LA Story: Modern Equestrian

I’ve always been drawn to the equestrian riding habit. This traditional costume has been worn since the 17th century with few changes other than moving from a skirt to pants. The formal costume, fitted jacket blouse slim pant and boots, exudes a sense of pedigree and privilege. Remember the old Ralph Lauren commercials? My equestrian look goes modern with a twist on tradition. I’m wearing a black Academy blazer, Gap, with the sleeves unbuttoned and pushed up to expose a grey/white lining.

My white fitted blouse, Tahari, becomes a lot more interesting with a floral neck scarf, DKNY, tied into a quasi-ascot shape under. Who needs riding pants when you have a pair of silver/grey reflective PVC leggings, Forever 21?  They are no doubt the opposite of traditional but they’re the right shape and under my old riding boots they work. My oversized beat-up vintage, Hermes, bag looks a bit of a riding saddle and feels like a nice touch to complete my Modern Equestrian look.

*style tip: if you understand the proper garment proportions you can easily sub out the traditional with your modern twist.

LA Story: A La Carte

Styling can feel like ordering off an a la carte menu especially when we want to mix different patterns textures colours and weights and wear them all together. What works for me especially with regard to pattern mixing is a commonality of colour or colour tone. My 2 all over pattern items include a very sheer sarong wrap skirt, Dres Van Noten, and a pair of snake boots, ABS. Although the patterns are very different, they each have a creamy off white colour tone and both have a reflective quality. It also helps that the skirt is sheer. I’ve taken the creamy colour and moved it upward with my camisole, Zadig & Voltaire, that’s also light in weight. It almost disappears under my boxy grey jacket, Zara. 

The jacket may seem like the odd-man-out in weight shape and its’ grey colour but notice how it draws and holds onto the eye’s attention, so the other pieces gently blend together. I’m using a large shopping tote, Louis Vuitton, to create a distribution of size below my waist that creates balance with my jacket and the colours work back to my boots. As for jewelry, a pair of very thin rose gold hoops tie into the colour of my skirt and the leather cording from my south sea pearls necklace bring up the heavier weight and texture from my bag and boots. A La Carte dressing can look effortless when each garment’s sole purpose is to come together in spite of their differences.

*please treat your wardrobe wee. many people worked very hard to get it to you.