The talk each season about what’s new for fashion in the arena makes many of us perk up our ears. It’s no secret a favorite pastime of ours is scouring websites, Facebook pages, Pinterest, Instagram and more for the perfect show piece to wear this year, whether we’re head to summer shows, fall futurities or to tough world champion competition. “The artistry and depth of show clothing these days is mesmerizing and the price tag can be overwhelming,” says Wendy Brown of Show Me Again.
Reality is that when it’s time to get yourself outfitted in either the latest trends or a timeless look, there’s that not fun part of paying for it. Even if your budget is unlimited (you lucky ducks), everyone likes a good deal and much of the fun of perusing show clothing sites is finding a bargain.
So how exactly can it be accomplished? Sometimes it’s just a matter of changing how we think about purchasing our clothing in order to accomplish the same goal: outfitting yourself in stylish show clothing that makes you look and feel great.
GoHorseShow.com went straight to two of our favorite consignment sources with some tough questions on how to dress fashionably for the ring while saving money: Tami Jennings, owner of The Clotheshorse Connection, and Wendy Brown of Show Me Again.
What do you see as popular trends in 2015 as far as style, color and more?
“Vests are the most popular clothing trend I am seeing right now. Textured fabrics as well as embellishments that add texture to whatever type of garment you are wearing are very popular,” says Tami Jennings.
Wendy Brown agrees that vests are a hot trend and assures they can be a completely sensible choice, too: “Vests have made a heightened appearance for classes like horsemanship and I think it’s a great trend as long as the vest complements the body type of the rider and the design fits the event. Vests can really work well for fitting and flattering the right body type and those can be perfect for horsemanship because they eliminate the need for tucking in, especially if that’s not a favorable style for a rider.” (Clotheshorse Connection consignment vest by D Designs pictured right)
Wendy also concurs that it’s unquestionably in-style to have texture and depth to your outfit and part of that texture will continue to be the addition of fringe. “You’ll see fringe more this year to reflect fashion we’re seeing on runways and because of the popularity of western style clothing for street attire. You can also expect more symmetry in contrast to past trends of asymmetrical designs. As far as colors, earth and natural tones have emerged as classic favorites.”
How can consignment show clothing fit the needs of today’s exhibitor who is looking to stay in style?
“In order to get the items that are most current and in-style at a consignment shop, it is important to ‘check back’ with the shop often,” advises Tami. “Checking back might mean actually walking in to a brick and mortar consignment store, shopping online or contacting the shop. You just never know when that perfect item might appear. A little diligence can go a long way!” (Show Me Again consignment pictured left)
Wendy adds, “Since the majority of show clothing stays fairly traditional as far as suitability for each discipline, such as jackets for showmanship, staying in-style and keeping a budget can be 100% achievable. Pre-owned show clothing can be very current and you just have to stay on top of what’s in style and keep yourself in the loop.”
Like Tami, Wendy advises staying connected through social media, email and more, and using the tools and tips offered by the consignment shops. “We designed a Just Added Club to let our customers know right away when we’ve added new inventory; all they have to do is sign up,” she says. “We also offer brand-new designer apparel with some designers exclusively listing with Show Me Again, so customers can keep apprised of new lines being revealed.”
What is always in-style, and how can your company serve that need?
Sticking with a color theme as a foundation is always a smart choice and if it’s a color like black, it’s really wise for amateurs, according to Wendy. “Black has been considered a classic look for women since the days of Aubrey Hepburn and it additionally allows for exhibitors to purchase accessories like pants, hats and boots without having to turn to custom pieces for matching purposes. It’s a great color for resale too, since other amateurs or youth will also feel they are making a wise decision.” (Show Me Again consignment-right)
“The only piece of advice to remember is to combine a color with black to make it a signature color theme or look for yourself, or add a pop of color somewhere in your attire to make a memorable impression,” Wendy reveals.
Tami explains, “Trends are very fun but they do tend to ‘come and go’ possibly leaving you with a garment that is no longer appropriate for the show pen. Because of this, some people opt for the more traditional styles in show clothing giving them the opportunity to use a garment for a longer period of time. A good example of this would be a horsemanship shirt with a design across the shoulders. Simple, classic and will remain fashionable for years to come. The great thing about a consignment shop is that it has a variety of items, from trendy to traditional, for a customer to choose from.”
“People who shop consignment stores are smart shoppers and are looking for a great deal on a garment that is current. If you have a trendy item, be sure to consign it before it goes out of style!” recommends Tami.
What other advice can you give exhibitors when it comes to dressing themselves for success in the show ring?
“Probably the most important thing when choosing show clothing is that it fits you well. With that said, keep an open mind when shopping consignment,” Tami discloses. “A garment might not fit you perfectly when you initially try it on because it has been custom made for someone else, but with some good tailoring, it could be great. Be sure to complement your outfit with a quality hat that is nicely shaped and in the current style for your event(s).” (Clotheshorse Connection consignment pictured left–Silver Lining Jacket)
“Try it on. Your favorite piece on the rack may not be the best piece for you and something that you may not be attracted to may look completely different when worn,” says Wendy.
Clotheshorse Connection specializes in providing high quality, consignment show clothing and tack for discriminating buyers at a great value. With a store location in Monroe, Washington, and Northwestern several show venues throughout 2015. They can be found online at www.clotheshorseconnection.com.
Show Me Again is celebrating its 15th year of business offering pre-owned and new designer show clothing with a Try Before You Buy option allowing customers to try pieces at home. Their state-of-the-art searching capabilities allow for easy browsing by color, size, event, budget and more on their website: www.showmeagain.com.
