A Leg Up.

Stella McCartney designer this in honour of her favourite sport.

Maybe it’s the tight pants, maybe it’s the snap of a crop, or maybe it’s the smell of all that leather. Whatever it is, there’s something inherently sexy about horseback riding, and designers know it.

They’ve been taking their cloth-cutting cues from the equestrian world for ages (Hermès began as a horse harness workshop, don’t you know), reworking that show jumping uniform of jodhpurs, jacket and boots to be more suitable for trotting around outside the stables.

Unless you’re competing at Spruce Meadows, limit your haute-horse items to two per outfit – a pair of paneled leggings and tall boots, for example – not a head-to-tail ensemble.

Wool uniform dressing cap, $19.99, Winners.

Velvet blazer, $89.50, Esprit.

Oxford shirt, $29.50, Old Navy.

Tamma belt, $145, Brave Leather (www.braveleather.com).

Riding pants, $79.90, Jacob.

Riding rain boots, $98, Banana Republic.

Leather strap watch, $49.99, Winners.

 
Originally published in The Toronto Star (thestar.com), January 11, 2011. Written by me.