Once relegated to suiting basics and formal attire, the traditional Scottish houndstooth pattern has experienced a renaissance in recent months. While most people are used to seeing this checkered staple in black and white, interesting applications have begun to surface, ranging from bright and bold for humans to innovative and luxurious for pets.  This black and yellow skirt, worn by a fashionable New York City commuter, is as punk as it is feminine.  Tankers replace checks, adding edge that is quickly softened by broad feminine pleats. Hopping into the world of pet fashion, this subdued intarsia sweater from Vogue Knitting is a sophisticated must for the knitters out there.

Grove, a high-end home goods store in the West Village always provides an inspiring browse.  The items on display usually translate trends throughout other home good categories.  This houndstooth pillow is a tactile translation of journalism-inspired palettes.  Next time you’re reading The Economist, Newsweek or The Daily Beast, take note of the color schemes, as red and black take center stage and are used to communicate urgency- a message many home designers have recently embraced.  Courtney Skott, a west coast creative, solves the age-old dilemma of the room divider with her life-sized Houndstooth Screen.  This pivoting sculpture provides a functional and artful way to interact with your furniture.

As noted on Inhabitat a few weeks back, Commonspace’s collaboration with Matt Penrose produced a collapsible dog tent for apparel and lifestyle brand Freeman’s Sporting Club.  Made from biodegradable plastic and pieced together by interlocking puzzle-piece components, the sum of the parts result in a houndstooth print. It’s wonderful to see a traditional pattern applied in innovative ways, even if the idea is geared to an unrealistic process.