Whether we are aware of it or not, how we look impacts the way we feel.
How many times have you purchased a new outfit and, as a result, physically felt a shift in your demeanor?
But what is it that motivates us to wear what we wear (whether in the real world or show arena)?
It may be that we dress to a theme that evokes a mood, or that we choose to wear something that stimulates a certain confidence within us, or that we – for no definable reason at all – simply fall in love with a particular piece of fabric or clothing.
With that in mind, I wanted to find out what it is that specifically inspires riders when they create their Show Season show look. What makes their favorite outfit their favorite?!
Find out what they had to say –
“I absolutely love all my Show Season outfits, if I had to choose a favorite though it would be my black and brown western pleasure outfit I wore my first time winning at US in 2009. That year is a very memorable one for me, making that outfit one of my most special.”
-Nicole Pitassi
“When I got my first fancy western horse I was lucky enough to get an outfit from Show Season to go with the new horse. Melissa’s expert touch allowed us to craft an outfit complete with tooling leather, beads, horse hair braiding and tons of wow power. The outfit proved to be good luck as it has ridden to multiple national titles and has been copied by numerous other designers over the years since I wore it that first time.”
– Brianna York
“I buy all my show clothes from Show Season. After purchasing my first and favorite hunt coat from them, I have developed a slight hunt coat obsession. Patti and Melissa do a fabulous job and I always feel beautifully put together when I enter the show ring.”
-Peri Wilson
“My most recent Show Season saddle seat suit is by far my most favorite suit I’ve ever owned. The beautiful fabric and superior tailoring creates the clean, sophisticated image I strive for. Wearing such an elegant suit gives me the edge in the show ring at any level of competition. “
–Christy Higman Clements
“My favorite suit is my black one made by Show Season the year we bought Adams Fire. It has a beautiful shiny black finish, and I wore it with a white beaded vest on Adam and was never defeated. Now it has become my “lucky suit” with his sister Eves Fire and I am afraid to change to any other suit on her!”
– Lori Lawrence
“My dear friend Patti of Show Seasons, daughter Leah Miller, and trainers Jamie Smith and Cheryl Fletcher picked out the fabric for my wonderful hunt coat, and favorite shirt. The shirt has a special “M” initial on it for “Mother” – a nickname very and dear to me. Plus it is perfect for my horse! We are styling in the hunt ring for sure!”
-Sue Rainwater
“My favorite Show Season outfit is definitely my western outfit from this year! Why? Because it has cheetah in it!!!! Melissa and I named it my sassy out fit!!”
-Allie Cederberg
“My favorite Show Season suit is my black one. Fits great, it’s classic and I feel really put together. It’s all about being a complete package when I hit the ring!!”
-Leslie Doran Sommer
“My favorite Show Season piece is my sequin saddle seat vest. My vest makes me feel confident that I can stand out from my competitors, especially in large country pleasure classes. My horse is named Lynard Skynard, so naturally, my sequin vest also pays homage to the “rockstar” style.”
-Devin Lally
“The outfit that I won my first National Championship in will always have a special place in my heart. The horse I won with has been my favorite horse since I first got him and the win was so unexpected and amazing, so the outfit has that same feeling and memories attached to it.“
-Holland Stevens
“I just ordered a day coat from Show Seasons. It’s not a color you’d typically see in the Arabian circuit, so I’m really excited to wear an outfit that stands out in the show ring.”
-Anna Redmond
“It’s hard to pick a favorite suit because so many of them hold such special memories, but I think I’d have to choose the dark brown suit I wore on Prince James last year. The sheen and texture of the fabric (it almost looks like leather!) are so unique that I was able to have a very classy, understated, shirt and vest. I love the contrasting combination!”
-Nicci Waldschmidt
“My favorite Show Season outfit is a black English suit I bought a few years ago. My mother has always been somewhat of my “wardrobe manager” when it comes to suits, and this was the first suit I bought on my own.
Like every other show season delivery, when I opened the package, I was excited by the little “surprises” Melissa chose, such as ties and liners, and impressed by how well she knew my style. Suits are not only a financial investment, but an investment in your future success in the show ring. Therefore, it’s important to trust who makes them. I trust Show Season because they put an incredible amount of time into understanding your needs and overseeing the production of your pieces until you’re not just satisfied, but thrilled.
Just as an added bonus, I recently purchased a new hunt coat from Show Season, and Melissa, remembering how much I loved the paisley liner in the black English suit, but a similar one in the hunt coat. Once again, Show Season is like the perfect boyfriend that sends you roses on days that would otherwise just be ordinary.”
-Maura Lally
“My favorite suit right now is a shiny navy blue suit. It fits me better than any other suit and is so comfortable. I also love that it’s relatively plain so I can wear almost any color tie/vest combination with it. It makes it very fun to get dressed.”
-Amanda Purdin Standish
“My favorite Show Season suit is my purple/burgundy saddle seat suit with the sparkle gold vest and bling around the collar. I like it because it makes the male type outfits more feminine and it stands out more than the standard navy blue.”
-Kayli Fortun
“There is nothing like putting on a beautiful outfit from Show Season to make me feel ready to show. I love all of the perfect attention to detail they put into every outfit. I guess the most superstitious outfit for me would be the amateur Park formal that I only get to wear once a year in October. Just getting it out of the closet is enough to put butterflies in my stomach. As much as I love all of the new things I see every year, I just cannot bring myself to change that one outfit!! I have been wearing that outfit for some of the best moments in my life and I will treasure those memories forever.”
-Cathy Schaming Vecsey
“My favorite Show Season outfit is my park outfit that they made for me about two years ago. It was my first park outfit and it was made out of the new metallic/shiny material. The steel grey that Melissa picked out is beautiful…it is a great match with Deven’s color and my skin tone. The bling vest and buttons on the shirt are amazing. I feel great when I put that outfit on. Every time I wear it someone compliments me on it.”
-Michelle Pease Paulsen
“It’s hard to pick a favorite out of my Show Season suits – however, I do love my black suit. I can wear it so many ways with my various shirts, vests, and ties, making it seem like a different suit every time I ride. It’s such a staple and can be dressed up or down depending on which division, what horse, and when I’m showing. (I also wore it when I won my first National Championship, so I can’t help but smile when I put it on!)”
-Colleen Boylan Cooper
So what makes your favorite look your favorite? Tell us!
