Hmmm I always found that I FELT better in the barn when I wore nicer stuff. And all of the more successful trainers and riders that I came into contact with wore higher quality clothing. I really don’t like feeling like a slob no matter where I am. And I think I’ve outgrown my desire to look like a rolled in dirt when I leave the barn. It’s not a bad thing to be careful with your stuff – just like you would your tack or horse itself. I think as riders sometimes we put ourselves last and it shows in our clothing? Meh, maybe I’m over thinking this…
My barn clothes are nicer than my real clothes because I like barn life better than real life and prioritize accordingly.
[QUOTE=french fry;7971776]
My barn clothes are nicer than my real clothes because I like barn life better than real life and prioritize accordingly. :D[/QUOTE]
AMEN! My husband still hasn’t wrapped his head around the fact that my “barn clothes” do not need to be degreased and soaked with his work clothes. Are you kidding me? I will HAND WASH these if necessary!
[QUOTE=SmartAlex;7971789]
AMEN! My husband still hasn’t wrapped his head around the fact that my “barn clothes” do not need to be degreased and soaked with his work clothes. Are you kidding me? I will HAND WASH these if necessary![/QUOTE]
True life my BF recently accidentally dried a load of laundry including every single sweater I own and my reaction was “OH MY GOD WERE MY TAILORED SPORTSMANS IN THERE?” and when he confirmed they were peacefully hanging on the line to dry after being washed in cold water on the delicate cycle I was unfazed by all of my sweaters being ruined.
Most of my clothes come from goodwill for work and barn. I like to look nice but not overly fussy.
I hate not matching, like a green pad with blue shirt. Yes, I am a dressage rider, LOL.
Most of my clothes come from goodwill for work and barn. I like to look nice but not overly fussy.
I hate not matching, like a green pad with blue shirt. Yes, I am a dressage rider, LOL.
I usually try to look fairly put together since I ride at a fairly large boarding barn and most of the people there do. Plus (after horses of course!) I absolutely love fashion and clothes. However, my wardrobe is usually full seats (khaki, chocolate, plum, or navy, though I’m searching for some pretty colored ones (: ) and a long-sleeved (or short sleeved in the summer) polo. My jackets usually consist of a fleece north face or my barbour (so not to fashion forward, but when it’s cold, all I care about is staying warm!)
Sure I dress just like that to go to the barn complete with perfectly styled hair and makeup like the woman in the photo. It compliments the snot dripping off my nose when I’m riding in below freezing temps. The smeared lipstick looks good when I rub said nose on my sleeze and the nice khaki color shows all the dirt and mud coming off my horse very nicely.
Barns are where my clothes go to die. All of my T-shirts have holes in them somewhere. My fleece riding pants have all seen better days. I have purple rubber boots for walking in the mud, and no instructor anywhere will be able to spot my haunched shoulders when riding due to the fleece shirt, heavy vest and heavy coat over it all. The only time I look good on my horse is when I’m at a show. If good horsemanship is really about looking the part, I’m in trouble!
[QUOTE=tbchick84;7974321]
Sure I dress just like that to go to the barn complete with perfectly styled hair and makeup like the woman in the photo. [/QUOTE]
Oh, of course! This is what I looked like when I got home from the barn tonight: http://d21w1ago704mi4.cloudfront.net/full/ers-304094.jpg
:lol:
Even at work my sartorial style hovers between unmade bed and homeless casual. The clothes are just cleaner. :lol:
I cannot imagine wearing my Barbour coat to the BARN! Maybe a clinic or something, and not to ride in. It was far too expensive to get dirty. :lol: and it isn’t very warm. More of a spring/fall coat.
My barn coat is my old LL bean parka from 1999 over carhartts from around the same era. The stuffing is coming out and I have hand sewn it back together. Luckily my boarder shares my sartorial ethos and no one else sees us!
I just thought about this the other day when I was getting a pedicure nest to a woman dressed to the nines in her horse logo gear,it screamed"I have a horse!" She indeed confirmed my suspicions by informing me she had three nice dressage horses.I was also informed that"Diego",her assigned horse slave did everything and she didn’t even have to groom them! I remarked that I enjoyed grooming my Arab and it was our bonding time. That is why he puts up with me! Lol In Florida it is usually too hot to wear anything really cute. I ride in irredion tights and kerrits sleeveless shirts. I do have longer Goode rider shirts for cooler days(all 3 of them.)
I do crossover my quilted kerrits winter jackets and wear them for street wear.If I lived in let’s say,Virginia, I would probably wear nicer clothes!
[QUOTE=shiloh;7969788]
I used to board with a woman that would come to the barn dressed in white linen. She never got dirty - ever. 
:rolleyes:[/QUOTE]
I’ve known people who can do this, well, granted the white linen were bib overalls, but still… . Moi? Even if I don’t hug the horses, even if I don’t groom them or change a blanket, I come away dirty.
After I groom my horse, I have a clean flick brush for removing hair from my clothes. And when it gets really bad, I have a pair of Rosie’s coveralls in my trunk. Although I’ve found that grooming from a step helps keep the hair and dust from ALL landing on me.
Wear nice clothes to the BARN? Really???
1st of all, I can’t afford any nice clothes, because I have horses.
2nd of all, if I did have any nice clothes, I would not wear them to the barn, nor anywhere on my property. My little farm eats clothing. Shreds, stains, tears it all up.
3rd, I don’t have anywhere “nice” to wear “nice clothes” because those places are a bit pricey. (see#1 above)
And last, but not least, I used to wear really REALLY nice clothes, and it got to be such an ego trip even I could no longer stand to be with myself.
So I wear “just a cut above bag lady” to the barn and try to clean it up just a bit when I want to hit the grocery store or local latte shop. :winkgrin:
Default Do You Wear Nice, Cute, Pricey Clothes to the Barn?
In my dreams.
I sometimes think that people who wear the cute pricey horsey-themed clothes to the barn are posers.
My barn clothes are the nice clothes that have become too beaten and worn to remain in the nice section of my closet. Old faded jeans, turtle necks with tattered cuffs, old but serviceable sweatshirts and sweaters, old polar fleece tops and bottoms, regularly recycled t-shirts, winter jackets and parkas used year after year, and Walmart snow pants. I do insist on good technical thermal wear, warm hats and socks, unlined leather ranch gloves, and good boots/shoes. None of it ever crosses the line to my nice clothes. The dirt, hair and equine/mucking aromas make sure of that!
Maybe I am a poser. I am an amateur rider who surely cannot jump 3’6" without giving it a hairy eye. I have bad days were I am a trainwreck, but I also have brilliant days.
What is consistent? I buy clothes specifically for the barn and I strive to look tidy every time I go to the barn. Perhaps I am shallow, but when I am dressed nicely for the barn, I am more upbeat. I am relaxed, happy, and in a good mood. Who doesn’t like looking pretty? And this transfers into my riding. Since I originally started my barn stay in a good mood, when horsey is being a bit of an ass, my original good mood helps me get through it.
So yes. I school in tailored sportsman that conceal my lumps and bumps. I wear a polo, or some “plain” V-neck shirt/long sleeve, or a super fine merino sweater, or a flannel/button down, or a down vest to look polished.
I buy these clothes for no more than $40 an article (Sans the TS breeches; I double them as my show breeches, though). I buy from Banana Republic, Gap, or J.Crew outlets… or sometimes Uniqlo has awesome sales.
Why do I do this? Because it is my way of being committed and showing dedication. When I look frumpy, I feel frumpy. Not because of how people perceive me. I really give two craps less if people think I look overdressed. I do this for myself.
Maybe it’s just me… I spent three days in a row cleaning 30 years of junk (bad junk with bird poo) out of my family’s 200 year old barn. Hauled 2 hay wagon loads of scrap lumber to the burn pile. Sat there and had a beer. Wore the same blue jeans, bandana and fire resistant hoodie all three days. Dusted myself off, removed a layer, blew my nose and put on some lipstick… stopped by a family get together at the fire hall Sunday afternoon and was not the worst dressed person there. My sister-in-law even commented… “nice fashion statement, Coach purse and Bogs boots… what have you been up to today?”
I don’t think I repel dirt any more than your average person. When you start with nice clothes and take care of them… I will say that I don’t buy jeans with fake wear patches in them. I put real ones in. And when I show up in public wearing equestrian fashion its the real thing.
ETA: :lol: when I re-read ^that^ I thought: "I sound like either The Most Interesting Woman in the World, or a Pretentious A$$ and I’m not The Most Interesting Woman in the World :lol:
[QUOTE=pony baloney;7976593]
I sometimes think that people who wear the cute pricey horsey-themed clothes to the barn are posers.[/QUOTE]
And sometimes I think people who wear ratty oversized sweatshirts and stained breeches to the barn are slobs. I wasn’t just going to volunteer that uncharitable opinion, but since you snarked first…
