“For anyone shopping for clothing, I would tell them to put on something that makes you feel good and brings a smile to your face,” says Erin Gayer, co-owner of Showgirls Apparel with leading designer, Lindsey James. “It’s the final piece to the hours or even years of hard work and preparation. Maybe the icing on the cake? We’ve helped lots of customers lately find a jacket that works for both riding and leading which is a great way to make more use of your money.”
The thoughts above echo many of the consignment show clothes stores in the industry including, Show Me Again and East Coast Show Apparel. GoHorseShow talked to Show Me Again owner, Wendy Habighorst and Jessica Wolf Hart of East Coast Show Apparel about their tips on buying consignment clothes.
Best Advice
Jessica Wolf Hart–Buying consignment show clothing is a wonderful way to get a ‘new to you’ look in the arena. Many times consignment show clothes have only been worn a handful of times. The buyer has a chance to save hundreds off the original purchase price or purchase a show piece from a designer who no longer has room for new clients.
Always remember, buyer beware. Consignment clothing has become very popular over the past few years, but be careful who you shop from. I have seen instant businesses pop up on Facebook. Make sure you are purchasing from a reputable business, evaluate the trial and return policy and call them if you have any questions or concerns prior to purchasing.
Wendy Habighorst–Be willing to think outside the box and try on something you never would have noticed from a photo. Sometimes items don’t photograph with as much effect, but they are powerful in the ring, or might be just right once you slip it on. I see customers try on pieces they’ve been eyeing for some time, but they often end up falling in love with a garment they had not originally planned on trying – and it’s perfect for them.
The decision to purchase a consignment outfit, like any show outfit, should be both practical and emotional! If you prefer stretch fabrics, for example, sticking with that as a criteria will likely extend the time your outfit will last for you. The outfit should be in the budget range the customer has in mind, too. It’s also normal for most consignments to need a little TLC or spot cleaning, and it’s important to make sure the condition is something you can manage easily.
Above all, however, you should love it. We’ve heard the experience of shopping for show clothes paralleled to buying a wedding dress, so the customer should feel great in the outfit, and should be able to picture herself showing in it.
Biggest No No
Wendy Habighorst–We would have to say purchasing something as a final sale without ever trying it seems to be the biggest problem we hear about, and it happens in the industry all the time, especially because so much is available online now. Because fit is so crucial to a rider’s look in the ring, we can’t stress the practice of trying on a show garment enough to everyone. Often small alternations are necessary, but if it’s a major alternation, design can be compromised and money is wasted. We sometimes receive consignments that were never worn by our customers because of poor fit. That’s why we began our own Try before You Buy trial period so many years ago and why it has proven itself time and time again; we saw the need to give customers an opportunity to access clothing from afar without risk.
Our second no-no we have to mention is not working with your trainer when buying your outfit – we find this element to be fairly crucial, especially if you have a new horse, new trainer, or have started showing in a new event. The trainer’s experienced eye can be invaluable because if he or she knows you drop a shoulder in horsemanship as a habit, you might be encouraged to find a design that is symmetrical rather than the asymmetrical shirt you are considering.
Jessica Wolf Hart–While working with customers, I find that people are looking for that perfect fit instantly and write off the outfit if it does not fit them like a glove. Be open to alterations. Many consignment pieces were custom made for someone else. If you are open to alterations you will get that perfect fit without the custom price tag.
Maximizing Your Budget
Jessica Wolf Hart–(pictured left) Purchasing on consignment is a great way to stretch your horse show budget. Try to build your outfit with similar colors so that you can use the same pair of chaps or hat to match several different tops. Accessorizing is also another great way to stretch your budget. Changing your accents such as a different color scarf or undershirt will give you a new look in the show pen without breaking the bank.
Wendy Habighorst–Sticking with a color theme as a base to build around, such as black, is a time-tested practice, because it’s so easy to match boots, pants, and hats without spending on custom accessories. But it’s important for the rider to be open to adding colors to mix with the black to prevent “disappearing” in the show pen. Show Me Again recommends all-day jackets as well for the budget-minded customer; we list jacket length on each description so the exhibitor and trainer can determine if a jacket will be suitable to go from showmanship to western pleasure to trail. We also love being able to offer complete sets to our customers at a fraction of what they would normally spend for all the pieces.
Current Trends to Avoid
Wendy Habighorst–Show Me Again thinks trends are a matter of preference for each customer, and whether to follow them is a matter of a few considerations: First: Budget, because if the customer buys a super trendy outfit that will be out of style by next show season, they have to be willing to shop again the following year. Second: Body type, because if you have broad shoulders, and everyone is wearing fringe on the shoulders, you may need to think of a different trend to follow. Third: Your horse, because if your horse is bouncy, having lots of chains and loose findings on your jacket might be distracting. Fourth: Your goals, because if you have a green horse that needs experience, buying a trendy jacket should wait until you’re ready to show your stuff to the world.
Just like anything, using moderation when following trends will help your show clothes last more than one season. But if you love being very trendy and it makes sense for you, or you’re ready to make your big World Show appearance, we say to go for it!
Jessica Wolf Hart–Trends change all the time, my advice would be to stick with what works for you. You have to be comfortable with your look inside the show pen.
Must Haves
Jessica Wolf Hart–Texture is very popular this year. Pearls, fringe and lace are some of the looks popping up in the show pen. I have also seen feathers, beads and large unique gems on show pieces. Most importantly, have fun with your look–that is what separates you from the next person. Do not be afraid to express your personality in the show pen.
Wendy Habighorst–Designers are still tapping into their creativity to incorporate unique stones and findings for the wow factor on many pieces, so that’s always in style to have texture and depth to your outfit. You’ll see scalloped bases and fringe on the bottom of many jackets, or touches of fringe on more moderate garments. New ideas for vests are keeping that look fresh, and you’ll see stripes, graphics, and eye-catching prints combined with other fabrics. As far as colors, a return to sands and earth tones has emerged, and gray tones are still popular. We’re able to offer brand-new designer apparel with Show Me Again, so our customers can keep apprised of new lines designers are revealing.
Final Advice
Wendy Habighorst–Stay connected to your favorite designers by social media, and build resources for yourself so you know where to turn, and what to look for when you’re ready to purchase. Help from experts in the industry is invaluable, and staying on top of what’s in style is easy if you just keep yourself in the loop. That way, you’ll know what elements you need to display a current look. Show Me Again provides opportunities to keep our customers connected with a Just Added Club, and active Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pages, plus a frequently updated website, so they know what’s going on. We also have our own design consultant and sales representative, Jessica Lynn of Jessica Lynn Show Apparel, present at our mobile showroom at all the shows we attend, ready to assist customers with expert advice for any budget.
In addition, at SMA, because of our type of business, we try to be very selective in choosing what to consign and offer to our customers. We offer consignment of both pre-owned, designer show clothing, as well as brand new show clothing direct from designers, so we have an extremely wide selection and variety, so a unique and stylish look can be achieved for anyone’s budget.
Jessica Wolf Hart–Stay with in your budget. There are many beautiful show pieces out there for everyone budget. If you go overboard on your show clothing budget then there will be nothing left over for the horse shows!
GoHorseShow would like to thank Show Me Again and East Coast Show Apparel for sharing their thoughts about the ins and outs of consignment shopping. Please visit their websites, www.showmeagain.com and www.eastcoastshowapparel.com for more information.
