If you’ve bought a three-piece houndstooth suit, wearing the waistcoat as an odd piece is a very dapper sartorial decision. Like trousers, you’ll want to pair this with solid pieces so that the houndstooth pattern doesn’t clash with anything surrounding it. Ties

Further differentiating the tie from other houndstooth clothing is the fact that it’s easier to pair a tie with other patterned wardrobe items. This is because the physical article of clothing is so small; busy patterns that cover relatively little real estate tend to play more nicely with other patterns. If we fast forward to more modern history, we learn that the pattern has never really gone out of style. It has always been a mainstay of Savile Row tailors when creating country garments for their clients. Wool is undeniably the most popular fabric used in houndstooth garments. It looks just as good on woolens (that is, nubbier, hairier wools) as it does on worsteds, but houndstooth truly does shine as a woolen sport coat.If you are unsure of the difference and / or would like to know more about wool in general, take a look at our guide to wool fabrics.

If you want to stand out in the crowd, you have to choose the best material keeping many factors in mind. For example, wool waistcoats are best suited for winter events. Similarly, linen and cotton are preferred for summer ceremonies. In contrast, tweed waistcoats can serve the best casual look.

How To Wear Houndstooth

Houndstooth’s name comes from the fact that the pattern resembles dogs’ teeth, specifically molars and larger teeth about midway through the mouth. Perfect for autumn and winter, earth tones make up the most popular color ways for houndstooth garments, particularly sport coats. Raphael has many different tweed sport coats, several of them in houndstooth. Because of their variations in color, pattern, and texture, they are very versatile, fun, and easy to wear. He feels that you could even own up to thirty of them and still probably have room for more in your closet! To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry best practices to make sure it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

There are plenty of bold color combinations for houndstooth garments: red/white, purple/cream, grey/white, and much more. It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact origins of the houndstooth pattern, but the discovery of the Gerum Cloak informs us the pattern has been in usage for at least 2000 years. Houndtooth’s popularity soared starting in the late 18th Century, when it was woven in tweed cloth for use in outdoor pursuits. Hypothetically, houndstooth is perfectly acceptable for a suit. Specifically, it’s a fine idea to buy a houndstooth suit as you get deeper into your suit collection; don’t buy houndstooth as a first or second suit. While extremely handsome, its versatility is limited and it isn’t the “everything” suit you’d need from something typically found in a capsule wardrobe.Dogstooth isn’t just used in menswear, either. Household items such as rugs are sometimes made in a houndstooth pattern, and furniture can even be upholstered with houndstooth weaves. History Of The Pattern A classic pattern, it has been around for centuries and has never really gone out of style. In fact, it’s an intricate weave that has a subtle yet outgoing effect on the wearer. It is extremely important to remember that you need to be careful about clashing patterns when you wear houndstooth. The pattern is very busy to begin with, and it’s best to start off by pairing it with solid garments in complementary colors. If you’re unsure of your personal level of contrast and would like to determine it, our guide to contrast for men will be of great help to you! Earth Tones: Brown, Burgundy, Green & Blue To look your best with a waistcoat, you need to put effort into finding the right size. The size of your waistcoat should complement your chest. The waistcoat should neither be tight nor loose. If you are still unable to find the right size, get yourself a customised waistcoat according to your measurements.

For every event, there is a wide variety of waistcoats for men. You can wear formal waistcoats with a suit to achieve a complete lavish look for the wedding or some farewell party. Similarly, wearing waistcoats as a casual office look provides you with that formal elegance. For partying with friends, grab some of the finest textured waistcoats and pair them with denim jeans. Wearing waistcoats at business meetings allows you to have a classy and sensual look together. Though wool is far and away the most common fabric used for houndstooth garments, the pattern is also utilized in cotton for shirts and lightweight sport coats.

Popular Houndstooth Fabrics

Plenty of ready-to-wear firms such as Brooks Brothers followed suit and have been creating houndstooth garments for well over a century. As far as washing your waistcoat is concerned, you can look for dry cleaning services. We would strongly suggest not to machine-wash your waistcoats at home. You can maintain the waistcoat’s fabric quality by hanging it straight, steam ironing it, and brushing with a suit brush.