houndstooth suit?

[Dinerman]

My dad used to be into vintage clothes back in the '70's, and he was telling me the other day about a three piece houndstooth suit from the '30's that he had been given by an uncle.

Because he's a photographer, there are hardly any pictures OF him, and none of this suit. Do any of you have any vintage houndstooth suits you'd like to share pictures of to give me an idea of what he's talking about?

 

[Matt Deckard]

Speaking of Houndstooth. I saw Joe Hemrajani a few days ago and he has an astounding houndstooth fabric in stock for the making of a suit.

I myself think it's better suited for a sportcoat though a suit could look right on the right man.

Senator Jack has an amazing Houndstooth overcoat he wears comtinuously through the seasons.

 

[Dinerman]

it just seems like black and white houndstooth would be overwhelming on a three piece.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

it just seems like black and white houndstooth would be overwhelming on a three piece.

I believe that the Brits associate it with betting shop sharpies.


.

 

[JamesT1]

it just seems like black and white houndstooth would be overwhelming on a three piece.

It depends on the scale of the houndstooth I suppose. Personally, I don't think I would do it.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Puppy size, as opposed to mastiff.


.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Havershaw had a GREAT houndstooth DB that he sold a while ago. Mini-houndstooth i think.

I seem to recall a pic of the Prince/Duke in a 3 piece mega houndstooth number. It looked pretty good.

For the reason Marc gives, it takes some guts to wear. It has the danger of looking very cheesy and 70s.

bk

 

[herringbonekid]

i think houndstooth is best used in moderation. all that small contrasty patterning can give you eye-jazz.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

yeah, that's the reason i didn't buy the suit from Havershaw 9and it was a little big). It seemed to have a bit of a ginghamey eye-bending thing going on.

bk

 

[herringbonekid]

Dinerman. you can see the suit BK is talking about here:

http://thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=991

unfortunately the photo is too small to see the pattern. basically, from a distance it looks grey.

 

[Feraud]

A houndstooth suit depends on the size of the check. The larger the check the louder the jacket. I think it works on a sportsjacket.
Here is mine..

A closeup of the check.

As an aside, I think herringbone is the perfect material for a suit!
Here is a Gap 2 pc from quite a few years ago.

 

[herringbonekid]

this might sound like i'm backpedalling, and i'm not, honest.... the optical harshness usually happens with the smaller pattern on a crisp fabric. the larger you go with the pattern the less likely it is to happen. but there's only so large you can go with it on a suit. women can get away with HUGE dogtooth patterns on tweed skirts. also the fuzzyness of tweed softens the potential eye-jazz harshness.

 

[Feraud]

I agree with you herringbonekid, certain pattern can drive your eyes crazy! It depends on the style, size, color, and material of the garment.

 

[herringbonekid]

i like to see dogtooth paired with other fabrics. i think it sets off solid colours nicely and vice versa.

 

[Dinerman]

thanks guys,
here's my '60's one. not quite as cool but it works

 

[Micawber]

I have a few HT jackets and suits, this is a Gieves & Hawkes 2 piece SB suit in a fine green HT with tan windowpane....

 

[Lady Day]

I loves the houndstooth!

Howdy fellas! I thought Id throw my suit in the mix. I made it a few weeks ago and now its warm enough to wear. The jacket needs a good final pressin' tho.

LD

 

[Tomasso]

I have two houndstooth 3 piece suits, one rust/cream in 16 oz. tweed and one black/white in 8 oz. silk/linen/wool.

 

[shindeco]

Lady Day,

Fabulous job on that suit!! (And an equally fabulous job on the photo!)

 

[max the cat]

Lady Day suit

I know nothing of the construction of womens suits but this is really sharp.

max