Anyone else think the "equestrian fashion" look is funny?

[Eventer13]

I have been seeing some of the weirdest "equestrian" looks. Perhaps the worst was the white tights, uh, "breeches," with cowboy boot-high dress boots. Cause you know thats what all the DQs wear for their piaffe/passage tour! Had to do a double take on that. And I keep on wanting to tell everyone that your tall boots are supposed to be skin-tight, not allow a good 4-fingers of space between its side and your leg. They look like a fashionable version of the rubber muck boot.

Oh, and has anyone else noticed that some of these boots have a spur-like strap around the ankle and arch of the foot? Minus the spur, of course.

So does anyone here actually do the equestrian look as personal fashion, or are you all more likely seen in public wearing slobbery breeches, dirty boots (that fit), and a muddy tee-shirt?

[Tilly]

Well, I've worn breeches out to lunch before, but never as a fashion statement :lol:
I'm usually seen in a tank top, rolled up breeches, and flip-flops [SoCal weather ;)], with varying amounts of dirt, hoof oil, and horse hair :yes:

So, I suppose technically it is my personal fashion, since it's all I ever wear :winkgrin:

[county]

I've worn the same style since the mid 60's. Blue jeans, plaid or striped shirt, and boots its never changed in my part of the horse world.

[xeroxchick]

I was at a Ralph L store Monday and they had breeches - bright yellow and red - on their sale rack for 1/2 off. They had suede patches and everything. I did consider a pair but they had a snap on the leg closure. Looked like it would hurt under the boots and the original price was almost $300. Yikes!

[Coreene]

I love it. Always have. Always will.

[Classicgal]

Last year a tack store owner told me she sells more of those tall winter riding boots to the mothers than any real riders!

[Beverley]

I wish I'd thought to whip out my cell phone and take a picture in the Albuquerque airport the other day. Tall, skinny blond fellow, electric blue form fitting shirt and pants (maybe one piece, I couldn't gawk too long after all:cool:) and honest to goodness bona fide well used hunting boots w/brown tops. I'm betting he found them on ebay. Quite the look!

[matryoshka]

Yep, looks silly to me. However, imitation is the highest form of flattery. ;)

[kateh]

Every now and then I think about wearing my tall boots with a skirt or something just because I can. But then I remember that they're one of the most expensive articles of clothing I own and reconsider.

One time my friend was wearing her tall boots around campus to break them in. This girl stops her and says "Ohmigod I love your boots where did you get them?" My friend goes, "uhh, the tack store?" and the girl says "Hmm, I've never heard of them, is that some small boutique?" :lol:

[horsegirl888]

I've told this story before, but it does relate to this thread. I was shopping at the perfume counter at Macy's on my way back from a lesson (the mall is about 10 minutes from my barn). The lady behind the counter is dressed in head-to-toe designer wear, I am in tall Ariats and side-zip breeches with a polo shirt and a hoodie. Interesting conversation:

Her: "Wow, I LOVE your outfit!"
Me: "Oh thanks, I was just out riding."
Her: "Riding what?"
Me: "A horse?"

I'm not quite sure what it says about me that she needed that clarification. :lol:

[FancyFree]

How were you clean enough to go into Macy's? I went to pick up my kids from school the other day, after riding. I spent a few minutes chatting with the Principal. When my daughter got in the car she said "Mom do you know you have mud on your face?" :lol: I must be a dirt magnet.


I don't really like the equestrian look outside of actual riding gear. But I did see one cute combo once. A tweed hunt type coat, with slim wool pants and paddock boots. It looked very elegant. I don't care for tall boots anywhere but when riding. Too clunky for my tastes. Maybe because I wear a size 11! :lol:

[Go Fish]

I go to any store, anywhere, anytime, directly from the barn. I've been known to clear out a grocery store line in 5 seconds.

Nordstrom is great...none of the sales associates would dare say a thing, but you can tell by the wrinkled nose that you're having an effect. :winkgrin:

[Glimmerglass]

I love it. Always have. Always will.

:D

[Ashby]

The barn is pretty close to a group of stores where I like to stop in quickly to shop (wine store, grocery, discount linens, coffee, etc.) so there are a lot of times I'm wandering around in these stores before or after riding. Sometimes I go in wearing a filthy reeking parka, jeans, and hosed-off muck boots; sometimes I'm wearing a tank, breeches, and paddocks boots, and half chaps; sometimes the outfit involves a hacking jacket and the Vogels.

Anyway a lot of nonriding people stop and ask me about the Vogels. They often ask the price. This is so crass that I just tell them the truth about how much these bad boys really cost. Then they faint dead away.

[CLB15]

I'm not a big fan of the jeans or skirts with boots, but I could just be mad at myself for not wearing my riding clothes in public before the trend really got going.
I'm not gonna lie though, whenever I see someone wearing a brown pair of boots I always do a double-take to see if they could pass if worn in the ring- they couldn't be any more expensive then special ordering a real pair of brown riding boots!

After reading Ashby's barn-to-store outfit, I'll add that I wear my muckers all the time with jeans (well, as long as nothing is stuck to them) :-D haha. There's apparently some waterproof version of Uggs and on two occassions people have asked me- totally straight-faced, if my muckers were those boots and where I got them.

[cllane1]

Went to get my hair done the other day in my breeches, and the sweet little guy who washed my hair told me he just loved my pants!

[TikiSoo]

Yup, I wear my knee patch breeches & paddock boots to the stores on my way home from the barn. Last week in Wegman's I spotted a (chunky) gal in pale gray tights and black boots with heels trying to look "equestrian". Her friend nudged her to look at my breeches, so obviously my look was superior!

And a handsome male model friend asked to borrow my catalogues for some "real equestrian" fashion after wearing some for a shoot. We're now dating! Equestrian fashion will always be tops in my book! :cool: