Feature: Centreline chic

FEATURE

Centreline chic

As legendary style queen Coco Chanel once said, “fashion changes, but style endures”. KIRSTY PASTO explains why this is equally true in the dressage arena.

Without question, equestrian has long maintained a respected place in the fashion world, capable of combining athleticism and flair with equestrian inspired outfits not out of place on the fashion runways of Paris or Milan.

Today, modern riding apparel is admired for its chic design and functionality. However, there was a time in the not too distant past when the term ‘equestrian fashion’ may have conjured images of stuffy tweed jackets, balloon style jodhpurs, and bowler hats. You may once have even been greeted at an equestrian event by a sea of plaid, beige and simple leather tack, but now you are more likely to be dazzled by diamante embellished brow bands, trendy tailcoats in a variety of stylish colours, and horses sporting bespoke equipment accentuated by colourful piping.

In today's fashion-conscious environment, and with so many fashionforward brands on the market, the possibilities for finding a distinctive style for both you and your horse to impress in the competition arena are endless.

Dress to impress

While some disciplines jumped on the fashion train a little faster than others, the sport as a whole has experienced an increase in trend-setting over the last decade.

Show jumping and eventing have typically always allowed for some creative freedom in the wardrobe department (think back to the excitement of choosing your cross country silks when you were at Pony Club, or the bright red coat sported by show jumping legend John Whitaker aboard Milton), but dressage has traditionally upheld conventional attire when it comes to presentation.

However, the discipline is now embracing the style movement with recent rule revisions allowing for more flexibility regarding competition dress, while preserving the expected sense of refinement.

Competition dress requirements have been significantly relaxed as a result of recent amendments to Equestrian Australia’s National Dressage rules. FEI rules have for some time allowed for more discretion around the choice of outfit, confirming that any jacket colour is acceptable as long as the coat is a single colour and is approved by the rider’s national federation.

Catching up with peak bodies in other countries, this year's Equestrian Australian (EA) rule revisions allow riders more leeway regarding their attire, including choosing jackets, lace-up boots, and an overall widening of the colour palette.

While the goal of the sport is to ride correctly and execute a dressage test in harmony with your horse, each combination is still assessed on their overall picture, and presentation is a component of that. Adding your own unique flair to your equestrian style may not only improve your appearance, but it can also make you feel more at ease

and confident in the saddle. So what can you do to jazz up your dressage style? Jackets

Nothing says dressage quite like a beautiful tailcoat or smart, tailored jacket. Gone are the days when you could only buy a monotone black or navy competition jacket. Like the 'horse of a different colour' from the Wizard of Oz, jackets are now designed to bring the wow factor.

Black is still a staple classic, and almost every dressage rider has at least one hanging in their wardrobe. However, many additional colours are now permissible in the arena.

The EA Dressage Rules for 2022 have been altered to eliminate the requirement that the jacket be a "dark colour" and instead now allow jackets to simply be a "solid colour”. However, before you run out to buy a custom pink jacket, the rules still have parameters and do not allow "bright colours such as pink, red, orange, yellow, and lime green”.

In contrast, some nations allow for a bolder colour choice. The United States Equestrian Federation permits "any single colour jacket or tailcoat" and it may even allow “modest pin striping, checks, or tweeds”, while the Netherlands stunned many at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with jackets in their homeland's national colour of vivid orange.

It is not only the colour of the jackets that have been modernised over the years, so too have the materials. Traditionally jackets were tailored in a thicker material such as wool, giving the garment a stiff structure. These days it is not uncommon for jackets to incorporate a stretchy fabric, adding an additional element of comfort.

Designers are continually revising their creations to guarantee maximum style and rideability, and have shifted to even lighter materials. As a result, ultra-sleek mesh jackets are now a popular choice for competition in the summer. The jacket is comprised of a lightweight elastic mesh fabric that breathes in the heat and is lighter than standard jackets. Although you may expect a mesh jacket to be see-through when worn, magically they aren’t.

FACING PAGE: From baggy breeches to sleek outfits and carefully coordinated colours, centreline fashions have been revamped (Image courtesy elle.com). LEFT: Simone Pearce riding Destano with mesh jacket, reflective helmet and embellished saddle (Image courtesy of the Australian Equestrian Team). BELOW: Boots with front lace closures now have a tick of approval.

Boots

Ask any equestrian, and they will tell you that not all boots are created equal. The top boot is the pinnacle of equestrian style, and the options are limitless. Patent leather, matte leather,

ABOVE: John Thompson riding Chemistry and sporting an eye-catching blue tailcoat with yellow trim (Image by Kirsty Pasto).

to provide extra radiance as you dance down the centreline.

Tack

Under the current rules "coloured piping around the edge of the saddle is acceptable", meaning now even tack can be given extra personalisation, with the coloured piping trend extending to saddlecloths too.

Of all the equestrian equipment however, it may just be the browband that offers the widest range of choice for riders looking to add that personal touch to their ensemble.

Browband embellishments can range from delicate, imperceptible rhinestones embedded in the leather that catch the light, to loud designs that bedazzle every inch of the horse's forehead. Given the wide range of styles, colours, and materials available, there is certain to be something to suit both the rider's tastes and the horse's conformation.

When it next comes time to update your equestrian wardrobe, why not look outside the box and add your own unique flavour to your garb? After all, fashion is the armour for surviving the realities of everyday life, or, in this instance, the dressage arena.

black or brown, and now boots with front lace closures are also available and competition legal.

The upper half of the boot may also feature ornate 'hunting tops' and other decorative features. If you are still keen to add a little more life to your boots coloured piping is also permissible as long as it matches the colour of the jacket.

Helmets

Isn't it true that dressage is all about the finer details? Then it comes as no surprise that helmets have become a trendy way to make a fashion statement. With top hats no longer competition legal, the helmet is the statement piece of the rider’s dressage attire.

Protective headwear allows riders to not only protect their melon, but also to complement their competition outfit. With many fashionable options on the market in varying price categories, helmets provide an eye-catching opportunity to impress. options are numerous. Although helmets should be "black or the same colour as the coat", embellishments and reflective strips now allow for a variety of looks.

Furthermore, the helmet may even be entirely reflective, although not mirrored,