EVERYONE FROM COCO CHANEL TO RALPH LAUREN HAS BORROWED FROM EQUESTRIANISM, AND, UNLIKE ANY OTHER SPORT, HORSE RIDING HAS A SINGULARLY ESTEEMED PLACE IN THE WORLD OF FASHION. FOR THAT REASON, EQUESTRIAN FASHION OCCUPIES A DELICATE POSITION – IT VERY MUCH STRADDLES THE LINE BETWEEN PERFORMANCE AND STYLE. OF COURSE, THE EXTENT TO WHICH THIS BALANCE SHIFTS DEPENDS ON THE PURPOSE OF THE OUTING, WHETHER THAT MAY BE LEISURE, TRAINING OR COMPETITION.
A history intertwined with fashion
As you’d expect with its five thousand year history, equestrian apparel is suitably steeped in tradition. Staples of equestrian fashion have been symbols of class and status in England for centuries. Cotton, wool and linen clothing has traditionally ruled the roost yet tweed remains equestrianism’s most popular and recognisable export to this day – possibly because you can feel equally at home on a horse or at a formal dinner in a tweed jacket.
The jodhpurs (or breeches) that are so specifically an equestrian innovation were first repurposed for fashion in the 1920s by style icon Coco Chanel. Another bastion of fashion, Ralph Lauren, has continued to propel equestrianism into the fashion limelight from the latter half of the twentieth century right through to present-day. Tory Burch has also been known to incorporate equestrian-themed designs into her couture collection, to go alongside the range of riding boots she currently sells.
Welcoming the new school
The last few years have seen the ushering in of a new school of equestrian fashion. Breaking away from the cotton, wool and linen fabrics of their predecessors, current equestrian fashion designers are increasingly reliant on wicking and cooling materials. Closer to gym wear than anything else, equestrian clothing designed for leisure and training continues to evolve and adapt as time progresses.
Because of the highly specialised nature of jodhpurs, it makes it difficult to go out in public without attracting your fair share of funny looks. The latest trend that addresses the tricky transition between horse riding and everyday tasks, making going out for a bite to eat or doing some shopping straight after riding much easier to bear, with far fewer suspicious glances.
The tradition of competition
Unlike leisure and training wear, competition attire remains largely unaffected by the influx of more performance orientated clothing. Equestrianism traditionally places a heavy emphasis on the formal clothing of its participants. Hunter classes in show jumping for example, dictate that competitors dress in conservative attire – bits, bridles, crops, spurs and martingales are all strictly regulated. If you don’t have a clue what any of those are, don’t worry, you are not alone. All you do need to know is that equestrian competitions often have complex rules regarding clothing and equipment, considerably narrowing your choice of attire.
Whether you are going horse riding in chase of competitive glory or merely as a leisurely pursuit, the one constant is riding boots. The height of the boots helps to shield your legs from being pinched by the leathers of the saddle, whilst the prominent heel prevents your foot from sliding through the stirrup. As the perfect blend of practicality and style, ariat grasmere riding boots are ideal for any situation.
