I’m currently updating my show wardrobe and really like the Fits Zephyr coat. It meets every requirement I had for a show coat…except that it is black. Since I needed a new helmet I was going to go navy helmet with navy jacket, but now am reconsidering doing black and black. I may have to do a few hunter classes this year, so is black OK in the hunter ring or are hunter green/navy/tan more appropriate? What is the most “in style” color in the jumpers right now?
TIA.
A black coat is perfectly fine for the hunters.
Black will work just fine. I tend to think the navy helmets don’t look good with navy jackets as the navy helmets (CO’s especially) always look too light in comparison to the coat! But that’s just my opinion 
A black coat is fine for the hunters but I have two caveats:
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If you are only going to have one jacket I’d recommend navy. Again, black is totally appropriate but navy will literally never go out of style. If I only have one item to work with, I’d rather make it the most appropriate one I can.
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If you are planning to do the hunters I would not recommend the FITS Zephyr. It is a gorgeous coat but much more suited to dressage or the jumpers. Grand Prix makes some really nice technical fabric coats in that price range.
[QUOTE=AlterTops;7510492]
Black will work just fine. I tend to think the navy helmets don’t look good with navy jackets as the navy helmets (CO’s especially) always look too light in comparison to the coat! But that’s just my opinion ;)[/QUOTE]
Navy helmet, light gray jacket! 
If it was a choice of only having one, I’d go with navy. While black is fine for the hunters, navy is a classic color that will never go out of style.
I’m not a big fan of the navy helmets. I prefer a classic look and think black just really goes with everything too.
Also I think someone else mentioned it, but Grand Prix and RJ Classics make washable coats now and they are the more traditional 3 button vs. the 4 button coats, that you normally see in the jumpers and dressage.
I’ve seen it twice here so I’m jumping in.
Why would black go out of style? It’s the ORIGINAL coat color (besides scarlet/pink)? I would say Navy AND Black coats would/should never go out of “style.”
Also, could we please have a sticky, Mods, for hunter fashion. We have a lot of repeat threads on this one question, so it would help for a one-stop-shop thread.
You can argue that it’s traditional all you want but it can and does go out of style - traditional and in style are two different things. Green is traditional and it comes and goes as well. It is never incorrect to wear either of those colors but it is not guaranteed to be in fashion.
To my knowledge navy has never, ever gone out of style.
One of the reasons a sticky would be useless is because the styles constantly change. Pretty much everyone knows that a navy jacket, tan breeches, white shirt, black field boots and a black helmet are always acceptable. It’s the finer points of what’s currently being seen in the ring that makes people flock to the board for advice and validation.
[QUOTE=RxCate;7510809]
I’ve seen it twice here so I’m jumping in.
Why would black go out of style? It’s the ORIGINAL coat color (besides scarlet/pink)? I would say Navy AND Black coats would/should never go out of “style.” [/QUOTE] Black was not just “out of style,” but a full-on hunter fashion faux pas until ~4-5 years ago when they started making beautiful black plaid coats. But from sometime in the 80’s until about 2009 or so, no one wore black in the hunter ring.
Wanderlust - I had a grey coat w/ red (gasp!) lining that I wore and also my black melton that I foxhunted in, because OMG! I was riding a HUNTER in HUNTER classes.
So stupid fashion is sometimes. I totally understand trends etc and I get it. Just seems nonsensical.
A sticky would be a useful area to discuss all aspects, in trend & out, what to buy, etc. Keep all fashion related things in one long post. Easy peasy.
[QUOTE=RxCate;7511200]
Wanderlust - I had a grey coat w/ red (gasp!) lining that I wore and also my black melton that I foxhunted in, because OMG! I was riding a HUNTER in HUNTER classes.
So stupid fashion is sometimes. I totally understand trends etc and I get it. Just seems nonsensical.
A sticky would be a useful area to discuss all aspects, in trend & out, what to buy, etc. Keep all fashion related things in one long post. Easy peasy.[/QUOTE] Now, the gray coat with red lining would have been totally in! I have a small collection of different colored coats with fun lining colors.
I do wonder if black was out because it wasn’t such a good look with the puke green TS (that’s one fad I’m glad to see long gone!)
Agree with the sticky idea.
Navy jacket, black helmet.
How is navy “most appropriate”?? Navy, black, dark grey, light grey, hunter green and brown are all completely appropriate for the hunter ring. Everything else is the opinion of the trainer, the rider, their parents, and their second cousin once removed…and of course George Morris.
Ok I have to chime in and ask Is a brown helmet ok? I bought a new Samshield last fall and went by what looked best on me and with my coloring I much preferred the brown.
Am I totally out to lunch?
Horsenut, I would say, unless you’re riding in a classic or something else where a shadbelly is required, or an appointments class; go for it!
As long as you are polished and put together, I don’t see a problem.
RE: Puke green TS’s thankfully I never caught that bug. I had my trusty devonaire’s or Millers breeches (see how long ago it was that I showed!! LOL).
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