The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Equestrian Fashion

I’ve been known to shop. When I packed up my house of 15 years after divorce the primary weight in boxes were clothing, hats, shoes, and books. The priorities in life, obviously. I had so many things to donate and was left with over 20 fedoras and 20 ball caps. I know, I know- it’s actually a problem. I confess it might be the dopamine rush when I hit “Add to Cart”. An Instagram ad loves to see me coming.

One thing you can always count on is that I will either be dressed like a homeless woman in a messy bun, no makeup, and sweats (completely belying the need for my closet space) or…I will show up in cute outfit with a smashingly awesome statement piece.

I’m a woman of extremes, clearly.

Now that I’m getting back into riding at the barn (keeping myself accountable), I find myself in a real quandary. My life is so busy that I’m going from bodywork appointments, to kid’s activities, errands, AND the barn. How does one woman dress appropriately for all this?

Simply.

When I was at a recent conference, I kept getting compliments on my outfits. The reality was, I was only dressing comfortably in Aerie wide leg lounge pants, a basic black tee, and a chunky sweater. But…and this is a big but…I added a gorgeous statement necklace.

So as a lazy girl, here are my tips for looking cute with hardly any effort at all whether you’re at the stable or on the streets.

1. Stick to a color theme: all black, all brown, etc. Matching colors on top and bottom not only make you look put together, but also create longer lines. That is very important for a short, curvy girl like myself.
2. Amazon Basics is your friend. Buy a 3-pack of t-shirts or long-sleeved SPF shirts to keep you cool and safe from the sun. If you are daring and buy white- invest in some bleach too. No need to buy those expensive sun shirts at the tack store. Save your money for the vet bills.
3. Riding Leggings. Don’t come at me. I am in my 40’s, so I don’t love belts that draw attention to my waist. I’m all for a good pair of black riding leggings, especially if they have compression. They make any barn to street look effortless, plus they are comfortable and cute! I often wear my riding leggings as regular pants, too. Win win!
4. Invest in nice shoes. You don’t have to buy Louboutins (and I would probably break an ankle), but I am a fan of having a great quality pair of sneakers that have never seen the inside of barn, a quality pair of riding boots, and then something fun! I keep my Dublin field boots in my trunk along with some Ariat terrain boots in case I need to do a quick change in my trunk.
5. Add a statement piece. As you know, I love a good hat. But, hats might not always be comfortable or appropriate. So if you aren’t a hat person, invest in a good quality ring stack, earring set, or chunky necklace. Something bold that draws the eye! Easy to take off when you get in the saddle, but cute while you’re out and about

If it sounds simple, it really is. I spend so much time with animals, covered in fur and dirt, that I don’t want to overthink my clothing. I want to be comfortable but cute, too! Of course, that is when I’m not wearing ball gowns to solo dinners in a castle in Scotland. Hopefully, this helps you too.

Xoxo, Heather