Old fashioned clothing for riding

[Keith_Beef]

I remember there being some mention on this forum about "elephant ear" breeches...

back in October 2019, I decided to get myself some 1930s - 1940s style breeches. Today was a relatively cool 25°C, so I decided to wear them for the first time, and here are a few pictures before I went up to the yard.

First an overall view. These are my usual Soubeyrac boots and my usual Dickies shirt, with the field grey breeches.



A detail of the left hand slash pocket and the little adjustment tab for taking up excess material over the hip.


Finally a detail of the right hand back pocket and adjustment tab.


They are lined with satin-type material from waist to knee, the waistband has two rows of rubber to grip against a shirt to keep it tucked in and there are attachment tabs for braces at the back. I am really impressed with the quality of stitching and material.

 

[stormox]

When I started riding in the early 60's I proudly wore my jodhpurs handed down from my mum. They were dark brown, very thick material, and lined around the crutch area with chamois leather, and keather knee patches. I think they were the sort land girls wore!! I was very happy to get a more modern pair from Caldene for my 16th birthday.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

How were they to ride in?

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Oh wow, are they original Keith or modern replicas?

 

[Cortez]

Verry stylish there; I like!

My darling (and utterly non-horsey) parents got me a pair of elephant ear army surplus motorcycle riders breeches for my birthday that were apparently made of solid steel, a fact that proved useful when my vile pony decided to run me down a barbed wire fence: not a mark on the breeches and my thigh remained unshredded! They really were indestructible and lasted me for a decade, only being retired when I grew too self conscious to wear them any longer.

 

[Baywonder]

I remember my first pair of breeches - they were elephant ear ones - very thick, cord type material. Really warm in the winter and a killer in the summer!

 

[Keith_Beef]

Oh wow, are they original Keith or modern replicas?

Modern replicas, but with what the shop claims is "authentic tricot cloth", button fly, buttons at the ankle.

I think I trapped the lower leg too low in my boots, because there was a bit of tightness over the knee, but other than that they were very comfortable.

The fact that they are quite baggy up around the thighs (and the wedding tackle) and that there is the button fly means that a bit of air gets around inside, so they feel quite cool compared to the close-to-the-skin modern jodhs I've been wearing since I started riding.

 

[cauda equina]

The main thing I remember about jods when I was a kid (1960s) is how rigid and unstretchy they were, making it a bugger to mount
I was thrilled with my first pair of stretchy ones

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

Does anyone know if the “elephant ear” style originally had a purpose or was it just a fashion thing?

 

[Skib]

I dont think it was a fashion thing. In India men rode in loose baggy trousers that were tight at the ankle.
When I was a little girl and not allowed to ride, my younger brother rode in fawn jods and a tweed coat. I always thought I woud hack in those trad clothes and I did indeed on just one occasion see a woman hacking who was dressed like that.
But modern clothes keep out the rain and go in the washing machine. And I always wear a bp to hack. And hi viz. Still tempted tho.

 

[Keith_Beef]

The main thing I remember about jods when I was a kid (1960s) is how rigid and unstretchy they were, making it a bugger to mount
I was thrilled with my first pair of stretchy ones

This fabric is not stretchy, but it is not stiff, either, and the cut allows the hips complete freedom of movement.

Does anyone know if the “elephant ear” style originally had a purpose or was it just a fashion thing?

As I wrote above, the generous cut allows complete freedom of movement. I think that could probably have been achieved with a bit less of the "elephant ear" shape, but unless somebody makes up a pair that are a little less baggy, I guess we will never know.