Houdstooth

'Whit dae ye cry thon yin?' (English Translation: What do you call that thing?)

Well, they call it Houndstooth - a pattern of Scottish (refer the slang!) lineage originated in the 1800s during the war times when tartans were worn to identify the different clans in battle. Houndstooth was a plaid with no designated clan, and thereby wearing the pattern became a sort of strategy for peace, and was originally only available in its classic black and white colours.

Houndstooth court shoe by Dior, 1959

The rest of the world caught up with the pattern much later in the 1930’s, where it was worn as a status symbol by the high-and-mighty class of England. Houndstooth was officially seen in the fashion scene in 1959 when Dior used the pattern to design a pointed court shoe, and later used it on the box of the Miss Dior perfume. This started a revolution, and several haute couture collections featured this pattern, mostly in its traditional colours, but often varying to reds and browns as well.

Being a favourite of many designers, houndstooth has been reinvented over the years and is now seen in a variety of bright colours, and on almost everything, from hats, gloves, bags, scarves, shoes, to jackets, suits, skirts and dresses. In the new millennium, Alexander McQueen, McQueen, Chanel, Dior and Yves Saint Laurent have all included this pattern in their collections.

Houndstooth Dress, 1960

Houndstooth has a knack of adding a certain level of class and richness to your personality. It makes a statement of its own and ensures that you stand out in a crowd. Be it an important presentation in office, or a fashion show you are attending, wearing houndstooth will mean exuding confidence and elegance in profusion.  I have a houndstooth pencil skirt, which when paired with a black blouse and a short blazer, makes sure I make the required impression during meetings. It’s tried and tested!

The Look -

Dress: Designed by Aishwarya

Bag: Bershka

Pumps: Vintage store, Germany

Watch: Calvin Klein

 

Model: Nitin Raj

Photo by: Pranay Jaitly

The Look -

Houndstooth Flatcap: Fiera di Senigallia, Milan 

Trench coat: Designed by Pranay Jaitly

Shirt: Sisley

Pants: Louis Phillipe

Belt: H & M

Brooch: Bigeu

Shoes: Vintage store, Milan

Maybe I am biased towards the Scottish accent and Scottish patterns, but I can assure you that this plaid has a style that is perennial and unfading in nature and it will inevitably return to the fashion scene every few years. 

See ye efter!