"I've never met anyone quite like you. You are the first person that I think of in the morning and the last when I fall asleep. You are the girl of my dreams. With you in my life, I strive to be a better person. I can't imagine a day without seeing your beautiful face or hearing your sweet voice. Will you marry me?"
That is a scene I envision at a quaint Italian restaurant when I look at these gingham tablecloths. However, this once popular choice in décor which to some is now considered passé, is not limited to Italian restaurants. The iconic Durgin-Park in Boston's Fanuiel Hall, which specializes in New England style cuisine, has been dressing their tables in gingham since their opening in 1827. I'm not sure if this is true or just an urban legend, but supposedly in the 1950s there was a robbery at DP and the burglars used the tablecloths to tie up the staff!
Gingham fabric was introduced to the US as a striped pattern in the 17th century. Later in the 18th century, English textile mills morphed it into the lively checkered pattern which revolutionized the fashion industry. French foreign film actress Bridgett Bardot is so enchanted with "Vichy" (French for Gingham) that in 1959 she chooses pink gingham for her wedding address. Gingham is all the rage in the 1960s. But then like all other fads, starts to lose it's momentum in the 70s. Recently it had a minor revival on the fashion scene with the growing popularity of the "retro" style.
References:
http://visforvintage.net/2012/09/11/gingham-fabric/
http://arkrestaurants.com/durgin_park/
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