Do You Wear Nice, Cute, Pricey Clothes to the Barn?

[Renn_aissance]

Let’s be real here. My pricey clothes are my horse clothes, because I would never in my life spend $150 on a pair of jeans but I will totally spend that on a pair of breeches.

I also spent a lot of money on buying good stout warm winter clothes- to the point that I visited a friend in Minnesota and he was seriously worried about whether or not I’d be warm enough, coming from Maryland, but upon seeing what I’d brought with me said that I probably was better prepared for the climate than he was. This is not because I like winter. It is because I’m stumping around in snow trying to catch my horse, and he likes the cold a lot more than I do.

[SmartAlex]

Regarding winter wear. In high school I spent a couple of miserable cold winters grooming at a show stable. Wearing normal, somewhat bedraggled, winter clothes. I was frozen all winter long. In College I accidentally stumbled across some polarfleece winter breeches and some insulated crochet back gloves. For the first time ever I was warm all winter. And I could ride as well as I could wearing summer clothes because I didn’t have bulky layers on. I realized right then and there that there was some sense in spending money on good purpose built clothes. It was life changing. Dress for the activity. My equestrian wardrobe got a major revamp.

This year I finally relinquished that first pair of wonderful winter breeches. I like my Kerrits Sit Tights better because of the slick outside. I gave those super warm breeches to my mother… she is wearing them for PJs :sigh: At least she hasn’t threatened to put them on a calf.

[Skyis4ever]

Love the coat! I have separate wardrobes of barn wear versus everything else. My Goode rider shirts I love wearing but a few are too nice for the barn. I’m a working student at the moment and feel so silly because I hate wearing breeches all day. And there’s no way I’m wearing my $300+ breeches to work in for 10 hours! They’d get destroyed

[M_Owen]

I’m lucky if my day to day barn clothes somewhat match! I do buy nice breeches and spend money on outerwear, but shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, all bets are off what I might be wearing. I do plan presentable outfits for lessons, however. from an individual piece perspective, I definitely spend more in horse stuff than work stuff, but I don’t look cute at the barn. I more often look like I was dragged through the back forty then rolled in the manure pile and/ or hay loft.

And BTW, that foal in the jacket is so adorable!

[billiebob]

My “nice, cute, pricey” clothes are all barn clothes. I’ve never spent more than $50 for a regular pair of pants but all of my breeches cost more than that. Before I discovered the magic of technical baselayers, I used to wear cashmere sweaters under a hoodie at the barn. Even on days I was there working for 12+ hours.

I have an Ariat softshell jacket that can do double duty as barn/nice jacket. Olive green = stains don’t show!

Re: putting people jackets on calves–last year, during calving season, I found out that amniotic fluid and baby calf manure washes out of a Weatherbeeta fleece quarter sheet quite well. The green jacket might survive!

[GraceLikeRain]

Yes/No.

I buy nice breeches used for $20-30, preferably in white, and then dye them plum, hunter green, navy, etc with $3 Rit dye. Tops are athletic-blend no-name brands off of amazon for $10-15. Sweaters are Polo brand or a cashmere blends that I snag for $5-10 through Goodwill or Ebay.

So when I walk out of my bedroom I normally feel pretty put together but then I toss on a monster shapeless winter jacket, rubber muck boots, and a very well-loved baseball cap before I leave and the effect is ruined. Anyone who knows me knows any extra $$ go towards the pony rather than my wardrobe but I like trying to look semi put together.

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=GraceLikeRain;7970646]
Yes/No.

I buy nice breeches used for $20-30, preferably in white, and then dye them plum, hunter green, navy, etc with $3 Rit dye. Tops are athletic-blend no-name brands off of amazon for $10-15. Sweaters are Polo brand or a cashmere blends that I snag for $5-10 through Goodwill or Ebay.

So when I walk out of my bedroom I normally feel pretty put together but then I toss on a monster shapeless winter jacket, rubber muck boots, and a very well-loved baseball cap before I leave and the effect is ruined. Anyone who knows me knows any extra $$ go towards the pony rather than my wardrobe but I like trying to look semi put together.[/QUOTE]

RIT dye RULES!!! I once outfitted our ENTIRE drill team with surplus Ghurka jackets we got for $4.00 apiece at an Army-Navy store. They were white twill and we stewed ‘em up in the lobster-boilin’ bot full of Navy RIT.

Wah-hoo! Add buff breeches, and we had one sharp looking Cavalry outfit, good to go!

[CrowneDragon]

Oh hell no. The barn is where my clothes go to die. Holes, stains, etc etc, I’ve got it all. I have a very few pieces of nice horse brand clothes, and they only get worn for “city wear” or to work (casual). Today I wore a nice Horseware down vest to work. The bar for “good wear” is set pretty low for me. I have a few $4 V-neck t-shirts that I got from Rural King that I wear to work, which qualify as “good wear” by the fact that they are neither torn nor stained. Yet.

I look at photos of people who ride at nice barns and they’re wearing a nice long sleeved button-up under a sweater, and they are colour coordinated, with a nice matching belt and clean boots. If I am lucky enough to have time to ride it will be in the pair of Kerrits tights that are rolling around the back seat of my truck, in a holey sweatshirt and my so-filthy-it-can-stand-on-its-own-washed-every-six-months-whether-it-needs-it-or-not Carhartt barn coat, with my mismatched cheap paddock boots and half chaps. #Reality

[Lucassb]

[QUOTE=Flash44;7969145]
I love this jacket but can’t imagine wearing it to the barn!!!

http://shop.gooderider.com/p/couture-jacket

I choose most of my barn wear with the conditions that they have to be washable and can handle dirt. Then I see all these cute clothes for riders and think who wears that stuff to the barn and gets it dirty??? Fess up![/QUOTE]

Ah, life is short, I say. Buy (and wear) the cute clothes!!

I personally don’t mind spending money on nice/cute clothes although I also love finding a great deal on Ebay or one of the web based shops like Real Real or Rue La La. As others have mentioned, I like having the quality and also find that the cut is usually more flattering in the higher end garments. I also like the fact that they generally wear better and last longer, if well cared for.

For whatever reason, I don’t find I get all that dirty at the barn if I am just going to do your basic grooming/riding activity. If I am doing a clip job or something, then sure… I’ll be wearing some cheap nylon running pants and a tee shirt that I don’t much care about. But for everyday riding or lessons, I like to be put together. It all goes in the laundry afterwards anyway, or to the dry cleaner if needed. Not the end of the world

[ArabDiva]

At the boarding barn where I keep my horse in training, yes I generally wear “nice-ish” clothes. For example, a pair of khaki breeches and a coat or vest a lot like this: http://www.dressageextensions.com/images\large\64892.jpg
I try to buy colors and technical fabrics that can hold up to a lot of wear and tear and spots but still look neat. (I’m an adult ammy FWIW) In the summer generally a polo and breeches. I wouldn’t wear that Goode Rider coat though–too light. I might buy it for everyday (non-barn) wear.

When I’m at home on my farm where i keep my retirees and my chickens, all bets are off. carhartt jacket and stained jeans, baby.

[Laurierace]

I don’t have much in terms of nice, cute, expensive clothes but pretty much everything I own ends up at the barn eventually.

[IronwoodFarm]

I don’t like to go anywhere in public in my barn clothes as I may be mistaken for a begger. Mr IF once got free fireworks for IF Jr when he stopped by a stand in his farm clothes. We look like bums, not fashion statements.

[theblondejumper]

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…

[french_fry]

My barn clothes are nicer than my real clothes because I like barn life better than real life and prioritize accordingly.

[SmartAlex]

[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!

[french_fry]

[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.

[SendenHorse]

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.

[SendenHorse]

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.

[Covergirl15]

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!)

[tbchick84]

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!