Hunt Colors - how to get stitched on?

[MissyA84]

I was awarded my hunt colors after hunt season last year. One of the masters gave me a reference person to ask more about them, and she received hers so long ago, she doesn’t remember where she got hers done. So I’m pretty stuck!

I received the actual colors the other day and am not sure how to get them stitched on to my hunt coats. What do any of you suggest I do? Is there a good place in the Midwest or has anyone sent them out? I’m very weary of sending it to the local tailor who doesn’t know anything about horses, afraid my coats may get done the wrong way.

Also when you get your colors, I’ve heard you’re supposed to get the patent leather on the top of your boots. I was under the impression this is for masters only.

Thanks a lot!!

[Beverley]

Congrats! 2nd question first- patent tops are ‘appropriate’ for women with colors but not required. I’ve never owned a pair and got colors at first hunt in, maybe, 1980 or so. Plain black dress boots are fine with a basic melton coat, with or without colors.

Any tailor ought to be able to do the collar for you. It’s a pretty basic procedure.

Actually, first time, I randomly picked a tailor (lived in N. Va then) and walked in, and the poor man got all teary- eyed, because back in the day, he had done hunting clothes for ‘everyone’ but times had changed and the ‘local’ hunt had moved further out due to urban sprawl. But he bucked up and did a fine job for me.

[Ponyclubrocks]

When I got my colors I borrowed a hunt coat from another member with colors and took both coats to a local tailor. Using the borrowed coat as a reference they were able to apply my colors and did a beautiful job even though they hadn’t done it before. Since I had mine done there quite a few other members have since used the same tailor. Congratulations on receiving yours!

[cavaliermax]

Colors

Chong’s in Harrisonburg, Virginia did an outstanding job of sewing my colors on the collar of my Melton. Mr. Chong even sewed the “Made in England” label back on the coat after he had replaced the collar with my hunts colors. How cool is that?

[SidesaddleRider]

The colors are just whip-stitched onto the original collar (top part), so they can be easily removed later.

Pretty much any tailor at a dry-cleaners can do it for you, or you can do it yourself. It really isn’t complicated. Just be sure to show them EXACTLY how you want them to do it if this is the first time they have done it.