What are your favorite brands of hunting apparel. Do you ever wish you could update the styles or are you a die-hard tradionalists? If it were not a very noticeable change would you embrace it?
I’d embrace hunting in jeans 
I no lika da streetchy flimsy breeches
I’m an old-timey sort. Very old timey. It’s one aspect of the sport I truly enjoy.
Old timey traditional all the way.
Except for the helmet. Though I’d prefer to hunt in a bowler, I must preserve the few brain cells I have left.
Though I would love everyone’s opinions on this new helmet that Troxel came out with. A certified derby??
http://www.troxelhelmets.com/products/features.php?ProductID=32
I’m not particularly devoted to a “brand”. More the look. I’m lucky that I live in foxhunting central; there are several tack shops and 2nd hand shops that carry hunting attire.
My current favorite (until I steal the mean lady’s canary breeches) are my Ovation Gold Circuit britches. My Meltons… I think one is a Tailored Sportsman, and the other (my thickest one), was made in England for Horse Country.
Stock tie? 4 fold all the way. Extra long. The real deal. Always.
Helmet. Actually I don’t remember. I’ll only wear one with a traditional profile. (hunt cap style)
Shirt; either a Shire jersey or on really cold days, an inexpensive white turtleneck.
Boots - Pytchley. (Dress) They have really held up well.
Boots - Effingham (field - they are old, and my brown ones I got of the Internet but I don’t like the color.)
Gloves - Horse Country - but I only use those for high holy days. My regular gloves are some thick heavy ones I got at the feed store. (both are brown) Never have problems with barbed wire going through them.
I like my Alexander James huntcoats.
http://www.alexander-james.co.uk/
They also make nice vests.
I also like the RJ classics vests which are reasonably priced and not heavy.
For Breeches I have some Dublin breeches that are side zip and heavier fabric than normal. I do have a pair of the Irideon Windpro’s on order though as I love the ones I have in black and am ordering a pair in the wheat color to see if they will work. I love them for every day schooling in the winter. Wish they had belt loops though.
Certified derby…
[QUOTE=J Swan;3013860]
Though I would love everyone’s opinions on this new helmet that Troxel came out with. A certified derby??
http://www.troxelhelmets.com/products/features.php?ProductID=32
Oooh - very nice! The one in the picture is sitting kinda low on the model’s head, though - it looks to me as if she’s wearing one size too large, perhaps.
In the interests of form following function, can’t you persuade them to let you have a demo - just think how many aesthetically challenged followers of hounds would buy one if it really worked!
You think so? It did look a bit odd on the model and I couldn’t figure out what the deal was. And since I have not seen them for sale around here, I’ve not tried one on.
Hmmmmm… a demo. I never thought of that. I think the price has come down - I could have sworn that were closer to a GPA price last time I checked. Now there is an aesthetically challenged foxhunter; the skunk stripe.
The derby style appears to be a tad different than the bowlers I’m more familiar with. But it could be I’m mistaken on that too - and the pictures don’t do the helmet justice.
I keep going back to that webpage and staring. I don’t dare just buy one and put the thing on and scare the dog.
Your suggestion of a demo is excellent. I can think of one tack store in the area that might arrange just such a thing!
deargodpleasedon’tmakeuswearderbysagainnowthatthere’saprotectiveoneamenandabout thosejeans…
I forgot to mention. I like the Shires jersey hunt shirts from The Old Habit. I like Charles Owens approved hunt caps.
Dehner boots all the way except when it is below 30 deg. F when I wear my Mountain Horse Rimfrosts.
Warm boots - I found some sheepskin-lined Cavallos with zippers up the back - wonderfully warm, comfy and posh!
Regular boots - whatever I can find that’s good-quality used in my size - I’m always trading around - Ariat, Cavallo, Petrie, SG, etc. I’m holding out for a pair of Schnieders. I can’t use cheap brands - my feet are big and I’m heavy and tall, so they’re never long or robust enough.
The Shires shirts - is that Shires as in the British clothing line, or…? There’s another line of hunt shirts - Foxley or something? - that are nice and warm.
When it’s warm I have a linen shirt which I love - it crumples, but oh-so nicely, and it’s never sweaty.
I like linen stocks when I can find them - the older the better, as they’re so soft, and look lovely. The old ones come in some very unusual shapes, too, which is neat. I just got one like J Swann describes - one great big piece of linen - delicious.
Stock pins - I covet simple antique bar brooches if they’re suitable (have a safety hasp).
I’ve discovered that Cavallo do canary-cream breeches - they’re next on my want list. And Equissentials “eggshell” is a perfect colour also. I don’t like beige - it’s practical, but uuggllyy to my eyes.
The bowlers - derbies - I love the classic image of a be-bowler-hatted young gel in her immaculate tailor-made tweed jacket and voluminous breeches, but me, I think I’d be more reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin if I had to wear one!
Gloves - whatever are the right colour and warm and non-slip, and big enough for mutton hands: these days I’m using gardening gloves!
Jackets - Pikeur Ulanka for lightweight (wool with a little stretch, and not as close-fitting as the Diana), Mears or Caldene for heavyweight. And I’d LOVE to find an immaculately-tailored old tweed hacking jacket that magically took 30lbs off my look.
Helmet - CO crash helmet with a velvet cover all the way, and sometimes body armour also!
J Swann, the COTH hunt-fashion trend-setter…
Maybe it looks funny because of the padding, etc - only one way to find out! :yes:
[QUOTE=J Swan;3013972]
[quote=Romany;3013895]
You think so? It did look a bit odd on the model and I couldn’t figure out what the deal was. And since I have not seen them for sale around here, I’ve not tried one on.
Hmmmmm… a demo. I never thought of that. I think the price has come down - I could have sworn that were closer to a GPA price last time I checked. Now there is an aesthetically challenged foxhunter; the skunk stripe.
The derby style appears to be a tad different than the bowlers I’m more familiar with. But it could be I’m mistaken on that too - and the pictures don’t do the helmet justice.
I keep going back to that webpage and staring. I don’t dare just buy one and put the thing on and scare the dog.
Your suggestion of a demo is excellent. I can think of one tack store in the area that might arrange just such a thing![/QUOTE]
The best decently priced britches out there are the TallyHos, and they are NOT knit. I love mine to pieces. Tough fabric, washable, and stand up to briars and brambles and branches better than any knit out there. They are bsolutely correct for hunting, and they have all styles from flared to pleated to straight. They also make men’s. And the folks in Ireland that manufacture and sell them, either through retailers here or directly to the consumer, are very nice to deal with.
As to the rest, the current jackets that are sold as show jackets are too damn short. I have a Caldene melton that I love that covers my whole butt, and my helmet is a Troxel Grand Prix Exeter, which they probably don’t make any more. I’m still looking for a shaped stock that is long enough to tie properly around my fat neck and still stay well tucked into my coat/vest.
My rubber riding boots are Aigles, and my leather ones are Effinghams, but Effingham has vanished.
vineyridge - the stock ties you want are at The Old Habit or Horse Country. Pretty sure.
The really long coats are definitely at The Old Habit. Priced well, too - oh - and they’re having sale. I think Saddlery Liquidators has them but I’m going to go check. Last time I was there I roughhoused with Babs and the damn thing bit me.
Romany - you got me all wrong. One thing I am not is a trend setter. More like a terrible warning. :no:
The nice Shires shirts are at Saddlery Liquidators. I got one for 20$. I wear it until it gets too cold then I switch to my Wal-Mart white turtleneck.
I didn’t know Cavallo had canary breeches. I’ll have to check that out. I need some new ones anyway - I’ve lost a lot of weight and my breeches are getting too loose.
they are not traditional but i’ve heard some hunts will allow them. i’ve asked around. i started wearing FITS riding breeches as with my dressage is gave me a really deep seat but i’ve heard that same deep seat feel can give you the comfort and security one might need in the field. i’m going to wear mine to the hunt tomorrow. they are full seats but i got approval and i believe they come in knee patch also. i did an episode on them last year in case you’re interested in learning more about them. it’s at http://www.horsegirltv.com/episode06.php and the gal that designs them is a rider herself and really forward thinking as equestrians being athletes and not just passengers.
Do the Cavallo breeches come in a knee patch? I can only find them in a full seat. The color they call it is Champagne.
The Tally-Ho breeches come in canary-it’s a nice color-not pastel at all. And you really can do whatever you need in order to get them clean and not ruin them.
Starting at the top:
Helmets:
CO’s only, black for Sat, brown for weekdays/cubbing; have a derby stashed away for sentimental reasons, on rare occasions, wear the tophat for a few moments with the shadbelly for photo sessions;
Jackets:
Most are purchased used, Horse Country ones fit the best, long sleeves and back, single vent, very flattering. Also like used Pytchley, Heythrop, Brittany, Harry Hall and Swaine labels. Prized are the used Dege, Weatherill and Knoud custom jackets, but harder to find. I go for that classic old-timey tailored look which the newer, cheaper fabric, shorter double vent jackets just cannot capture.
Switching away from black meltons to navy and grey for Saturdays. Linen or a linen/silk blend works best for hot cubbing mornings, prefer cavalry twill over wool jackets as they seem to repell water, resist thorns and hold up better than wool jackets.
Shirts:
Prefer 100% cotton ratcatchers, (usually in some shade of blue) from Essex, British House, Marigold etc. Usually bought used and/or off ebay. Shires heavy tee shirt material shirt on bitter days (Heythrop makes them too).
Vests:
Canary for high holy days, tattersall for formal Sat’s. Match the tattersall to the jacket; ie, the red/cream with the grey jackets and the blue/black with the navy jackets. Most come used, from HC or Belvoir/Heythrop. However, for cubbing have some in linen from the likes of Ann Taylor in off-white and canary and no one would ever know.
Have noted some hunts have vest custom made to match the hunt’s colours -am considering a pale Belgian blue one as am thinking that would go well with either navy/grey jacket.
Breeches:
Beige with no green TS; however, just discoverd and now adore, worship and covet more of the HC Italian fabric elephant ears, but sadly, one of the few items that must be purchased new. Do have a fabulous similar pair bought used for $10 (so the average price is now down to 10+270ish?/2 = more reasonable 190) THEY MAKE YOU LOOK THIN and that is a pricelss feeling when you are fat! 
Looking for more elephant ears taht are cheaper but most on ebay (and have seen some lovely ones) are for creatures with like 26 inch waists…not moi!
Tend to wear rust breeches only when cubbing or on afternoon hunts and stick to beige for Sat’s.
Boots:
Vogels for ladies, Dehners for gentleman.
Very hard to find used, and as am still wearing what is probably at least 10 yrs but more likely 15 yr old boots, these are one of the few item I must and will buy new, ouch! So badly want a brown pair, and thinking, maybe three buckle for a change?
Spurs:
In the traditional style, hammerhead stainless steel with plain black straps.
Stocks:
Linen, silk, cotton. Just discoverd HC’s 4 fold when I got one used last year, oh lala, the thing must be close to 2.5 feet long and the only one I have ever seen that is long enough! Made me splurge for a new one this year and they come in luicous colours such as white on white or pale blue etc.
Have a Dege silk for high holy days, and making some pale pastel coloured ones in soft linen for cubbing next year. Also use old scarves with hunting scenes during cubbing to add some colour to an outfit.
Pins:
Antique, used, and am so bad, wearing the favorite one UPRIGHT, sorry!
Whips:
Most bought used from a variety of makers; Swaine, Zaire, etc. or made custom locally. Even have some old (and will now never use) ITALIAN POPPERS!
Gloves:
Have yet to find one that lasts for very long nor keeps me warm on bitter days, so go with cheapies in brown leather.
Belt:
Want to have Elf and Ewe make me a custom needlework one with my favorite horses on it, chasing Charlie James, but have yet to get it done!
Canary…
If you want a really rich canary, try Gorringe, Shires, Pretty Ponies, Gallop, etc. I’ve got the Gallop ones and they’re eye-wateringly custardy yellow - loffly.
They’re so ridiculously cheap, even with airmail and Duty added, you could have your pet seamstress hem jodhpurs to breeches and you’d still be saving a fortune. My legs are long enough that jods become breeches without even trying.
Equissentials, Cavallo, Pikeur, etc, are much better quality IMO, but their canary is more cream than yellow.
Beige with no green TS; however, just discoverd and now adore, worship and covet more of the HC Italian fabric elephant ears, but sadly, one of the few items that must be purchased new. Do have a fabulous similar pair bought used for $10 (so the average price is now down to 10+270ish?/2 = more reasonable 190) THEY MAKE YOU LOOK THIN and that is a pricelss feeling when you are fat!
Looking for more elephant ears taht are cheaper but most on ebay (and have see
…What which kind of breeches make you look and feel slimmer?
[QUOTE=proride;3023166]
THEY MAKE YOU LOOK THIN and that is a priceless feeling when you are fat! Looking for more elephant ears.
…What which kind of breeches make you look and feel slimmer?[/QUOTE]
Horse Country elephant ears for ladies! They are old style flared breeches and really hide the hips.
I guess you could call them…
Hip Hidders!
Speaking of Elephant Ears, check out this page
http://www.ponypal.co.uk/breeches_ladiesSH.htm
Look at the second one down.
I think I like the ones on the bottom the best.
Looks like they come in a proper brick and a proper canary too.
