Checkerboard Delights

For our research, we wear Morpho + Luna’s Dancing Butterflies Pajama in black, ivory, and white. And learn that the game of Chess originated in India. Brought to medieval Europe via Persia and Arabia, it was once called “Shah” or King. The board’s four repeating squares of black and white suggest a mandala–and the dualism of Asian yin and yang. In Europe, the board was borrowed for counting coins, and thus became a symbol for banking families. So stylish, it soon morphed into marble floors.

Let’s don a little red to explore the heritage of checkerboard flags. Vannina Vesperini’s Ruby & Denim Camisole Set is a sure winner. Americans were the first to use a checkered flag in auto racing, in the early 20th century. At that time, courses were divided into timed zones and “checkers” carried a flag to identify themselves. 

But what about the game of Checkers? It is actually older than Chess, played in Egypt since 1400 BC. In the 12th century, a Frenchman got the idea of playing it on a chessboard. As summer approaches, we dress for friendly front-porch games in the catchy checkerboard prints of Zoelle. Her Malachite Butterfly designs all feature squares of black, red, green, and grey. Choose the handy Reversible Top, the Wrap Skirt, the Reversible Hi-Low Dress, or the Empire Dress. Or the latest, the gorgeous Greenfinch Midi Dress with its green geometric print down the back. 

Speaking of summer, it will soon be time for fancy squares of ice-cream cake, shuffleboard, and those funny canvas shoes. We wave it all in, with a victory lap of playful checks from Jane’s Vanity.