Fashion-Challenged English Rider Needs Help!

[spurofthemoment]

I’m planning on doing a photo shoot with my retired horse, new horse, and myself. The landscape will be fall foliage-heavy (warm-toned). I am absolutely horrible with color coordination, which is why I’m here.

Here’s where I have the issue: retired horse is dark bay, new horse is orange chestnut, and I am ombré platinum blonde (and also pale white as far as skin tone goes). How in the HECK do I coordinate an outfit that looks good with BOTH horses while not clashing with the fall foliage AND not washing me out?

I want to wear my black tall boots, a pair of breeches (prefer not tan, preferably a color that compliments me, the scene, and the horses), a white collared shirt, and a knit sweater over top in a color that also compliments me, the scene, and the horses. Think: classy schooling outfit.

Any recommendations for colors that are safe for a blonde to wear with both a dark bay and a chestnut against a fall backdrop? Any inspiration anyone is willing to share?

[NoSuchPerson]

Green.

There are plenty of web sites on what colors to wear with different color horses. Just google “color to wear with [horse color] horse” and you’ll find lots of guides.

[Highflyer1]

I would think either green or blue would work.

[clanter]

with today’s photo editing programs the background and colors can easily be altered

[Scribbler]

Green or blue are great for tops.

Do you know your color palate? The seasonal color wheel from the 1980s is still.surprusingly useful. It’s fine to choose blue or green but you need to know if you look best in pastel, bright, jewel, vivid, dark or muted variants. Big difference between khaki/sage green, emerald green or grass green or hunter green.

Think about what colors you feel beautiful in and have that next to your face. Then think about whether you want your breeches to be darker lighter or the same depth of color. The darker the breeches the less stuffed sausage they will look if that’s a concern

Pick a sweater that flatters you even if it’s that gorgeous cashmere sweater you would never dream of wearing to the barn normally!

If soft browns are good on you, they will let ok very nice with both horses and in fall.foliage.

[spurofthemoment]

So I actually wear a green show jacket with the chestnut and love it.

I guess now I’m stumped on the bottoms - I don’t really want to wear tan breeches. Is there another earth-toned color that’s on the darker side that I could pair with green on top?

Or can I do green on the bottom and something else on top? Light on top might look odd because my hair is super light, though.

I guess I’m getting stuck on how to pair colors.

[spurofthemoment]

@Scribbler

Think about what colors you feel beautiful in and have that next to your face. Then think about whether you want your breeches to be darker lighter or the same depth of color. The darker the breeches the less stuffed sausage they will look if that’s a concern

I love myself in navy/dark royal blue. But do want to do a dark bottom. Any suggestions?

[Scribbler]

@spurofthemoment

@Scribbler

Think about what colors you feel beautiful in and have that next to your face. Then think about whether you want your breeches to be darker lighter or the same depth of color. The darker the breeches the less stuffed sausage they will look if that’s a concern

I love myself in navy/dark royal blue. But do want to do a dark bottom. Any suggestions?

Navy breeches? Your going to look fine all in one tone. The monochrome outfit is totally a thing now

[spurofthemoment]

Navy top, navy breeches with tan patches, and black boots?

Maybe a pattern on the sweater to break it up?

[Scribbler]

A sweater with a Nordic style yoke design is lovely in autumn

[mmeqcenter]

Personally not huge on navy breeches with black boots. Do you have brown boots, or can you borrow a pair?

I’d say go for gray breeches and a navy or deep emerald green top

[Foxglove]

I would suggest black breeches with your black boots --and any jewel tone for your upper body wear. If you like to wear white breeches, give that a go too.

[McGurk]

I am going to suggest rust breeches, if you can find them. That, with either a navy or hunter green sweater, is a classic look that will work for you and both horses. Just sub in the sweater for the jacket.

[spurofthemoment]

See, I actually LOVE rust breeches in the fall - and I really appreciate seeing them on a fellow orange-ish chestnut. He’s the one I’m worried about clashing with - the dark bay is so much easier to accommodate. My only concern the would be the rust colored pants not fitting the fall foliage background, but black boots and jewel or dark earth-toned top would break that up, no?

[Scribbler]

You do need to.decide if you want to contrast with the horses and foliage , by going dark or bright or blue or green. Or if you want to be tonal, by going with warm browns. It’s an aesthetic choice. I would ask the photographer and perhaps look up horse portraits.

I don’t know what foliage you are using, whether it will be mostly yellow, or red, or brown tones. Also will there be ground visible, and will it be green or brown? And are you planning full body shots of all of you?

I think that in a quality photo, you will not be “lost” visually if you are dressed in tones that reflect the horses and the foliage. But if you are worried about the rust breeches on a chestnut take them to the barn and see how well they match or don’t. If it’s a good match, that could look nice. If it’s off, especially if the breeches are brighter or more red than the horse, it might not work. Chestnuts have a surprising amount of yellow in their coat. I once decided to try to get paint chips to match my chestnut paint for reference for tack shopping and the first batch I picked up were way too red and way too light. When I got one that was a decent match it also had the hue gradations on it, where they show white dilutions. And yup, the diluted chestnut color turned into golden palomino on the paint chart!

[Angel_Undercover]

I’d go for a navy sweater with grey breeches - it’s my personal favourite combo, I don’t love how I look in light breeches.

[horsepooramateur]

A few thoughts - jewel toned green or blue would definitely be my choice for the top! Jewel tones tend to be flattering on all skin tones and look great against both coat colors. I would avoid a less saturated color like olive (my fave) because against the greenery in the background, you will just kind of blend in…I had that issue with my beautiful olive XC look. If you want to stand out, I’d opt for blue, if you want a more monochromatic look, I’d go green.

As for the rust clashing with the foliage - if the whole vibe of the shoot is warm fall, it would actually complement that perfectly! If you want to drop $$$ on a new outfit, these breeches in Taupe would be perfect.

I have them in all colors except blue ribbon (it’s purple IRL) and they are comfy, water resistant, and the taupe is a perfect dark neutral. I would say it is almost a mink color, somewhere between tan and grey and would go with either color top you’re considering.

One last thought, if you are a super fair blonde, I would wear a little more makeup than you normally would! Don’t have to go clownish, but a bit of blush and something on your lips will help you stand out…I have the same problem

ETA I might even say go for a pretty dark teal like this to get the best of both worlds?!

Please update us with how it turns out!!