Helmet thread spinoff - how do you think we should be dressing for competition?

[spotteddrafter]

I love dressage, and I really think there is something very elegant about dressing a bit more formal for those tests. I really loved Marilyn Little’s black coat with white piping accents from Rolex this year - fabulous! But, I also love seeing the other colors - Alison Springers navy blue with yellow/cream was cool, and I’ve seen a lovely grey coat that I almost bought myself and I don’t show anymore! lol

That said, who wants to be trapped in a wool suit when it’s anything above 50 degrees outside?? Certainly there are other options that should be pursued!

[Chaila]

If you were REALLY traditional in dressage you’d be in full ancient Greek battle dress like Xenophon. The coat and tails came much later.

I like Under Armor type sportswear. Gives a lady a shape and nice high tech fabrics. But there needs to be some uniformity to the whole thing. The riders should look the same so you pay attention to their riding, not their clothes.

[weixiao]

[QUOTE=Chaila;7556310]
If you were REALLY traditional in dressage you’d be in full ancient Greek battle dress like Xenophon. The coat and tails came much later.[/QUOTE]

Ok, I want to do dressage in battle dress. It often feels most appropriate.

[Desert_Topaz]

Part of the problem is tradition vs. function. Look at all the comments about white breeches. There is nothing in the rules that say we need to wear white breeches, they must be “light colored or white.” Yet we all wear white, even though tan shows a lot less dirt Same with stock ties: “Shirt—white or light color, with stock and pin, or choker, or tie.” Nothing in there that says one must wear a stock tie. I was anti-stock tie until I made my own and it chokes me less than a choker does

If anyone is wondering where these ridiculous outfits came from, pretty sure from my research it’s based on Regency Era menswear (and the influence of Beau Brummel.) If you look at pictures of fashion of the time you could basically take one of them and toss them on a dressage horse and they’d look the part, top hat and all. http://www.songsmyth.com/menday.html I believe this is about the same time fox hunting became really popular in England and the attire just carried on with the hunting, even though fashion changed elsewhere.

No matter how much people will try to convince me that stock ties are there to use as slings, bandages, etc I know the men at the time were carefully tying their cravats when they were nowhere near a horse. That their neckwear ended up serving a useful purpose in times of emergency was secondary

[Desert_Topaz]

Part of the problem is tradition vs. function. Look at all the comments about white breeches. There is nothing in the rules that say we need to wear white breeches, they must be “light colored or white.” Yet we all wear white, even though tan shows a lot less dirt Same with stock ties: “Shirt—white or light color, with stock and pin, or choker, or tie.” Nothing in there that says one must wear a stock tie. I was anti-stock tie until I made my own and it chokes me less than a choker does

If anyone is wondering where these ridiculous outfits came from, pretty sure from my research it’s based on Regency Era menswear (and the influence of Beau Brummel.) If you look at pictures of fashion of the time you could basically take one of them and toss them on a dressage horse and they’d look the part, top hat and all. http://www.songsmyth.com/menday.html I believe this is about the same time fox hunting became really popular in England and the attire just carried on with the hunting, even though fashion changed elsewhere.

No matter how much people will try to convince me that stock ties are there to use as slings, bandages, etc I know the men at the time were carefully tying their cravats when they were nowhere near a horse. That their neckwear ended up serving a useful purpose in times of emergency was secondary

[JER]

Breeches and a shirt with a collar and sleeves (short or long).

That’s it. Colour is irrelevant. Could ban large logos/lettering/promotional.

Let’s just make it simple, straightforward and easily attainable for all ages and economic levels.

[Ibex]

^^ what she said. I’d like it to be “solid” coloured as well for dressage and stadium (stad and XC are on different days around here). And def a ban on large logos/promos etc.

[Lori_B]

No more coats. We are not Mr. Peanut. (loved that)

If you are a person who doesn’t overheat, trust me, you don’t know what you are talking about for the wellbeing of those of us who do. Here in Maryland it can be too hot for a jacket as much as 5 months of the year, and I don’t know what useful purpose it serves for me to be soaked in sweat before I even get on the horse.

We can be conservatively attired without a jacket. And if you are feeling fluffy and under-attired in a poloshirt, a solid colored vest can look quite appropriate and does not obstruct movement.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=Inclined;7555678]
Jim Wofford actually suggested something like this in a Practical Horseman article a year or two ago. I respect Mr. Wofford very much, but I have to disagree on this point. Now that I think about it, was it said tongue in cheek? I don’t think so, because there was a LARGE photo with a rider in said outfit.[/QUOTE]

It was tongue in cheek…to a point.

I personally dislike jackets. I say breeches and a nice conservative shirt. The picture should be about the horse…so no, I’m not for loud sponsorship logos or a wacky unitard. But I am for more athletic comfort and a more athletic look.

[JFCeventer]

[QUOTE=JER;7556465]
Breeches and a shirt with a collar and sleeves (short or long).

That’s it. Colour is irrelevant. Could ban large logos/lettering/promotional.

Let’s just make it simple, straightforward and easily attainable for all ages and economic levels.[/QUOTE]

Cost is actually a really great point as well. Lately I’ve been reading all of this stuff about making our sport more ‘inviting’ to newcomers. Well, spending $10 on a polo shirt at WalMart and maybe $50-$60 on a pair of decent breeches is far more attainable than purchasing the current getup.

[Appsolute]

[QUOTE=Lady Eboshi;7555610]
Right, spiffity-do-dah for JUNIORS. Put a 165-lb., 48-year old woman of Northern European descent in that riggin’ and tell me it’s “harmonizing the picture.” :lol:[/QUOTE]

Seriously, I am 36, fat, of German decent, and have shoulders that could land me a spot on a football team.

Putting a sports coat on does not change the fact, and actually makes me look even bulkier while restricting my movement. A well fitted polo shirt, with breeches that also fit looks just fine - and I MUCH rather put comfort and freedom of movement above vanity. And if you are worried about your belly, I like the suggestion above - make vests optional. I don’t want to be forced to wear a penguin suit because someone else is self conscious about their bulges.

Women used to be forced to wear long, heavy wool suits to go swimming - sure, they did a good job of covering up any rolls and bugles - but I do not think they made swimming any easier!

I feel the same way about coats. Old fashioned, totally impractical, and out here in CA - you can expect 90+ degree weather and scorching sun at most events. This is not dreary merry ol’ England - wearing sports coats while riding horses in the heat is ridiculous.

[whitney159]

[QUOTE=Appsolute;7556650]
Seriously, I am 36, fat, of German decent, and have shoulders that could land me a spot on a football team.

Putting a sports coat on does not change the fact, and actually makes me look even bulkier while restricting my movement. A well fitted polo shirt, with breeches that also fit looks just fine - and I MUCH rather put comfort and freedom of movement above vanity. And if you are worried about your belly, I like the suggestion above - make vests optional. I don’t want to be forced to wear a penguin suit because someone else is self conscious about their bulges.

Women used to be forced to wear long, heavy wool suits to go swimming - sure, they did a good job of covering up any rolls and bugles - but I do not think they made swimming any easier!

I feel the same way about coats. Old fashioned, totally impractical, and out here in CA - you can expect 90+ degree weather and scorching sun at most events. This is not dreary merry ol’ England - wearing sports coats while riding horses in the heat is ridiculous.[/QUOTE]

Wow-you just typed exactly what I was thinking! What the juniors had on was great. I don’t have a perfect body either, but I’ll risk someone seeing my belly “pooch”, heck, even with a jacket they’re seeing the thighs that are my biggest shaming point. (Let this be a lesson to you apple shaped people, us pear shapes REALLY love wearing light colored thigh hugging breeches to show off our J-Lo type behinds all these years, it would be only fair if you can’t hide your tummies anymore!).
I’m another southerner (NC) when it gets hot here, it’s also muggy, I thought I was going to pass out feeding horses this morning because I threw on a windbreaker to keep the hay out of my shirt…it was 7am, in late April and it was like trying to breathe under water! I’m all for polo shirts of any color, breeches of any color, and minimize the logos.
I think that changing the “uniform” to something more conducive to actually doing something athletic will help eventing come across as an actual athletic competition instead of something for stuck up rich people, which is what non-horse people assume to this day!

[Bensmom]

FWIW, the unitard with the lightening bolts mentioned up thread has made a comeback on a young rider in Area III. Same one – I’ve seen it myself!

Also – Desert Topaz, that stock tie is BEAUTIFUL. Do you make them for sale, or would you be willing to post pattern/instructions?

Libby

[Janet]

[QUOTE=Lady Eboshi;7555610]
Right, spiffity-do-dah for JUNIORS. Put a 165-lb., 48-year old woman of Northern European descent in that riggin’ and tell me it’s “harmonizing the picture.” :lol:[/QUOTE]

I am over 60.

If I could get back down to 165 I would consider myself downright svelte.

My body type is a definite throwback to the “good peasant stock” of southeast England.

I would FAR rather ride dressage (and be seen) in a shirt (button down, polo, or turtleneck, depending on the weather) and britches than wear a riding jacket.

I look even more like a stuffed sausage when I wear my jacket.

Since almost all of the events I go to have all three phases in one day, I almost always DO ride dressage without a jacket. The only times I wear my riding jacket is when it is too cold for just a shirt.

I have LITERALLY (as in really, truly, I am not exagarating) collapsed on my horse at a dressage show from wearing my riding jacket on a day that didn’t FEEL hot, but was.

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=weixiao;7556368]
Ok, I want to do dressage in battle dress. It often feels most appropriate.[/QUOTE]

I’d look BEAUCOUP better in the battle dress than the UnderArmor, that’s for sure! :eek:

[cranky]

[QUOTE=JER;7556465]
Breeches and a shirt with a collar and sleeves (short or long).

That’s it. Colour is irrelevant. Could ban large logos/lettering/promotional.

Let’s just make it simple, straightforward and easily attainable for all ages and economic levels.[/QUOTE]

This gets my vote.

[weixiao]

[QUOTE=Lady Eboshi;7557291]
I’d look BEAUCOUP better in the battle dress than the UnderArmor, that’s for sure! :eek:[/QUOTE]

http://i.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2008/08/27/troypittmain.jpg?width=620&height=-&quality=95 I think it works quite nicely on horseback and helmets would be “in” with it as well.

Besides, the sort of skirt type thing would be flattering to any bulges in the upper thigh or hip area and the breastplate (from my google image search) seems to give you built in abs. Hard to complain with that! It would also allow quite a bit more “ventilation” and you could still wear boots to keep from getting those nasty stirrup leather rubs mid calf. I would like to start a petition!

[Pipkin]

Totally agree!! I have a friend who is super stylish, and I guess her ‘clinic wear’ would be my ideal competition wear. Neutral breeches and an aerodynamic shirt a la http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mvoB4SHZLOMEz84QtUTDdCw.jpg where you could have your sponsors logos down the sleeves.

Also we want to make riding accessible, and increase exposure - bring on the colours!! I can assure you, when watching dressage, most non horsey people can’t tell anyone apart. Hell, I can’t tell anyone apart when I’m competing, everyone looks the same in a penguin suit and helmet…

[AmarachAcres]

My daughter went to a 4H meet in a black polo, black and brown breeches, black half chaps/boots, and a well fitting helmet. She looked ready to rock a dressage ring and looked clean.

Yet I’ve been trying to find a used jacket in our budget for months and her first show is next month. Ugh.

Me, I hate jackets as well and will stick to shows that allow polos.

Many of the girls in her group that ride western have stated they have no interest in a “sport” where you have to dress for a ball.

[independentlyawesome]

[QUOTE=AmarachAcres;7557422]
Many of the girls in her group that ride western have stated they have no interest in a “sport” where you have to dress for a ball. :([/QUOTE]

Just quoting that b/c I’ve heard it many times. I think juniors should have rules that allow them to have FUN picking out clothes.

I think the traditional dress keeps equestrian sports from being publically seen as an athletic event. Could you imagine if cross-country runners showed up to a meet in knee-high leather boots & a wool sportcoat? That’s absurd. Riders should be wearing athletic gear.

Golf-style clothing is a good intermediate step, in my opinion. Golfers look neat & traditional, yet there is some leeway for color & style except at the most conservative competitions. And their clothes are actually made of athletic fabric!