Horse and Hound Chic - A Style Guide How To

For all intents and purposes, Horse and Hound Chic (HHC) is really not about neither horse nor hound. It is, however, about the elegant style of a well-traveled woman whose influence comes from living life with a classic ease. She has been inspired by the most decadent design and yet has fallen back to the simple beauty of timeless quality. There’s also an element of that British pomp and circumstance that we’ve all come to rebel against.

In terms of quintessential HHC Women, I would look to: Amal Clooney, Bianca Jagger, and Lauren Hutton.

Find our style guide below with some pieces to help integrate the HHC woman into your wardrobe.

Nothing is more ladylike than a little bow around the neck. Some silk blouses will still have that Gucci-eqsue neck wrap, however its become more of a modern trend to wear a vintage Hermes scarf paired back to a T-shirt, jeans, and some boots. Like I said earlier, HHC is really about taking inspiration from ornate design, and pulling it down to earth.

What is it about an all white ensemble that never goes out of style? Perhaps it’s the lack of functionality or even the sheer boldness of eating a plate of pasta wearing a white cashmere sweater and trousers. Regardless, the look is a no-brainer for anyone who wants to look chic despite the season. I love Diana Ross in the above with a fabulous white hat to match back.

There are so many iterations of women’s blazers, but I believe a little oversized and longer is more forgiving. While each era has their own take, the 80’s had shoulder pads and 2020’s had the crop, the blazer has remained a staple in any woman’s wardrobe. It can be worn as a full suit or with bootcut jean, but it always has the club house feel that the HHC woman nods to.

As mentioned above, a favorite style icon of mine is Bianca Jagger. She lived in the jet-set era when rockstars became a real thing and she was living in the epicenter of it all. Bianca’s bold style consistently remained put together and glamorous despite the grungy late night scene that surrounded her.

Of course, no HHC style is ever complete without just a wink of equestrian influence. I can never forget the horse motif Chloe corduroys that were the must have items in the Winter of 2018. (It was Natacha Ramsay- Levi’s first collection as Chloe’s creative director, see collection here.) And what woman who loves fashion could ever ignore the importance of Dior’s iconic saddle bag? Its moments like these where we can see the wide influence that equestrian heritage has on design.

Last but definitely not least is the wonderful appearance of a classic trench coat. Slightly long, slightly wide, the trench has protected women from the varied dangers of bad weather and bad outfits for years. The coat, when worn properly adds the perfect amount of effortless style to any look, especially when thrown casually about like your sisters collegiate sweatshirt. While the trench is often associated with Burberry’s classic gaberdine fabric, we’ve loved the varied iterations that have come out in recent years in brushed silk and other cotton fabrics.