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No need to wait until spring to let a bit of Equestrian Chic trot into your wardrobe. As a country sport, the riding habit lends itself perfectly to the winter months. The February edition of US Vogue opened the starting gate for yet another comeback for Equestrian Chic with Constance Jablonski photographed by Raymond Meier in the coveted “Back in the Saddle” shoot.
Constance Jablonski (Vogue – February 2010)
With the neigh of a horse and clattering of hooves on the opening track, Dior’s AW 2010 show swiftly followed suit. Karlie Kloss was put through her paces sweeping onto the runway in a highwayman’s cape, thigh high boots and a dressage top hat followed by fitted tweed hacking jackets showcasing John Galliano’s fondness for eighteenth century redingote.
Woollen jackets and suede patches galore can be seen throughout our high street stores, Zara have a particularly nice jumper with suede elbow patches in a range of country colours that is both warm and practical and at an equally practical price.
Suede Patches
Like many of the AW2010 shows, Galliano revamped the classic riding boot, quality leather, long in the leg, elegant fit and toyed with the heel height whilst still keeping it stable, thus a pair of such boots should be riding high on your winter list. The key with leather is investment; quality leather will wear in, fit you like a glove and last for years.
Equestrian Chic certainly is not confined to the sexy female in skin-tight jodhpurs brandishing a riding crop image. Essentially the “jodhpur” style seen in Womenswear AW2010 should rightfully be referred to as the “breeches” trend, due to the cut, which although tight on the leg was often more forgiving around the hips, with a high waist and yet dropped crotch. In other words breeches are masculine, more forgiving rather than skintight in obvious areas for even more obvious reasons and so equestrian chic should not be shied away from.
Although perhaps a little too dandy for some of you, take a look at Etro’s AW2010 show for some equine inspiration. Complete with exaggerated breeches, two toned trousers, perfectly tailored jackets, leather gloves and even half chaps the whole show had an undeniably dandy country gentlemen cum Mr Darcy on horseback feel about it.
Etro AW2010
Invest in a really well tailored jacket, preferably in navy with a flash of gold button to capture the essence of the show jacket, the must have piece for professional riders. Guerlain have, again, re-launched their original “Habit Rouge” cologne from 1965 which takes its inspiration from the red wool fitted jacket typically worn by gentlemen of a respected position in the equestrian world such as world class show-jumpers and huntsmen. With spices and leathery scents, if you do not think equestrian chic is for you then you can at least smell like Mr Darcy even if you do not look like him.
So the absolutely key pieces for this trend are the fitted jacket, the tailored trouser, preferably with suede patches inside the leg and the leather boots, at least up to the knee. The colours are natural; navy, grey, dark green, cream, a little black and every shade of that generic colour that is brown imaginable- chocolate, tan, rust, beige, taupe, amber, maroon and general earthy shades. The accessories are leather gloves, silk scarves, satchel bags, waist belts any jewellery or metal to be gold or dirty metallic, no shiny silver. The materials- leather and lots of it, tweed, wool, cotton and a flash of luxury silk, with tousled hair or a chic but not-too-done and obviously bang-on-trend pony tail you cannot go wrong. This trend suits anyone and everyone- the fashion secret and ultimate accessory? Well the horse of course.
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