Emerald green is so 2013. Say hello to Radiant Orchid, Pantone’s color of the year for 2014.

Those who aren’t familiar with phalaenopsis may wonder: What, exactly, is Radiant Orchid?

In the company’s annual press release, Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, described the pretty purple as “an enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones” that “inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health.”

“While the 2013 color of the year…Emerald, served as a symbol of growth, renewal and prosperity, Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination.”

A dazzling attention-getter, this modern and surprisingly versatile shade permeated the catwalks during the S/S 2014 runway shows and is already finding its way onto the red carpet.

As a blend of both cool and warm undertones, purple is an appealing color for unique combinations. And its rosy undertones is very flattering to a number of hair, eye and skin tones – producing a healthy glow when worn by both men and women.

So spruce up your show outfit this season with this versatile shade! It really pops when combined with a red and also pairs super well with its sister shades of lavender, purple and pink!

My favorite pairings, though, are with olive and deeper hunter greens. And it looks gorgeous when paired with turquoise, teal and even light yellows.

Likewise, the lovely hue livens up neutrals including gray, beige and taupe. Uplifting and bold without being overpowering, Radiant Orchid reenergizes nearly any color palette.

But whether your agree with this Pantone selection or not, the “Color of the Year” is a friendly reminder to the designer in all of us to be conscious of our use of colors, as colors have inherently come to be carried with meaningful undertones and the ability to emotionally affect oneself and others.

What do you think of 2014’s new color? Will you be incorporating it in your show look this year?

For rider Anna Redmond there was no turning back after the day her dad put her on a horse for the first time at age 7. “I love how much personality Arabians have. They carry themselves with such grace and are able to excel at everything they do.”

After winning both the Half-Arabian and Arabian Western Pleasure 14-18 Championships at Youth Nationals this past year with CJ Psyncinati Kid and Cowgirl Cool, and tying for Champion with her Purebred English horse, Calapalooza V, Anna has been nominated for the Arabian Horse Times Readers Choice Award’s Youth Exhibitor of the Year.

Learn more about this phenomenal Show Season rider –

Show Season: Describe your riding fashion style.
Anna Redmond: The process of designing an outfit that goes well with my horses is half the fun of showing! I like outfits that are memorable or stand out in the show ring. My hunter coats have all been quiet and subtle whereas I usually want something very bold for western that contrasts with my horse and the arena setting. Sparkly, bright outfits always catch my attention.

SS: What is your favorite head-to-toe riding outfit?
AR: My favorite riding outfit is my hunter outfit because it holds a lot of my favorite memories. It’s also so comfortable! I could stay in it all day.

SS: Do you wear anything for good luck in the show ring?
AR: I used to wear an owl lapel pin for luck with my country horse, Tommy, but he recently retired, so I don’t use it anymore.

SS: What is one thing you never go in the ring without?
AR: I always go into the show ring with my Kharben bracelet. He’s my favorite pet horse, and he doesn’t get to attend most of my shows. It’s a reminder that he’s with me no matter where I am.

SS: How would you describe your non-horse show style?
AR: My non-horse show style is very casual. I still love bright colors, but I definitely keep the blingy stuff at shows.

SS: What has been your biggest accomplishment as a rider?
AR: My biggest accomplishment as a rider was being named Rider of Excellence for the year. I couldn’t have gotten there without the help of my horses, and the group effort makes it special to me.

SS: What are your riding goals for the future?
AR: There is one class that I’ve always dreamed of doing well in at nationals. One of my old favorite horses never made the cut, but I have a new teammate now. The bridge from me to him has been the hardest one to cross, so if we ever got that far one day, it would mean the world to me.

SS: Who has been the most influential in your riding career?
AR: My parents have been very influential in my riding career, as well as Chris Culbreth, Greg Harris, Brett Becker, Shannon Beethe, and Cynthia Burkman. Chris gave me my foundation and love for horses, Greg pushed me to go further than I thought I could go, Shannon helped me find two of my favorite horses, Cynthia helped me achieve what I thought was impossible with one of my horses, and that one win really altered the way I look at horses today.

As the largest visual element in your western show outfit, its always fun and important to take the time to make your western show chaps uniquely yours with details like the fabric, trim and fit.

Women’s show chaps today are almost exclusively made from ultra suede, which comes in a myriad of colors, is washable (without the trim) and molds to the body better than hides.

Men, on the other hand (as well as reiners and cutters), use hide chaps – suede side out. Men’s chaps also employ tooled yokes with various patterns and stains for the yokes.

After determining the fabric of your chaps you can move onto trims. Ladies almost always frost their chaps in some form with rhinestones, crystals and metallic leather for eye-catching dazzle in the ring. Most want to match the yoke design, color and leathers of the shirt or jacket. Overall, though, each design is created to enhance different rider’s body types.

Although everyone has their own preferences, here are a few pointers:

– Silver draws attention. Put it where you want onlookers eyes to travel – for example, a single concho in the small of your back – and avoid putting it where you might want to minimize movement – such as on your heels if your horse requires a lot of leg aids.

– Silver shows best on dark colors, creating a dramatic contrast.

– Silver requires care. Be sure to remove silver from your chaps before cleaning so you don’t transfer tarnish or silver polish onto the chaps.

Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, so strive to create a winning look/impression the moment you trot into the ring!

FASHION ALERT!!

Pantone – the global color authority – has named “Radiant Orchid” the Color of the Year for 2014!!

An “enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones,” Radiant Orchid is described by the Pantone Color Institute as “a captivating, magical, enigmatic purple” whose “rosy undertones radiate on the skin, producing a healthy glow when worn by both men and women.”

Translate this dazzling attention-getting hue from the runways and red carpet to your show outfit this season!

For those who were there, a definite highlight of the 2013 US Nationals has to have been when Amateur rider, Jessica Medved, went against the professionals and won in the Open Half Arabian Park with SA Sophisticated Lady (not to mention their win together in the AAOTR Park as well).

But her horseback riding journey began long before her partnership with Sophisticated Lady – throwing her leg over her first horse at the age of 6. “My sister, Ariel, is the one who really wanted to learn how to ride, and once she started taking lessons I soon began riding as well. What got me really excited to started showing was picking out my very first show outfit, which was a sparkly pink western outfit.”

Show Season: Describe your riding fashion style.
Jessica Medved: I like tone on tone materials for the actual suit, and a little pop of color for vest.

SS: What is your favorite head-to-toe riding outfit?
JM: My favorite outfit is my Show Season Blue paisley tux! The shirt, bow tie and vest are a cream rosette pattern with little pearl buttons on the shirt. I love this outfit because it looks very classy, but still has some subtle yet fun patterns!

SS: Do you wear anything for good luck in the show ring?
JM: I use to have a lucky frog lapel pin but I recently lost it.

SS: What is one thing you never go in the ring without?
JM: When I am riding Sophisticated Lady I never forget my spurs! In general, I try to always remember to wear lipstick in the ring.

SS: How would you describe your non-horse show style?
JM: My non-horse style would be simple for the most part. I like classy and simple pieces.

SS: What has been your biggest accomplishment as a rider?
JM: My biggest accomplishment as a rider would be this year winning the Open Half Arabian park as an Amateur rider!

SS: What are your riding goals for the future?
JM: For the future my goals would be to ride and show some of the horses that my family has bred. Being in school I have also not been able to go to as many shows, so another goal would be to make it to more horse shows this year!

SS: Who has been the most influential in your riding career?
JM: A few people have been influential. Shannon Beethe is the one who taught me how to ride when I was six years old. I have also learned a lot about riding English horses from Jim Stachowski.

One of the most recognized traditions of the hunter riding discipline is the dress…dress that has become deeply rooted in tradition, having survived for over 200 years now.

This attire, while traditional, evolved from fashion to practicality: coats were nearly waterproof, tight fitting britches were worn to protect riders from getting tangled up in branches, and tall boots were fashioned to shelter riders’ legs from scrapes. The stock tie (traditionally fastened with a plain gold safety pin), too, was designed to double as a bandage for rider, horse or hound in case of emergency.

Have you ever wondered, though, who designed the first hunt coat? Or what the origin of the riding jacket is? Well, the short answer is no one knows for sure. But what can be said for sure is that the coats worn in the hunter discipline evolved from the jackets worn by fox hunters. And we can also be reasonably sure that the hunt coat was born in England in the late 1600’s and began to become commonly worn in the early 1700’s.

Early EARLY History –
From Ornamentation to Minimalism

From 1750–1795, fashion in European and European-influenced countries reached a height of fantasy and ornamentation in their dress. However, a long-festering movement toward minimalism and democratization of dress under the influence of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the American Revolution led to the triumph of British tailoring and an entirely new mode of dress following the French Revolution.

1750’s Riding Jacket

1760’s Riding Jackets

By the late 1790s, as fashion became more and more minimalistic and simplified, the traditional hunt outfit was made up of a tailored men’s coat inspired jacket, a high-necked shirt, a waistcoat, a petticoat, and a hat. Later on, the hunt jacket and waistcoat were even simplified into one (creating a false waistcoat-front), as well as a simpler riding jacket and petticoat (without waistcoat) could also be worn.

1790s Riding Jacket

These coats could be seen in a wide range of colors. If the coat was worn primarily for riding or hunting, it was typically red, navy, or green. On the other hand, coats designed for more fashionable wear were also seen in other colors, such as blue, brown, beige, yellow and white. Fabrics were typically wool or a wool/silk blend. 

1920’s Riding Jacket

Modern Riding Coats

So how does this translate in modern equestrian dress?

Classic attire for hunter classes consists of beige, tan or gray breeches, a white or light pastel shirt, and a black, navy, gray, “hunter” green or dark brown hunt coat.

In recent years, patterns such as pinstripes, plaids or herringbone are growing in popularity, as riders strive to honor traditions, yet to stand out in the show arena.

Show Season Riding Jackets