I think rust is/was very attractive - with complementary colors (jacket, shirt & horse) of course. Some of today’s patterned jackets sound as though they’d be lovely - and dark green is superb.
And anyone who enters a ring on an unbraided horse better NOT have anything to say about the informality of rust…
LOL VTRider … you should know I never wear underwear! (Or at least after I’ve been smacked into a tree!)
Does anyone remember rust breeches with white knee patches? In my “Fit to Show” book, ca. 1984, Madden and Cooney said that rust breeches were the way to go … just not to get the ones with white knee patches!
RJ
PamM: Yeah, that photo might have been from Griffith Park before it morphed into LAEC! The block wall arena looks so familiar.
Flash and Cactuskate: Yes, the “dinosaurs” recall wearing rust/brick breeches, which is why, if they happen to be judging, we may elicit a wave of nostalgia from the judge!That can only be to our benefit . 
Whoa I’m staring impolitely. I owe you a dollar.
I have my TS gray with my nice grey hunt coat…It sure did look nice when I showed a month ago!!! Come on how about it??? I think it’s about time for a change!!! Rust all the way! 
Rust breeches are hideous, and that’s how I feel about them. I will agree that they are probably great to wear around the barn, because of the dirt factor, but that’s about it.
A.) Rust is very prone to bring out the orange/red tones of your skin, which can be particularly exacerbated at shows (nerves, activity, etc.).
B.) It’s incredibly seasonal. I would only wear rust from Labor Day to, maybe, December. And probably then only in the hunt field.
C.) Rust breeches will definitely make your plump legs look a bit more contained, but you need to wear a dark, conservative jacket with them, or else you’ll look even larger up top, by contrast. And you know if your legs are bad enough to contain under a dark color that you’re likely NOT Linda Hamilton a’la “Terminator 2” up top anyway. And if it makes your leg look smaller, it’s going to make it look shorter. So say no to rust if you’re doing the eq.
D.) What could look worse on the flashy chestnut with “chrome” that makes such an impact in the hunter ring than rust? It looks horrible on a gray horse, and I would say that the only horse on which rust would look pleasing, visually, would be a blood bay.
I personally like TS beige, regular beige (Pikeur) or “buff,” or “khaki,” or even gray. With your black field boots (spit shined so you can see yourself in them) and a nice, conservative jacket, you create a stately picture that doesn’t distract from the horse.
Robby
Good point Merry!
The funny thing is, the trainer that “dressed” me in the 1980’s is vehemently opposed to rust britches now! But I am a grown up and I can dress myself these days! LoL!
I just haven’t gotten up the nerve! I am showing tomorrow, perhaps I wild venture into those rust britches after all.
I had a flea-bitten gray mare that I wore my rust breeches and brown Dehner field boots with all the time, and they looked great! I paired them with either a pale mint (see picture below) or very muted dark teal jacket. Maybe you would have had to have seen them in action, but trust me, they looked fine…
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=196497&a=1526984&p=15230059
The more pictures of Valor you put up, the more I evny you…sigh…wipe drool from mouth.
So, I was just checking with the T-heads site for results from the FL circut, and what do I come across but Katie Prudent herself in rust color breeches…proof that fashion is cyclical and rust is on its way back! Just thought I’s share that for all those nay-sayers.
Good for you…first one, then another, then another, and so on and so on and so on…(to paraphrase that shampoo commercial!!)
Rust breeches RULE!!! First Gulfport, now Southern California, then ???
Maybe I should wear a show bow with my rust breeches? 
My first outfit will be with my dark, solid navy herringbone GP jacket and a subtle, cream/ivory shirt with a tone-on-tone monogram.
Then, duffy, I believe I have the exact same brown GP coat! With the faint blue and rust windowpane? I’ll just match my solid bay (rust and black) horse! Oh, we be stylin’! 
And me, I am an Aries: True to form, put me in a group and I immediately take over the whole, er, show. But how can I not command attention? I’m wearing orange pants!
I’m a big fan of gray myself, wake me up when that comes back in style.
Recently, I had to throw away my gray show breeches from high school. While I still could get into them, I had to admit to myself that they looked very sausage-like and I couldn’t breathe.
I’m pretty much the same weight as when I was 18 but for some reason the pounds have been redistributed.
justbay, I thought your photo looked very nice. It’s about what I’m wearing Saturday! It’s a schooling show, the first time I’m attempting cantering an entire course on my greenie-weenie.
Maybe we should bring along a pair of bellbottoms to change into after our classes, so we can just say we’re into the “retro look”?
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> D.) What could look worse on the flashy chestnut with “chrome” that makes such an impact in the hunter ring than rust? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
What are you going to do?
Another great picture of Valor, Pam! And your rust breeches look great…
I go away for a few days, and you make a MAJOR LIFE DECISION INVOLVING RUST BREECHES without me. Geesh.
I can only second the sentiments of my friends out here: “You go girl.” I would suggest, however, a hunter green coat.
A side note for Robby: I often tell my mother that she must be the only person in the whole freakin’ world who is NEVER wrong. I stand corrected. You, it seems, are another person who is NEVER wrong. I will invite you over for the next major holiday and seat you next to my mother.
I think Hell, Michigan froze over about 5 yrs ago. I haven’t heard if it froze over this year or not. I’ll check and get back to you.
In the meantime, pray tell, what color jacket will you wear with them, and what color shirt? Just curious. My dtr has shown 4-H before and rust breeches are very common there. They are usually paired with forest green coats and solid white shirts with a snaffle bit pin on the choker. I thought maybe there might be a better combination that I could pass on to some of them.
Go Merry !!!
Me too! The redistribution thing is (one of) the worst things about getting older.
I still am hoping that those old fashioned britches with the thigh flaps will come back - I can still get into mine (they must be 35 years old 
!) And they are very slimming. Somehow, those redistributed pounds end up hidden in the flaps!
With rust coming back, and fans of gray and canary speaking out, can thigh flaps be far behind??
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