One of my favorite ways to accessories my show outfit is with a tie. But if you’re anything like me, every time I open my garment bag only to discover my tie hanging undone, I am left in a frantic situation where I have to scramble to find my dad or the closest person around who can tie it for me.

Therefore, I decided it was time for me to finally take on the task of learning how to tie my own tie in prevention of these frenzied situations.

So, no matter if you have never been taught how to tie a tie properly, are a little rusty, or just want a fresh trick or two to upgrade your style, get ready to get out your sharpest looking tie and a mirror. With some patience and practice you, too, can learn how to tie a fabulous tie.

Below, I have listed four of the most popular techniques, starting with the easiest. Try them all and decide which one suits you best.

1) The Four-in-Hand

The Four-in-Hand Knot makes for a narrow, discreet and slightly asymmetrical tie knot. While this knot can be worn on anyone, it looks especially well on those with shorter necks, as the knot’s shape has a bit of a slimming effect.

To tie the Four-in-Hand Knot, simply follow these steps:

1)   To start, the wide end of your tie should be hanging on the side of your dominant hand. If you are right handed, begin by putting the wide end (“W”) of your tie on the right, extending about 12 inches below the Narrow end (“N”) on the left. If you are left-handed, the wider end should be hanging on your left side.

 

 

2)   Cross the wide end over the narrow end.

 

 

 

3)   Turn the wide end back underneath the narrow end.

 

 

 

4)   Continue by bringing the wide end back over in front of the narrow end again.

 

 

 

5)   Next, pull the wide end up and through the loop around your neck.

 

 

 

6)   Hold the front of the knot loosely with your index finger and bring the wide end down through the front loop.

 

 

 

7)   Finally, remove your finger and tighten the knot to the collar by holding the narrow end and sliding the knot up.

 

 

It’s as simple as that!

2) The Half-Windsor

The Half-Windsor Knot is a good alternative to the Four-In-Hand method. The knot is bigger, symmetrical and triangular, and is considered to offer a more upscale look than the Four In Hand. It works best with somewhat wider neckties made from light to medium fabrics.

Here’s how to tie it:

1)   To start, (as with the Four In Hand) the wide end of your tie should be hanging on the side of your dominant hand. If you are right handed, begin by putting the wide end (“W”) of your tie on the right, extending about 12 inches below the Narrow end (“N”) on the left. If you are left-handed, the wider end should be hanging on your left side.

 

2)   Cross the wide end of the tie over the narrow end.

 

 

 

 

3)   Bring the wide end around and under the narrow end.

 

 

 

 

4)   Next, bring the wide end up.

 

 

 

 

5)   Pull the wide end through the loop and to the right.

 

 

 

 

6)   Bring the wide end around the front, over the narrow end from right to left.

 

 

 

7)   Again, bring the wide end up and through the loop again.

 

 

 

 

8)   After, bring the wide end through the knot in the front.

 

 

 

9)   And – using both hands – tighten the knot, drawing it up to the collar. (You want your knot to look a bit wider than the Four In Hand knot.)

 

 

And there you have it! That is all there is to the Half-Windsor Knot.

 

3) The Windsor-Knot

The Windsor Knot – a thick, wide and triangular tie knot – is a more formal alternative to the Half-Windsor. This tie knot looks especially well on those with longer necks as its wide form shortens the perceived height of the neck a little bit.

Here’s how to do it:

1)   To start, the wide end of your tie should be hanging on the side of your dominant hand. If you are right handed, begin by putting the wide end (“W”) of your tie on the right, extending about 12 inches below the Narrow end (“N”) on the left. If you are left-handed, the wider end should be hanging on your left side.

 

 

2)   Cross the wide end over the narrow end.

 

 

 

 

3)   Bring the wide end up through the loop between the collar and your tie.

 

 

 

 

4)   Then bring the wide end back down.

 

 

 

 

5)   Pull the wide end underneath the narrow end and to the right, back through the loop and to the right again so that the wide end is inside out.

 

 

 

6)   Bring the wide end across the front from right to left.

 

 

 

 

7)   Pull the wide end up through the loop again.

 

 

 

 

8)   Bring the wide end down through the knot in the front.

 

 

 

 

9)   Finally – using both ends – tighten the knot carefully and draw it up to the collar.

 

 

 

With a bit of practice you will be laughing at how easy it is.

4) The Pratt-Shelby Knot

The Pratt Knot (also known as the Shelby Knot) is fairly wide, but not as wide as the Windsor Knot. It is best suited for somewhat wider ties that are made out of light to medium fabrics.

To tie it, follow these steps:

1)   Start with the necktie inside out. As always, the wide end of your tie should be hanging on the side of your dominant hand. If you are right handed, begin by putting the wide end (“W”) of your tie on the right, extending about 12 inches below the Narrow end (“N”) on the left. If you are left-handed, the wider end should be hanging on your left side.

 

 

2)   Cross the wide end under the narrow end.

 

 

 

 

3)   Take the wide end over and under the narrow end.

 

 

 

 

4)   Pull the loop down and tighten.

 

 

 

 

5)   After, take the wide end over to the right.

 

 

 

 

6)   Pull the wide end up, behind the loop.

 

 

 

 

7)   Finally, bring the wide end through the knot and tighten gently.

 

 

 

Voilá! The Pratt Knot.

TO MAKE A DIMPLE:

It is always important to me that my tie has a dimple. Such a simple detail can add both sophistication and depth to your show outfit.

Start by choosing the right tie. Some ties are easier to dimple than others. The best and easiest to dimple are ones made from coarser fabrics such as fine ribbed textured silk. The coarser fabric helps to create more friction, preventing the dimple from loosing its shape.

The perfect dimple is made before you tighten the knot. To create it, start by placing your index finger in the fabric directly under the knot while gently squeezing the sides of the fabric as you tighten the knot by pulling down on the wide end of the tie. The dimple should be centered in the middle of your knot.

 

Some seasons, makeup worn on the runway is more wacky than wearable. But that isn’t the case this fall season. Over-the-top looks were set aside in favor of more classical looks that were revamped with a modern spin.

Cat-eye liner was flirty and colorful at the runways of designers like Michael Kors, Monique Lhullier and Jason Wu. Lips were high-impact and ultra-matte. On the eyes, makeup artists applied an array of surprising colors in classic ways: Grunge smoky eyes at Phillip Lim, sculpted orangey shadow at BCBC, and a diffuse wash of prune at Nanette Leopore.

So give your beauty regimen a haute upgrade. Here’s a first look at the runway makeup trends you are bound to fall for, and perfect for incorporating into your show arena look –

Bold Feliner

There is no wrong way to wear black liner this fall.

For the classic ‘60s version, look to Monique Lhullier, Kenzo and Anna Sui,where CoverGirl makeup artist Pat McGrath took the time-honored cat eye for a serious joyride. Using a black pencil, she lined the eyes along  the upper lashes, flicking the eyeliner up at the corners. She then dotted chunks of the same liner along the lower lashes for an avant-garde edge. Although this makeup is perhaps a bit too extreme for the show arena, it is still fun inspiration to pull from to create more reserved looks.

Another twist on the traditional cat eye was seen on models at Christian Dior and Jason Wu, where makeup artists applied splashes of color, turning to icy blue and violet, respectively.

If you are bold enough to take up the cat eye trend in the show arena, start by rimming your lash lines with a pencil or an angled liner brush/cream or gel liner formula (such as [my favorite] Stilla’s smudge pot gel eyeliner). Then add a dark shadow, blending it upward for a dramatic look, and apply mascara. For less intensity, use a pencil on your lower lash lines only. Finish off your look with a discreet rosy lip color and keep the rest of your complexion neutral.

Matte Mouth

For fall, if it was bright, it was matte.

At shows like Diane Von Furstenberg’s models were sent down the runway with matte lips in this pretty pink hue. To achieve this vibrant look, line your lips with a matte, magenta pencil – somewhat overdrawing the middle to highlight your mouths natural shape. Let your pretty lips be the focus by keeping eye makeup to a few swipes of mascara.

Wine-Stained Pouts

Want a lip look that is a little less sweet and a lot more edgy? Try out the fall season’s dark and romantic lips in wine-shades like black cherry, mulberry and plum.

The easiest way to pull it off? Apply the color straight from the tube, blot, reapply, and blot again. You want the color to look a bit diffused (look for the latest backstage pictures from Louis Vuitton, Anthony Vaccarello and Zac Posen [all pictured above] as a reference). As for the rest of your makeup, keep it to a minimum.

Smoky Eyes

Coffee- and indigo-colored shadows update the smoky eye, which takes its inspiration from gothic and grunge 90s makeup. Embraced in the collections of designers such as Donna Karan and Roberto Cavalli, the focus here is on a smudged, sophisticated look.

To create it yourself, trace your inner lash lines in a rich brown pencil, then use a fluffy, medium-sized brush to blend a brown shadow from your lashes up to your crease. If you are using a cream shadow, apply it to your lids and use what is left on your finger to blend it outwards.

Yet again, keep in mind that makeup is about balance. When the eyes make a statement, the lips should be more reserved. And it is the juxtaposition between the rough, edgy eye makeup and the polished, flawless skin that will make this trend look so gorgeous in the arena.

Orangey Shadow 

Earthy tones like pumpkin and brass colored eye shadow were a hit on the fall runways, giving a warming effect to model’s gazes.

This look was gorgeously done by both BCBG and Prabal Gurung, who used a reddish brown shadow as a neutral to sculpt and shade around models eyes, while at J. Mendel, makeup artist Gucci Westman blended a glossy coppery shadow just past the crease, creating a look that was both effortless and luxurious.

Prune Eyes

If spring was all about green and blue, fall is all about purple. A deep, brownish purple, to be precise.

On the runway the color was applied in simple and nearly translucent looks like at Nanette Lepore, more intensely as layers built at Giles and Gucci, and even nearly opaque at designers like Oscar de la Renta – a look which felt both urban and sophisticated.

Play around with the level of color to find what you think looks best on you and with your show suit.

Matte Skin

The fundamental foil to fall’s strong lips and eyes? Skin with minimal shine (which is perfect for the show arena, as when using foundations and powders with too much shimmer you are also risking looking oily or washed out in photos).

To pull off the matte skin effect, prep skin with a non-greasy gel moisturizer, then apply foundation using a flat makeup brush for perfect, streak-free coverage. Dab concealer on any blemishes or redness around the eyes, nose, and cheeks, dust a loose powder all over to set the look and get rid of shine and BAM! Gorgeous, flawless skin.

There you have them! The fall seasons hottest makeup trends, perfect to incorporate into your show ring look. At last, runway makeup for the rest of us.

 

For me, the end of Youth Nationals signifies the realization and excited anticipation that U.S. Nationals is just around the corner.

This means to get out to the barn for practice, practice and more practice so that I am at my best and ready for Nationals.

And while it’s important not to wait until the last minute to polish up on your riding, it is just as important to not wait until the last minute to make sure your show clothes are just as polished and ready as you and your horse.

With Nationals only a couple months away NOW is that time! Ask yourself, is your outfit clean and in good condition? Does it fit properly? Do the colors compliment you and your horse? Is the style and are the colors current with fashion and with what’s being worn in the show arena?

If your outfit passes all these tests, then you have a good one, but garments that are too big, small or just fit poorly, can make you appear careless, messy and/or inexperienced. By obscuring the lines of your body, these garments can also make you look like you have poor riding posture. This is why you should be trying on your show outfits now to make sure they still fit how they should.

Bottom line: You always want to make your clothing work for you. An outfit that is the right fit, style and colors is able to highlight your best qualities and work to conceal those that are weaker.

Outside of making sure your current outfit(s) fits how it should, if it doesn’t look as sharp or distinctive as you would like, try to determine why that is. Minor issues such as a baggy shirt or a pair of jods are able to be resolved with a simple visit to Show Season.

Issues such as a show outfit that combines too many colors, or colors that don’t really look great together (which can cause an outfit to take on a tacky quality) can also be resolved. By removing or replacing a color you can significantly improve the outfit and even give it a whole new look and feel. On the other hand, if you are not able to determine the issue, the entire outfit might need replacing.

Even if there is nothing “wrong” with your outfit, sometimes it is fun to change the color of your shirt or vest to give it a fresh new vibe. Or you could even pick out a different color pair of jods and go for a day coat look!

When picking out new colors for a fresh look it’s always important to do so with lots of care and consideration, as the color can have a large impact on the overall look and impression of you and your horse. (Your horse can’t look sleek and well turned out if you don’t!)

The colors you chose can also enhance or dull the colors in your horse’s coat, as well as reinforce a harmonious look between the two of you. On the contrary, poorly chosen colors make it look like you are just sitting there on top of your horse, rather than being in tune with them. And depending on your color choices, they can make you appear more pale or tan, fat or slim, and bold or conservative.

If you are planning on getting a new vest, shirt, tie, chaps, or totally new suit for Nationals, then it’s a great idea to look ahead to fall fashion color report from authorities on color like Pantone.

According to Pantone, as the colder months set in, the in-trend greens from spring evolve and develop. Versatile Emerald continues to shine and captivate, adding richness and sophistication to the fall color spectrum, while yellow-tined Linden Green adds a lightness and brightness to darker colors of the season. Try wearing both these hues with Mykonos Blue – a bold, radiant blue – for a timeless fall look.

Mysterious Acai adds luxuriousness and exoticism to the palette, and is able to be paired with the other fall shades to create a multitude of strong looks. Wear this chic hue of purple with Emerald for a very regal look, or with energetic Samba Red for a dramatic and striking show outfit.

Koi – a decorative orange – and Vivacious – an energetic deep fuchsia – are fabulous statement colors that serve as perfect pick-me-ups for your show suit. I especially like Vivacious. Consider pairing it with lush Deep Lichen Green for a dynamic juxtaposition that encapsulates both ends of the seasonal palette.

Rounding out fall’s pillar colors, Turbulence – a dark, mercurial gray – and Carafe – a warm, glamorous brown – offer more interesting and posh options to the black basics typically worn in the colder months (and in the show arena). Both staple neutrals pair elegantly with the more statement colors of the season, like Samba, Koi and Vivacious.

In this way, just as the leaves change in autumn, we can enjoy the ability to change our ‘look.’ What’s important is to be tasteful and tidy. Don’t wait until the last minute when it is already too late. This is the time to check on the fit, update, and make sure your show outfit is the right color combinations for you and your horse!

Last week, as I watched the live video feed of the Lexington Junior League Horse Show, I enjoyed seeing the rainbow of colorful day coats that were worn by all of the riders. Peach, poppy, lilac, mint… each class presented riders on their elegant Saddlebreds wearing lighter (or brighter) coat colors than the last.

When I started showing as a youth I can remember my first show outfits all consisting of day coats and jods. Nevertheless, they were monochromatic and lacked the flamboyancy of the contrasting ones worn by the women in the Saddlehorse arena. But after their popularity in the 80s-90s in the Arabian fashion industry they went “out of style,” and the majority of riders began to solely to wear suits.

Nevertheless, since then, Arabian Saddleseat attire has progressively become more glamorous and fun. Riders began accenting their suits with brighter ties and shirts, as well as incorporating more and more sparkle, and day coats have begun to pop up here and there.

Personally, I think day coats – when styled in the right way – are fashion forward, and I hope we see a resurgence of them in the Arabian industry. How fun would it be to see a new expression of fashion in our show arenas?

Not only do they provide riders another outfit option in addition to their traditional suit, but they open up new doors for riding apparel – offering a multitude of new color and fabric selections and combinations – and they are great for setting yourself apart from the crowd. They can even be combined with formal attire in the Park classes.

Nevertheless, although your horse might look stunning in a showy coat, he has to be ready for the attention before you wear that coat in the arena. Basically, you don’t want to be a bright spot in the ring unless you and your horse are prepared for it, as you want that attention to be favorable.

If you and your horse are both ready, then I say go for it!

Pictured here, Lara Ames has established herself as one of the most daring fashionistas and biggest embracers of this day coat trend. “A few years ago I started wearing day coats again as I felt there was so many solid suits and just wanted to wear something that stood out,” asserts Lara. With that in mind and with the help of Show Season she created a look that stood out while complimenting the color of her horse, A Noble Cause.

Show Season has also fashioned many other amazing day coats using soft paisleys, brocades and plaids, which add color and panache to one’s look.

Or, if you want to embrace the day coat trend but are still a bit skeptical, go for something more conservative. Kara Larson did this beautifully with her shiny cocoa day coat, paired with jods in a complementary color that are minus the shine of the coat.

“I love my day coat,” Kara explained. “It is definitely a fun alternative to a single fabric suit and I feel like it gives a strong impression in the ring without being too loud for a conservative class like country pleasure. As an amateur, I want my suit to add an air of polish to the picture, not distract from the beauty and talent of my horse, so for me, the day coat is a perfect option! And it truly offers endless opportunities to make it your own and find what suits you and your horse best!”

As always, the most important thing is the overall picture. You want to enhance your and your horse’s strong points, as well as the image of you two together. It is the combination of fine appearance, confidence, skill and quality that creates a winning look, and after spending hours of grooming and months of training and practice, it doesn’t make sense to not put just as much thought into your own appearance.