You take a deep breath as your gleaming horse lopes off without a bobble at the first cone, just as you cued him to, and you sit up tall and secure in your immaculately-fitted shirt, while you perform in perfect sync for each transition and gait during the next ninety seconds. It’s just like you’ve been practicing all these months, but you’ve never felt this confident before. As you halt smoothly at the last cone, a huge smile appears on your face, because you know you nailed it.
It’s that feeling – the one everyone wants, and wearing the right clothes is one piece that completes the picture of your ultimate performance. But whether you should be trendy, classic, simple, or sparkling all over is the question on everyone’s minds each season. GoHorseShow.com wanted to know what exhibitors could expect as everyone heads down the road this summer and fall. Today’s top designers chime in with their latest and best advice for 2015!
The New Norm
Since the oxford shirt took the industry by storm in 2011 and vests recently began to appear in horsemanship, the idea of what is acceptable for each class has been turned upside-down.
Babe Woods of Woods’ Western elaborates: “It wasn’t that many years ago a rider wouldn’t stray from very specific styles for each class. Now we see lots of crossovers of styles you would not have seen before. Horsemanship is seeing everything from plain button shirt, a shirt with a vest and even a jacket that is worn out, not tucked in. Whether chosen to be tucked in or out, keeping the lower part of body and sleeves ‘quiet’ and designs on upper portions is always a very clean and flattering look.” (pictured right, Woods’ Western outfit)
Lindsay Klempel of Silver Lining Show Apparel agrees: “Although most competitors seem to stick to what’s traditional, it’s definitely becoming more acceptable to branch out and wear something unique.”
One thing all designers seem to agree on is that even if you venture outside the box, you have to go with what’s best for you. “It goes back to what is flattering for the rider,” continues Woods. “Many women find that wearing a top on the outside versus tucked in, for example, is a much cleaner look for them.”
“I have seen vest sets in horsemanship, and I think that is a personal preference for the exhibitors, trainers and judges. Some exhibitors have areas they would like to hide and a properly fitted vest helps with that. Not everybody has a perfect body, including me!” says Tammy Dyer of D Designs. “Oxfords will be around for smaller shows and hotter weather.”
“Garments that are tastefully done will always be in style,” adds Paula Diuri of Paula’s Place who finds that clothing is always an open field in the ring as long as comfort, simplicity, style and design are factors. “I guess you could consider vests and jackets trendy. I don’t. And they should not be overlooked in Horsemanship. I think they complement a lot of body styles. They’ve never really left the arena. As for Oxfords? When I first started showing Quarter Horses, most wore custom monogrammed starched shirts. So they’ve just re-surfaced. The fashion wheel is just that – round. Styles get lost in the wheel but eventually find their way back into popularity.” (pictured left Paula’s Place vest)
What to Watch for This Year
However, if you really want to know what is on the radar, the latest styles for the show ring tend to 
be a reflection of what’s happening to street attire. Woods’ Western finds they’re incorporating more symmetrical designs back into their line, and Silver Lining Apparel reports an upswing in a desire for a geometric look. As in past years, texture is still playing a big part. (pictured right, vest from D Designs)
“I think riders are getting more and more daring in the pursuit of wearing something unique,” adds Klempel. “This year we’re really looking for unique materials and embellishments to incorporate into our designs to keep things fresh and new.”
Woods explains that one of those embellishments that’s a reflection of the fashion world is fringe. “The fashion world is showing a lot of fringe which has already been incorporated into the fashion trends for showing. We have had so much fun with the laces, beads and jewelry we will continue those great designs as well.”
Another hit in the lineup are vests, according to Tammy Dyer of D Designs. “Vests are very popular this year because they’re very versatile,” she explains. “I will have a huge line of creative and beautiful vests this year.”
Color is always on the minds of exhibitors, too, when it’s time to update a wardrobe. “As far as color, I’ve seen a lot of really pretty neutral combinations, vs. a bright color. I like it, as I think it complements the horses really well!” explains Klempel.
“If you read about popular fashion colors, you will see cool colors, blues and greens, and they say the colors of nature! Doesn’t that make it wide open for choices? You can find most any color in nature somewhere. So much of it going back to the basics of what you feel good in, look good in and goes with your horse,” tells Woods. (pictured left, Sharnai Thompson wearing a D Designs jacket)
However, both Diuri and Dyer say, like Woods, that it’s about what fits the client, and both approach designing with that in mind. Dyer will offer bright colors, which she still sees a high demand for, and gold for customers that desire or look best in warm tones. “D Designs specializes in making one-of-a-kind outfits for our clients.”
“When designing, we try hard not to overuse fashion colors or what’s ‘trendy’ so the pieces will have longevity. We prefer classic style and, again, the key cuts and colors that will enhance a particular client’s natural beauty,” agrees Diuri.
Always in Style
Luckily for today’s exhibitor, there will always be some tried and true choices that allow for classic style and longevity.
“For pleasure, trail and western riding, I think a well-tailored jacket, in a color that compliments your horse, is always good,” says Klempel. “If you do want to be a little edgy, those are your safest classes to do it in. For showmanship and horsemanship, it’s probably safest to keep things a little more traditional, but good fit is always a must!” (pictured right, Silver Lining jacket)
“If you only have one outfit I would to say a vest set with the shirt that is also a horsemanship top,” advises Dyer. “Have the bottom of the shirt finished so you can wear it outside of pants or tucked in under vest or tucked in without the vest.”
Woods explains that basic black is still the neutral color of choice, and Diuri adds that a neutral base with a moderate amount of embellishments and design are always safe. Diuri stresses the importance of suitability more than anything, however. “We just don’t think in terms of trends; we think about suitability for a particular client. Because each piece is custom, we are able to incorporate the personality of the wearer – that is a constant, not a trend. It is fortunate that we get to build our garments according to the personality of our clients. I’m grateful to all of them for their trust in allowing us creative freedom.”
