The Print Edit
How to Wear Houndstooth on the Mountain
Houndstooth has always belonged to the most elegant corners of fashion, from Scottish tweed to Paris couture. On the snow, it is the print that makes people turn around on the slopes of St. Moritz, Courchevel and Aspen. Here is how I wear it, what to pair it with, and the houndstooth pieces I would choose this season.
The Perfect Moment Allos in black and white houndstooth: a belted one-piece with a retro flared leg.
Why Houndstooth
From Tweed to the Ski Slopes
Houndstooth began as a woven wool check in the Scottish Lowlands, a practical cloth for shepherds and country estates. Paris couture gave it a second life as pied-de-poule, and it has been a signature of houses such as Dior ever since. It carries that same mix of heritage and polish onto the mountain.
On skiwear, the print does something clever. From a distance it reads as a soft grey or a warm brown, so it is easy to wear. Up close, at the lift queue or on a terrace in the sun, the detail is sharp and graphic. It is a print that looks considered rather than loud, which is why it sits so naturally in the Alps.
The Rules
How to Wear Houndstooth Skiwear
One print, head to toe or once. Houndstooth works in two ways: all over in a one-piece ski suit, or on a single piece such as bib pants or a parka. Avoid mixing it with other prints on the mountain. The print is the statement, so let everything else stay quiet.
Take your colours from the print. Black and white houndstooth wants black or white around it: a black turtleneck, black gloves, a white helmet. Brown houndstooth is softer and pairs beautifully with cream, camel and chocolate.
Add one accent, if any. A red lip, a red beanie or camel leather gloves with black and white houndstooth is very St. Moritz. Keep it to one.
Mind the scale. A small houndstooth reads as texture and suits everyone. A large, graphic houndstooth is more dramatic and photographs strongly against snow. If you are new to prints, start small.
Keep the line clean. Prints look best on a sleek silhouette. A belted suit, a slim bib pant or a parka over plain black pants will always look more polished than a print on a boxy shape.
Two ways to wear the print all over: the Goldbergh Starstruck in black and white, and the GSOU Snow Starstruck in brown houndstooth.
Outfit Formulas
Three Houndstooth Looks for the Mountain
The full statement. A houndstooth one-piece, a black merino turtleneck, black goggles and a black or white helmet. Nothing else needed. This is the look for a bluebird day in Courchevel or on the pistes above St. Moritz.
The quieter statement. Houndstooth bib pants with a sleek black jacket. You get the print where it is most flattering, on a long leg line, and the jacket keeps it grounded. Swap the jacket for a cropped shearling at lunch.
The parka. A houndstooth parka over plain black ski pants. It is the easiest way to wear the print and the most versatile, because the parka also works off the slopes, over jeans and snow boots for a walk through Aspen or Gstaad in the evening.
Finish any of them with the right frames from our designer ski goggles guide, and for the walk home, a pair from our Moon Boots guide.
Houndstooth is the tweed of the mountain. Wear it once, wear it well, and let it do the talking.Mariane Franca, Founder, 2nd LANE
Houndstooth on one piece: Perfect Moment JG bib pants with a flared leg, and the Perfect Moment Oversized Parka II with down insulation.
Après
Houndstooth After the Lifts Close
Houndstooth is one of the few ski prints that looks just as right on a terrace as it does on the piste. Unzip a houndstooth suit to the collar, swap your helmet for a fur hat or a black beanie, and change into snow boots. A houndstooth parka over a cream knit and black trousers is equally at home at a long lunch in Gstaad or a fireside drink in Aspen.
The same rule applies: one print. Keep your knitwear, bag and boots plain, and let the houndstooth carry the look. Our après-ski style guide has more ideas for the evening.
The Edit
Houndstooth Skiwear to Hire This Season
Perfect Moment Allos Ski Suit
Black and white houndstooth, a removable belt and retro flared legs. The full statement.
Goldbergh Starstruck Snowsuit
A slim, tailored one-piece in black and white. Also in brown from GSOU Snow.
Perfect Moment JG Bib Pants
Flared bib pants with adjustable straps. Or try the high-waisted GSOU Snow strap pants.
Perfect Moment Oversized Parka II
A down-filled oversized parka that goes from the slopes to the village.
Rent, Don't Buy
Why Hire a Statement Print
A statement print is exactly the kind of piece you want to wear for one unforgettable trip, not every season. Hiring lets you wear houndstooth in St. Moritz this year and white in Aspen the next, without a wardrobe of ski suits at home.
2nd LANE is Australia's largest luxury skiwear rental, and cleaning is included with every rental. For Northern Hemisphere trips, rentals longer than five days are charged at a flat five-day rate. Read Rent vs Buy Luxury Skiwear, check our skiwear sizing guide, or browse our ski suits, ski pants and ski jackets.
Still Have Questions?
Houndstooth Skiwear FAQ
What is houndstooth?
Houndstooth is a broken check made of small four-pointed shapes, traditionally woven in two contrasting colours. It began as a wool cloth in the Scottish Lowlands and was later taken up by Paris couture, where it became known as pied-de-poule. Today it is one of the strongest prints in luxury skiwear.
Is houndstooth in fashion for ski season?
Yes. Houndstooth is one of the defining prints in luxury skiwear right now, seen on one-piece ski suits, parkas and bib pants from brands such as Perfect Moment, Goldbergh and GSOU Snow. Black and white is the classic choice, and brown houndstooth is a softer alternative.
What colours go with houndstooth skiwear?
Take your colours from the print itself. With black and white houndstooth, wear black or white accessories, or add one accent such as red or camel. With brown houndstooth, choose cream, camel, chocolate or black.
Can you mix houndstooth with other prints?
It is possible, but on the mountain one print is usually enough. Houndstooth is busy from a distance, so pair it with plain base layers, gloves, helmet and boots and let the print be the statement.
Should I choose a houndstooth ski suit or separates?
A houndstooth one-piece ski suit gives the boldest, most streamlined look. If you prefer a quieter statement, wear houndstooth on one piece only, such as bib pants with a black jacket or a houndstooth parka over black pants.
Can I hire houndstooth skiwear in Australia?
Yes. 2nd LANE, Australia's largest luxury skiwear rental, hires houndstooth ski suits, ski pants and a parka from Perfect Moment, Goldbergh and GSOU Snow, with cleaning included. Browse the collections at 2ndlaneaus.com.au.
Find Your Print
One print, worn with confidence.
Tell us where you are skiing and how bold you would like to go, and we will help you find the houndstooth piece that suits you.
Mariane
Founder, 2nd LANE