Houndstooth Overcoat

[unjung]

What the general opinion on black and white houndstooth overcoats? I have the opportunity to grab a nice one with a good silhouette for a low price. However, I'm not sure when I would wear this versus a camel or navy overcoat.

 

[bmulford]

Originally Posted by unjung

What the general opinion on black and white houndstooth overcoats? I have the opportunity to grab a nice one with a good silhouette for a low price. However, I'm not sure when I would wear this versus a camel or navy overcoat.

elegant if fitted and 3/4 in length.

 

[unjung]

Thanks for weighing in. With suits (navy or grey)? Or casual as well?

 

[wmmk]

how big is the houndstooth pattern?

 

[rjmaiorano]

Not something to wear a lot, but I personally think it would be great over formal attire or on 'dressier' evenings.

 

[bmulford]

Originally Posted by unjung

Thanks for weighing in. With suits (navy or grey)? Or casual as well?

I'd imagine it would go well with grey/charcoal suits or odd jackets in a similar color.

 

[unjung]

Originally Posted by wmmk

how big is the houndstooth pattern?

Standard. Nothing ridiculous and big.

Originally Posted by rjmaiorano

Not something to wear a lot, but I personally think it would be great over formal attire or on 'dressier' evenings.

Noted.

 

[rjmaiorano]

^^ Noted. But also should be noted that my opinion may be in the minority. I think it would be great to add a bit of flare or something different, but will deviate from classic or traditional attire.

 

[Biscione]

I have one. I love it, but I always prefer overcoats/topcoats when they're not dull. Mine is a topcoat, and it looks fine with a suit, but also great with jeans and corduroy trousers. It also looks good with a flat-coloured cashmere scarf; I particularly like it with a yellow one.

I was ambivalent about it when I purchased it, but it has quickly proven to be a lot more versatile than I had originally expected. Not too many coats can translate well between formal and casual dress, but imho this one does.

Obviously, the pattern needs to be small if you want it to avoid looking feminine.

 

[Journeyman]

I think that they look very nice, particularly if the pattern is small/fine.
I just spent a few weeks in Tokyo and there were a lot of very nice topcoats in fine houndstooth check and glen plaid patterns in the stores there.
I was mightily tempted to pick one up, but it hardly gets below about 60 degrees fahrenheit here in winter and so I would never wear it.

 

[knittieguy]

So long as the pattern isn't too big, they can look great. Can be very retro, in a good way. I have a brown houndstooth raincoat and it makes me feel like I'm in London in the early '60s.

 

[JustinW]

I almost wanted to move to colder climes, just to buy and wear the Ted Baker dogtooth overcoat that was on Gilt a few weeks ago.