Styling tips for houndstooth

Styling tips for dogtooth

Colour.  Dogtooth looks crisp added to solid neutrals and to blocks of colour: fuchsia, cobalt blue, sunny yellow, magenta, or red.

Retro potentiality. Watch out for the retro (1960s, 1970s) potentiality: there's inspired and there's costume-y. If an outfit is too literal, it is best reserved for the under 30s.

Good investments:

• A big-ticket item like a coat or a dress. Choose simple lines and unfussy constructions and let the pattern do all the talking.

Styling tips for houndstooth: A Coat by Caroline Grant. [[Background image: The New Yorker cover March 29 2010. Homage by Ana Juan, after the death of Alexander McQueen. Butterflies were the theme of his 2008 collection, as symbols of fragile and ephemeral beauty].

Hobbs Talitha Dress / Coast Eileen Coat / Zara Plaited Shopper Bag / Calvin Klein Annie Slingback Shoes / Alexis Bittar Tartan Bracelet / Wallis Black Monochrome Stripe Earrings /Estée Lauder Pure Color Lipstick in Scarlet Siren / Estée Lauder Nail Lacquer in Pure Red.

Styling tips for houndstooth: A Dress by Caroline Grant. [[Background image: The New Yorker cover July 25 2011. Wedding Season by Barry Blitt].

George Dogtooth Cowl Neck Dress / Romwe Large Lapel Coat / Kate Spade Pilgrim Hill Quinn Handbag / J.Crew Viv Patent Flats / Linea Pelle Sliced Belt / Dents Leather Gloves / Kate Spade Dotz Bib Necklace / Jet Brooch (antique) / Nars Semi Matte Lipstick in Heat Wave / Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Scarlet Chinois.

A skirt in a simple construction, with a turtleneck sweater: always a classic.

Styling tips for houndstooth: A skirt by Caroline Grant. [[Background image: The New Yorker cover March 16 2009.Michelle O. by Floc'h. Of course Michelle Obama was going to make it to the cover of the New Yorker's special Style edition, pretty much as she will to every publication on the planet].

Matalan Dogtooth Skirt / Hobbs Penelope Trench Coat / Ralph Lauren Black Label Polo Sweater / Radley Christa Handbag / Clarks Asha Shooties / Joan Shepp Cashmere and Leather Gloves / Debenhams Black Felt Hat / Kendra Scott Dalton Earrings / Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Uber Beige / Revlon Nail Lacquer in Nude Attitude
 

A blouse.

Styling tips for houndstooth: A Blouse by Caroline Grant. [Background image: The New Yorker cover September 12 2011. Reflections  by Ana Juan. Juan’s image evokes both the reflecting pools at soon-to-be-opened Ground Zero Memorial and the black-on-black cover that The New Yorker published in the aftermath of 9/11].

Alexander McQueen Houndstooth Pussy-bow Shirt / Gérard Darel Wide Black Trousers / Michael Kors Fine-knit Cashmere Cardigan / Jason Wu Handbag / VC Signature Francoise Pumps at Nordstrom / Lara Bohinc Apollo Belt / Ted Muehling Long Berry Earrings / Gucci Square-frame Sunglasses / Janeo Gold & Rhodium Enamel Bangle / Estée Lauder Pure Color Lipstick in Nectarine/ Nars Nail Lacquer in Dovima.

A handbag, a scarf, a pair of shoes: always look for the best quality you can afford, because dogtooth can look very tacky in cheap materials.

Styling tips for houndstooth: A handbag by Caroline Grant. [Background image: The New Yorker cover July 30 2007. Girls Will Be Girls by Anita Kunz].

 Oasis Colour Block Belted Shirt Dress / Mango White Coat / Gherardini Handbag / L.K. Bennett Bury Pumps / Dior Carré Runway Silk Scarf / Kate Spade Bethesda Terrace Gusset Gloves / Marni Hot Red Earrings / Nars Semi Matte Lipstick in Heat Wave / Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Scarlet Chinois.