Six Ways to Wear Houndstooth Pants

I apologize for missing Monday’s blog post! I always hate missing a post, but with Easter and traveling back to school, I was and still am very behind in photo taking (hence today’s recap-style post). I got these houndstooth trousers at the start of high school seven years ago to fit into my school’s dress code policy, since we weren’t allowed to wear blue jeans, and they have been one of my favorite pairs of pants ever since. As my peers and I start to add more professional pieces to our wardrobes, it’s important to remember that work style doesn’t have to mean drab or stuffy. Nor does it only have to be worn at work! While these pants are great for a professional setting, they are so versatile and can be worn countless other ways—today I’m sharing just a few to help you style your own printed pants.

1. Bold for the Office

Who says work clothes have to be boring? I love this bright and wintery outfit for a professional setting. The houndstooth pants and striped/color-block sweater add some subtle pattern mixing, and the blue peacoat is the perfect pop of color to make the look stand out. You can see the original blog post here.

2. Chic Black and White

You can never go wrong with black and white, right? I paired these houndstooth trousers with a black ribbed sweater and blue flats for a pop of color. This is a great base outfit, though, so you could throw on a jean jacket and swap in some sandals for a more casual spring look or add some sneakers and a bomber jacket for something a little edgier. Check out the original post here!

3. Casual and Springy

Boy, do I have a baby face in this picture! Several of today’s outfits are major throwbacks to my second year of blogging… Oh, how far I’ve come… While chambray tops may not be all the rage anymore, they’re still a cute way to dress down your trousers for everyday wear. You could even leave the shirt untucked and tie it in the front for something a little sassier. I love the orange beaded bag and flats in this outfit because they add so much ‘spring’ to the look! Check out the original blog post here.

4. All in the Accessories

If I had all the pieces with me here at school, this is an outfit I would throw on right now—I still love it that much! I think this look is a really ‘cool’ way to do work trousers, with all the funky accessories like the elephant purse, studded sandals, oversized sunglasses, and statement necklace. I wore this motoring around NYC when I visited a few years back and felt very stylish! You can find the original blog post here.

5. Classy and Sassy

If you really want to dress up your houndstooth pants, you can pair them with a simple black blouse, power heels, pearls, and a classic purse. I think I wore this outfit to church, but it would be just as great for an interview or a boardroom—I remember feeling powerful and on top of my stuff when I wore this! Check out more here.

6. Sky Blue

While you can definitely pattern mix with these pants, I love the way they look with a single, bold pop of color on top, and this bright blue shade paired with the black sandals is particularly springy. Who knew the yellow shades of that bush would be the perfect complementary color?! You can see more of the outfit here.

Have I convinced you of the versatility of houndstooth pants yet?! You know I’m all about reworking pieces in my closet, and these pants have been around for years now. Yet there are still so many new ways to style them! Here are just a few outfits I’m currently brainstorming to give you a little more inspiration:

• Oversized light pink sweater, houndstooth pants, light pink sneakers, grey beanie, cool shades for something a little edgy/street style-inspired
• Fitted black crop top, houndstooth pants, strappy black sandals, layered jewelry for a casual spring/summer look
• Fitted white tee, houndstooth pants, black leather jacket, chunky sneakers for more ‘cool girl’ kinda vibes

Clearly, these outfit ideas are telling me that I haven’t explored the edgier side of these pants yet, so I’ll have to try that next! Stay tuned to see some of these outfits in future weekly recaps… In fact, I think I’ll try one out today. Oh, and be sure to add your latest posts to this week’s link up below!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a great rest of your day.

Miles of smiles,

Grace