It comes as no surprise that fashion trends come and go with the seasons, in many cases re-emerging later on into different generations. Arguably, the biggest and my personal favourite up and coming trend of the season is houndstooth.

Appropriately named for resembling sharp-looking teeth, the iconic houndstooth pattern has always been linked with the professional world. Historically, the pattern was deemed rather preppy and more work-place appropriate than fashion-forward. However, 2020 has seen the print take on new and more avant-garde interpretations. 

Both the Versace pre-fall and fall/winter 2020 collections have experimented with the print. Kaia Gerber walked the Versace fall/winter 2020 runway in an all blood-red and black houndstooth blazer. The highly tailored and structured garment was layered upon a more traditional white and black houndstooth top with central cutout. Leather accessories and gloves transitioned the print into more grunge and punk territory, proving to the industry that the print is seemingly more diverse in its usage and aesthetics than previously accredited. 

Houndstooth didn’t stop at Versace — whether done into lime green dresses by David Koma, made into metallic ensembles by Rodarte, or printed onto blazers by Off-White — houndstooth is coming back in increasing variations that display the print through a more contemporary lens.

  • DAVID KOMA
  • RODARTE
  • OFF-WHITE

Perhaps no other garment created more buzz this year for the houndstooth pattern than a particular Richard Quinn piece that went viral within the fashion industry during this past London Fashion Week. Intrepid houndstooth prints juxtaposed with black sheer, imprinted with an oversized houndstooth, completely covered the model from head-to-toe, a signature silhouette of Richard Quinn. Moreover, the entire ensemble was encrusted in crystals and laced with sequin. Paper magazine, Vogue, Diet Prada, and many other prominent fashion outlets were taken by storm when this ever so architectural piece was sent down the runway this past February. 

It’s safe to say that this fall, houndstooth is making a comeback in more than just your regular and mundane office spaces.

– Sophia Lopez