So, before COTH closes the WC forum, let’s hear the dish about fashion and shopping and bling and bargains from all you lucky people who were there! 
I bought a Back on Track/thin line saddle pad… (free shipping)
And a WC polo shirt from Mary’s…
Seriously nothing exciting.
Unfortunately they had a vendor there selling all kinds of fur coats and I found that to be a major turn-off. I typically won’t support any retail estabilishment or vendor area that sells fur. I wish the vendor coordinator had nixed the fur person, but I think maybe there wasn’t as much retail there as in years before. Am I wrong on that?
So, fewer vendors as in past years? Or the shopping was just not so?
I am going to Rolex-3Day this weekend and am wondering if the shopping will be as great as in years past.
I know my favorite food vendor (Crab-cakes Mmmm! 
) is not going to be there this year… Sign of the times?
So, Haazan gets the Blingiest Dressed award? Who makes Aunt Esthers Best/Worst Dressed list?
And, is it just me (watching online), or is Steffen looking very buffed up these days? 
This was my first trip to the WC and I was in awe of all the stuff for sale! The jewelry was wonderful and I bought a really pretty silver horse head brooch and also a gorgeous horse head necklace (looks just like my mare). The Cool medics stand was really busy all the time but I did manage to get a vest and also helmet insert. 
I do not understand the post about the fur coats, other than they seemed out of place in a horse venue and especially when we are moving into summer…, but oh well…
We also went to the Arabian breeders WC and did even more shopping there (lots of bling!).
I am now putting my c cards away for the rest of the year…:lol:
I too was offended by the fur coats. I will admit I did touch a few! I told the woman that if I wore one of those in California I might get shot. Her reply was that she sells plenty of furs to California. I am from NORCAL and in general you do not see fur coats here:eek:
I bought a couple cute bracelets (very unlike me!), a few tee shirts types and some GL 5500 supplement ( hope it worlks! )
Had to avoid the shopping area most days to prevent further carnage! :sadsmile:
Looked at Hermes Saddles, and the assortment of BLING & coloured riding boots etc. etc. (Was very happy my Grandaughter was not along in shopping mode!) Picked up a few more pieces of Bling Jewelry and T shirts etc. for the gang back home. But basically kept the spending in check this time! :yes:
HOWEVER…My one piece of Family Jewelery kept sending the Security Alarm off at the Airports…:eek::eek: SO…twice had to endure "ye Ole Patdown, and be put into the ole plastic Gerbil type plastic room on HOLD till a Female Customs Guard could check out the situation!):yes: THEN…because of the hold-up, plus the Airlines overbooking flights…got to spend 10 hours waiting with my buddy for the next red-eye flight home! 
(Was seriously hoping I did not end up in one of those “orange suits”, as they seriously clash with my blue eyes!)
I don’t wear fur myself, just don’t like the look, it does seem to be a little hypocritical to condemn fur use when 99.9% of us here use lots and lots of leather. Unless of course it is from an endangered or threatened species, but then that is illegal in the US anyway.
I thought immediately upon seeing Don Charly enter the ring how fabulous he looked in his brown tack. Clearly no slave to fashion there!
(Unless brown tack is the rage in Sweden…)
I too was offended by the fur coats. I will admit I did touch a few! I told the woman that if I wore one of those in California I might get shot. Her reply was that she sells plenty of furs to California. I am from NORCAL and in general you do not see fur coats here I bought a couple cute bracelets (very unlike me!), a few tee shirts types and some GL 5500 supplement ( hope it worlks! )
I was looking at them too and then the woman came over and asked if we wanted to try it on. Mom said “NO THANKS” and the woman asked why so mom told her flat out that the only thing she can think about when looking at them is how many animals had to suffer to contribute to such a thing. The woman went on some rant about fur coats being “green” and how we wouldn’t be alive if cave men didnt wear fur. Ok lady.
And no, fur is not the same as leather. Animals are raised, suffer and die FOR fur, for fashion. No other reason. Leather is a byproduct of the meat industry (one that I do not personally support). I thought it was offensive to have fur coats on display at a venue where the amazing bond between animal and human is the entire focus.
I also LOVED the brown tack on Don Charly, very tasteful and unique!
[QUOTE=Jenn2674;4038619]
I don’t wear fur myself, just don’t like the look, it does seem to be a little hypocritical to condemn fur use when 99.9% of us here use lots and lots of leather. Unless of course it is from an endangered or threatened species, but then that is illegal in the US anyway.[/QUOTE]
Absolutely, it is hypocritical! We raise cattle for food and then use the hides for leather. So what the heck is the difference to raise animals humanely for fur??? :no:
I do not wear fur because I do not look good in most of it and I live in the desert heat! But I sure am not going to deny anyone else the opportunity to do so if they wish! Anything less is to play right into the hands of the ARs. Geesh! :mad:
Get real people!
I stayed away from the fur. Not my cup of tea. I am not much of a jewelry person but there was some beautiful stuff. I liked the vintage belts, the In the Stirrup Arista clothing- spent a lot there and Goode Rider ended the show with everything 1/2 off so some great deals. I also liked the Latigo breeches. I had been wanting to try those on- very comfortable. The mosaic tile guys were there again. Their stuff is so beautiful and they are so entertaining to talk to. I enjoyed the KWPN booth. KWPN is getting very good at marketing and it was cool to see such a disproportionate representation of Dutch horses.
I think the official FEI merchandise was totally hideous as it has been in the past. Not good quality, bad cut and the logo is just plain cheesy and ugly. There is so much potential there but at every Vegas World Cup they have fallen so far short. Would it kill them to make up a cool horse logo instead of just the FEI ugly writing?
clothes
Liked the one booth with all the vegas logos - I bought a top with a horses jumping over a some cards. Very nice. Also bought a hand made bit for my jumper at the Arabian show at our hotel. Loved teh bit the best!!!
Aunt Esther responds
Aunt Esther, national and international Purse Champion, thanks Claire for starting this thread and points out that said thread is called Aunt Esther’s WC Fashon/Shopping Thread. Aunt Esther does not see a thread regarding one’s opionion regarding wearing fur.
Aunt Esther was delighted with the shopping and came home with two new Hermes pads! Now, to be fair, Aunt Esther did realize Coreene, another member of this fine internet bulletin board, was eyeing the quilted orange Hermes pad, but all it took was one “Coreene, what a jolly attractive gentleman over there” and Coreene looked away long enough for Aunt Esther to make the purchase. Aunt Esther understands that Coreene is perhaps put out about this, and points out to Coreene - if she is reading this thread - that Aunt Esther has taken Coreene to many, many places she’d otherwise never have dreamed of going to, and therefore Aunt Esther was the deserved recipient of said pads.
Aunt Esther loved the Hermes vests and came home with several. Six actually. She also loaded up on delightful Anky clothing and ordered several pairs of custom paddock boots. And several bracelets. Earrings. Necklaces. Rings.
Aunt Esther was simply taken aback at the amount of sparkles provided by Mrs Haazen! However, Aunt Esther has somewhat softened her stand on bling and understands that if one feels to compelled to Go Bling in a big way, one must cave to one’s inner forces.
But most of all, Aunt Esther liked the purses.
There were fewer vendors this year, but I did walk away happy ;). New field boots, new Fleeceworks royal hunter/supreme hunter (whatever it’s called!) pad and baby pad, several pair of cute boot socks and a lovely pair of tan gloves that coordinate beautifully with my new custom hunt coat. A really neat jacket that’s wind/water/everything-proof and the contact names and numbers to have my lovely Eurofit custom jods remade…since my youngest Doberman ate the right leg of my old ones this winter :no: A really cute horse head pendant from Jane Heart for our little neighbor girl who helps her parent with our “horse chores” while we’re gone! Possibly those rubbery paver brick thingys for our barn’s aisleway. A couple extra halters, those nice ones with the fleece on the nose and crown, that come with the lead ropes? Love those. Ooooh - I almost forgot! A 120cm “motivational reminder” for the lazy 4 y/o Absolutely the most useful thing I brought home!
The Forum Shops are a whole 'nother problem for me. Max Azaria and Donald J. Pliner were very happy for my LV visit, and the CC company will be too.
Regarding fur - I also don’t see the difference, as Arizona DQ pointed out, of raising animals for food/leather/meat. Each product is a saleable commodity, any way you slice it. Slice pun intended.
Haazan had a fantastic amount of bling, and pink bling on Wednesday. Wowza. Don Charly looked fab in the brown tack…definitely loved that.
Aunt Esther - an innocent query, really. Do you like orange because you are of Dutch origin? Or as a warning to hunters during deer season?
And does Hermes make a glow-in-the-dark pad with skulls and crossbones? because if so, I’m wiring Coreene some money and begging her to purchase it for me.
It was fun to talk to vendors (tho I don’t think the GLC rep appreciated the chemistry quiz that I gave her:D) and to see and touch stuff that I’d seen pictures of in magazines and catalogues or had never even seen in any form. Mosaic guys were fun to talk to. Star now has a new saddle pad embroidered with “Got Carrot?” and a picture of said vegetable, along with new Equifit boots. I have a new riding outfit consisting of one of the aforementioned 50% off Goode Rider shirts and Kerritts breeches made partially of bamboo, or some such sustainable item. The Italian bracelet women were there and I have a new link.
I don’t ride dressage but those Latigo full seat breeches look nice. Not only does the full leather seat part stretch due to being fused to lycra (?) but the fabric repels stuff spilled on it. My dressage companions snapped up a few pairs of those, along with an assortment of Arista clothing (owner of that reportedly selling the company, or trying to).
Aunt Esther is MORTIFIED
[QUOTE=DressageGeek “Ribbon Ho”;4039303]
Aunt Esther - an innocent query, really. Do you like orange because you are of Dutch origin? Or as a warning to hunters during deer season?
And does Hermes make a glow-in-the-dark pad with skulls and crossbones? because if so, I’m wiring Coreene some money and begging her to purchase it for me.[/QUOTE]Aunt Esther, national and international Purse Champion, would have responded sooner to DGRH’s post, but sadly Aunt Esther fainted when she read DGRH’s query as to whether Aunt Esther was of Dutch origin.
Aunt Esther is very thin, very rich, very attractive and is Belgian.
Then, when Aunt Esther came to, she read about glow in the dark and fainted again.
Aunt Esther enjoys her orange Hermes pad because it is Hermes Orange. For DGRH to even ask such a think just shows that DGRH is of a completely different Shopping Persuasion than Aunt Esther.
Aunt Esther loved Las Vegas. She particularly enjoyed time spent drinking with Akrogirl, MEP, canyonoak and lurker Norman’s Mom. Aunt Esther wishes she had also seen Peggy, SaddleFitterVA and Hazelnut. Coreene she is so-so about.
I think next time I will select you as my shopping buddy
I don’t recommend it. I have four letters for you - D E B T. However, I will look FABULOUS while paying off that debt. The Pliner cowboy boots are divine
The first is absolutely true.
The second…well, I know that Coreene would appreciate the dashing figure Ted and I would make wearing matching glow in the dark skull and crossbones. So really, she could not be that bad.
