FMM (aka Trinny!) You are SO what you wear

I

icestationzebra

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Just reading the post about jackets and horse colours - fascinating to see different colour jackets on different horses. What are your guidelines when choosing colours for horses?
What colour hacking jacket for bright bay?
Also - how do you decide what is the correct length of jacket for a rider?
This is much better than you are what you wear for people
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It's a tricky one isn't it? Don't plan to do any showing with her particularly but wear tweed for hunting and eventing... didn't want to look 'garish' she is bright enough in summer without me sat on top like a road cone
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Oh god - there are loads people on here who know what looks good, I am obviously just more gobby!

Fashions are changing all the time in showing. Most of it is common sense - lighter coloured jackets look a bit washed out on lighter coloured horses generally. There are always new colours coming out. Pink Tweed made an appearance last year. This was worn by some of the established child showing stars (who can carry it off because they are "famous") and by other people who were not famous and these jackets ended up on ebay.
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I would not really recommend the pink.

Large checks have also become popular
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The trouble with following the fashion is that your jacket looks dated very quickly.

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A traditional coloured tweed such as this one will never date and can be worn for as long as the rider fits into it.

The other "fashion" colour from 2005/2006 was the navy tweed. Traditionally, cheaper jackets have been made from lighter blue tweed and you will rarely see these at county level. However, the dark blue tweed can look quite smart.

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You will notice that all of these jackets have quite bright ties.

It is almost as important to get a good looking tie as getting the right colour tweed.

The colour you go for is a matter of preference. I prefer the dark green (although mine is a lighter browny/mustardy colour at the moment). Jayne (who rides my sister's horses) has 3 or 4 tweeds and changes them according to the horse she is riding.

Re the length. Children often wear "bum freezer" jackets (although so does Franke Sloothak at the moment!). These are not flattering for adult bottoms, so something that covers the cantle of the saddle should be about the right length. The other thing is that you need to make sure the jacket fits very snugly.
Photo overload (sorry)
Lighter coloured jacket on a dun
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Darker jacket on the same horse
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The pics below show a dark green jacket on a dark horse and a lighter green jacket on a dark horse. The darker jacket tends to go better with more colours.
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Thanks for that FMM. Really interesting. I was worried that my jacket was too long, but looking at the photos you have posted I don't think it is. I didn't want a bum-freezer - far from it, that view wouldn't win me any rosettes
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Agree totally on the pink tweed - yuk! but do like the green shades and the larger check is very attractive.....
I have this jacket:
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Pretty neutral - ok for a bright bay do you think?

Def going to start campaign alongside Cosmo to get you your own show!!
 
I see a shopping experince coming on - what should we really be wearing? (this was an ebay buy for my first season)
Yes I do now have a proper hunter double!
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Hi FFM, would you mind giving me an opinion on suitable dress for me and my horse. We did some unaffiliated showing classes in the summer, this year I'd like to do search for a star and Lincolnshire county and Newark and Notts on tickets, this is me and Ryu winning a riding club showing class below

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This is the tweed I'm seriously tempted by

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Do you think it would compliment Ryu's colour? I'd go with the corn breeches and shirt.

What tie should I pick also can I wear my velvet hat with a harness for county or must you wear a cap?

I wouldn't expect to be very high in the line up and would preffer to look understated, its just my ambition to do a county show before I sell him!
 
In showing, sometimes you have to wear something different to stand out. In the pony and M&M classes, you can get 20 in a class that all look identical and wearing a different jacket, tie or hat colour can make you stand out. However, for dressage and jumping where you are marked individually from the moment you enter the ring, it is more acceptable for everyone to look the same.

The best thing about tweed is that you can wear it for showing, dressage and jumping and it does not show the dirt and slobber the same way a navy or black jacket does. The only time a navy jacket is worn in the ring is for hack classes and for evening performances where it is optional (if you wear a top hat than you need to wear the navy jacket).

ISZ's jacket looks very smart, and with a nice bright tie would look very professional!
 
LOL
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my first attempt at showing G was literally an advert of What NOT to wear!!!!

Snaffle not double
Noseband not wide enough
Black hat
Cheap blue tweed (another ebay special
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a bit too much chalk
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and the biggest clanger...
huge black dressage saddle!

My hubby thought we looked smart though!
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Your jacket is fine. Your hat is fine, but sitting far too back on your head - you need to tip it forward so it is more horizontal with the ground. It would be more correct to wear black boots and not brown. There is one pro rider who wears brown boots, but everyone else wears black. Not sure whether you have string around your waist, but it looks a bit tight. Get some thin brown elastic and tie loops at either end. Then these can be threaded through and looped over your button. It can be used all season then, and is easier to get out of once the class is over!

You can wear a beagler hunting cap (or patey) for many shows. You have to look at the rules then decide if you want to take the risk of having non standard head gear. Personally, I HATE the pink tweed, but you would certainly be noticed if you wore it. Perhaps not for quite the right reasons though!

Rather than changing your jacket, why not get a prettier browband. However, you should only have a coloured browband if you are doing riding horse or hack classes. Other classes should be done using plain browbands. If you are doing hack or riding horse, then you also need a plain cavesson noseband.

Hope this helps!
 
Ooh what a fab post. Ok can I have some advice on mine 2
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This is a picture of what we wore last year for some local showing stuff and won so couldnt have been to bad. But what do you think:

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I need to get a long waistcoat to go under the tweed as it's a cutaway one (like this one):
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I have a nice yellow polka dot tie, beige jods etc. What colour would you say???

Thanks
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For what my opinion is worth I particularly like the dark green tweed in FMM's post, third picture down. Has a bit of colour woven through it to "lift" it and stop it looking washed out but is not at all garish. Very classy and will not date.
 
OK - bearing in mind I am being REALLY fussy (and I think both you and your horse look great btw!).

Your hat does not appear to be a proper harnessed hat, however, there is a black strap under your chin? It would be great to have a flesh coloured harness if possible (although I know hey are mega bucks).

Technically, cut away jackets should only be worn if you are riding side saddle, although some people do use them when showing astride. I would go for a pale yellow waistcoat. Not red or anything too bright. You can get W shaped pieces of felt which you can button into the bottom of the jacket rathe than buying a whole waistcoat. You can also get cream wasitcoats with faint checks. This may look nice as well. Your jacket fits you well and looks good on you, so you may find that a full waistcoat will not work anyway.

here's where I get even fussier. The noseband looks (from this pic) to be quite heavy and sticking out from her nose. A flat noseband would suit her more, and her forelock needs to be plaited!

I would also either change your shirt or dye the one you have. Cheap Tescos yellow dusters in a hot wash with your shirt will give it an off yellowish tinge which looks better than plain white.
 
Thank you for the imput. The judge pulled me up for the flash at that show, going to have a go with a double, also invested in a brown wool numnah. God knows what happen with my hat that day - I do look normal when I wear it most of the time - I think I must've pushed it back in the heat!

Got black boots so will wear them, might go for a green tweed with a navy velvet collar to tie it all together a bit and perhaps a navy and gold browband. I don't want to look daft I'd be mortified.

We'll be doing some local practice shows in the Spring so I'll post the 'new look' for approval before I attempt the big league. Thanks again.
 
Hi, thanks for the reply. The hat is actually one like you mention with the flesh coloured harness so thats not a prob. Agree with the shirt, but would that not make it all tooo yellowy?? with the tie and waistcoat aswell?

Cant afford a new jacket at mo so that will have to do for a while, or atleast until we seem to be heading on up haha
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That was our first showing class so was just wearing her usual bridle. I have since brought a hunter style bridle with the flat noseband etc so will make sure that goes on her...

Also that class was just 'Riding Club Horse' which she was champion at hehe
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and we have also done a local working hunter and came 3rd
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would you say thats pretty right for that class as well???
 
What do you think of my outfit! I am wearing a pony club tie but what colour do you think I should go for. I am not keen on my jacket. I find the first button is too low down but I can't afford a new you. Its a derby house one. The other pic is showing me with my show hat on.

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ETS: The showing of Tufty (the first horse) is usually done with my sister. His show noseband 2 inches wide and he would go in a double. I know its not a good photo but the computer is not working very well and I can't upload photos. What are his chances in lightweight hunter?
 
The duster trick should just take off the whiteness of the shirt, so it won't be yellow, just a yellowy off white if that makes sense! I really like the fit of your existing jacket (and it is not THAT cutaway compared to some) so I would hang onto it for the moment. And you are nice and slim so you can get away with it! I would perhaps change the colour of the tie to a burgundy, but it is worth trying some and seeing what you think. It is generally better to get dressed up and get someone to take photos. For some reason, looking in a mirror doesn't give the same effect!

She has done really well in her showing classes and is a very nice looking horse. I would perhaps try some riding horse classes with her? The outfit is fine for workers, riding club and riding horse, so you are well set up!
 
I would think that a burgundy tie with some spots, frogs or something along those lines would look nice with that jacket and shirt. How big is your horse? He looks like he may be a little small for open county LWs, but if they do a local class at your county show, then you would be fine. He is very smart and if he is 15.2 then you could do small hunter classes. I believe you can get day tickets for hunters, so at least you can have a go without it costing you a fortune, and he looks like he has a nice way of going, so I would think you would have a good day out with him. Maybe I would take a smidge off the end of his tail.
 
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For what my opinion is worth I particularly like the dark green tweed in FMM's post, third picture down. Has a bit of colour woven through it to "lift" it and stop it looking washed out but is not at all garish. Very classy and will not date.

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That's the one I would go for as well. It has a bit of "something" about it!
 
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