a waist-defining silhouette.
Maxi skirts are a timeless style, perfect not only for holidays but also for summer in the city, too. Dressed up or down, floaty, ankle-grazing skirts are breezy and offer helpful sun coverage. The gingham print on Rachel’s skirt keeps it timely and adds subtle colour to her outfit.
An exact match, Rachel Stevens loves to share with fans where she has bought her clothes. The pop singer-turned-fashion influencer regularly takes to Instagram to disclose how she styles items for petite women, and regularly proves that with clever styling and hacks to balance your shape and height, you can wear anything.
This might be in the men's section, but at Uniqlo, a lot of the staples very much fall into the unisex style category. Rachel's top featured a slightly longer sleeve, which makes me think it is from the men's category, and then she has used the more relaxed shape to tie up and knot at the waist.
Thong sandals have been taking off as the warmer weather really kicks in, with the style working as, essentially, a grown-up flip-flop. Add a kitten heel to your chosen silhouette, and you get a super chic shoe that can work for everyday and evening attire.
While Rachel opted for a red and white gingham print for her maxi skirt, there are plenty of options on the high street that still deliver those perfect picnic vibes. This design is a combination of pinks and browns.
Unlike Rachel's charcoal grey t-shirt, this one from M&S is cut to be more figure-hugging, making it a great option to pair with floatier skirts, as the form-fitting silhouette will help balance fuller A-line skirts.
There's something so sleek about this pair of thong sandals from Dune London, with their ultra-mini kitten heel and squared-off toe creating a chic and minimalistic design.
In the caption of her Instagram post, Rachel revealed that this maxi skirt and t-shirt combination has become a go-to for her and if you’ve been left wondering what to wear in the heat, having these two staples in your summer capsule wardrobe can make everyday dressing a breeze.
She told her followers that she’s ‘really loving skirts this summer,’ especially as an alternative to the best summer dresses, as there is a degree of versatility with a maxi skirt that you don’t always get with maxi dresses. You’re open to styling them with a range of different tops, blouses and shirts, dressing it up or down, and this means you can get more wear out of them, too.
While Rachel opted for a casual skirt and t-shirt pairing, she introduced an elevated feel thanks to her thong kitten heels – which are a growing spring/summer shoe trend for 2026. Adding an oversized tee and a pair of your most comfortable sandals gives even the prettiest and most polished of skirts a more laid-back feel on a summer's day.
