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The pattern itself is a variant on a woven twill, layering four lighter threads over four darker threads. The resulting ‘points’ are rather sharp and distinctive. Indeed, they resemble teeth.
Houndstooth is almost astonishingly old. Versions of it appear on textiles dating to the Bronze Age. A Swedish peat bog unearthed a complete cloak with a strikingly uniform design. Known as the “Gerum Cloak”, it dates from between 360 and 100 BCE.
It’s generally accepted popular use of the pattern came from Scottish shepherds fashioning it into outerwear, hence why it’s also known as the ‘Shepherd’s check.’ But, like many bits of society, the aristocracy adapted the pattern for their own upper-class garments.
The Duke of Windsor had some cloth fashioned into suits. Legendary designer Christian Dior also liberally used houndstooth in couture and ready to wear garments. In more contemporary usage, Scottish designer Alexander McQueen utilized an oversized version of the pattern in his now-iconic 2009 collection.
Houndstooth, though, is still quite accessible for those of us who neither claim royal lineage nor wrap ourselves in exclusively haute couture. It’s a favorite for odd jackets. Black and white are, of course, the most high-contrast and probably the most identifiable. However, dark brown and beige are quite nice, as are green and grey. Larger versions can be found on outerwear. Micro versions can make their way into dress shirts for a very subtle *something* different. And, of course, you can find them on socks.
Herringbone is also deceptively old. Originally a Roman design, it appeared not only on cloaks, but on roads as well. Far less intricate than houndstooth, it’s a twill weave in a simple ‘V’ pattern. The pattern, when fully realized, resembles the skeleton of a fish- specifically a herring. Also high-contrast, it’s perhaps commonly found in black and white. But, just like houndstooth, it comes in about any colorway you can dream up. Mistakes in this pattern, though, can be rather glaring. If edges don’t line up, it can be quite triggering! (Ask me how I know.)
This is a decidedly more conservative style than houndstooth. It’s an excellent choice for a sports jacket. For some reason or another, English professors seem particularly drawn to it. But, it also looks good on full suits. Navy and grey, of course, are defaults. But, herringbone extends into more adventurous styles, too. Chocolate brown and even a tan solaro cotton suit with alternating green and red threads look fantastic. And, yes, styling especially extends to socks.
With that, let’s get into some styling options.
Let’s begin with the more conservative option and colorway. It’s easy to dress and dress up or down.
This is a one-and-done kind of sock. Try it with a dark flannel or worsted wool suit, as we have here. It’s also a great partner for the classic menswear ‘uniform’ of a navy blazer and medium grey trousers.
Black shoes are best, but you’ll be just fine with burgundy as well. The more adventurous will consider a burgundy sneaker, as we have here. But, if not, a simple white one is perfect as well. Darker brown leather can work, too, particularly if the patina has developed some black undertones. Medium brown to tan shoes should probably be paired with another sock.
Like…our blue herringbone pattern sock! This is like a navy blue suit with a bit of a twist. Something you can’t quite put a finger on, but reveals itself on closer inspection. Indeed, try this sock with a classic navy suit. Every guy should have one. Or, have a variation on the ‘uniform’ with a light blue shirt and the sock tying it together.
Black shoes do work just fine here. Burgundy is good, too, if a little more eye-catching. Medium brown to even lighter brown shoes are excellent as well.
And for something completely different. Houndstooth is the slightly more adventurous brother of herringbone. Both are classic and versatile patterns. But, as we’ve covered the basics, we decided to get a little more fun with the houndstooth variety.
Black and white is the quintessential pattern, yes. But everyone’s done that. Red and navy is a little more interesting. Now, ‘interesting’ is not to be confused with ‘funky.’ Our pattern is more subtle, making it much easier to combine with your outfits.
Speaking of outfits, a suit would be right at home here. It’s a little bolder, but if that’s your thing, go for it. Grey, as a neutral color, is easy to style with this kind of sock. A white shirt is a black canvas (and the styling options are limitless), but also consider a pale pink one shirt to tie it together.
Red and navy dress down well, too. Navy chinos are excellent, of course. A pair of broken-in denim is just fine as well.
As for shoes, consider most anything. Burgundy, black, medium brown, white, and even blue are perfectly acceptable options here.
Olive and navy is our fourth offering this go-round and we’re particularly proud of it. It’s fine to style with jeans, chinos, and even some more unusual “odd” trousers.
Of course, greys and blues and good options. Consider modifying the ‘uniform’ look to bring in this kind of sock. It’ll pull well from the blue in your shirt and jacket and actually bring those colors out. Kind of cool, huh?
As for chinos, classic khaki works excellently here. Green and brown as earth tones play well off of each other.
Most any shoe works as well, depending on the trouser you select. Brown is probably best. You could also incorporate a darker burgundy, too. Green and red are complementary colors, but experiment a little to ensure the burgundy isn’t a more saturated red shoe.
We here at Boardroom love playing with pattern, texture, and color. It’s part of what makes style fun and why we enjoy what we do. Every pair is made in the USA, and we’re proud of that. We use only the best cotton and wool we can, and never compromise on quality.
We’re proud to introduce these houndstooth and herringbone socks and hope you enjoy them.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
Tony Gorga
