Ask the Fashion Pro – April 2020

Posted on by Wendy Brown

Ask the Fashion Pro

April 2020

 Q:  Hi, Wendy.  When buying consignment, what are your tips to ensure you get good quality and condition?

Name and Market Value

Face it – the designers who have made a name and stayed in the business over a long period of time have done so for a reason.  Their quality and pricing is based on their skill, originality, quality, time and cost invested into a piece.  Designers like Silver Lining, Diane Olsen, Paula Diuri, Lindsey James, and more have earned their place in horse show clothing history over time for their reputation, customer service and superior workmanship.

But savvy horse show exhibitors who are considering consignment should also pay close attention to the resale value of similar pieces, watching the market regularly.  If a particular line always trends toward low resale, that speaks volumes about the quality, comfort and desirability of the piece over time.

In the same way, consignments that hold value are still priced as the true investment they are.  The phrase “you get what you pay for” isn’t always true.  Styles, trends and circumstances change. There are no guarantees as to what a piece may sell for down the road. There will always be motivated consignors who simply want to get a quality piece moved at a low price so they can pay a vet bill, have gone to college or other life circumstance, so monitoring the typical trends of show clothing over time helps you get a proper grasp of which pieces are holding value due to excellence.

The Garment Itself

Once you’re ready to examine show clothing in person, ask yourself the workmanship is like.  Even if you’re not a seamstress, you can start to recognize the care and time that has been invested into a piece of clothing.

It doesn’t mean simple thread pulls or missing crystals don’t happen, and having to make simple repairs like reattaching embellishment or patching a seam is common and shouldn’t steer you away.  What we put our clothing through simply from getting up and down from horses adds up.

Instead, look for the overall attention to how it was made.  For example, did the seamstress trim the threads once finished, does the thread color match, was care taken when sewing each area, and did he/she leave allowance in the seams for future alterations?  Are the zippers quality and do they zip and unzip well? It’s not a dealbreaker as zippers can wear out due to the nature of what is expected of our show clothing, but it’s easy to identify a quality zipper compared to the cheapest that can be found.

How does the clothing lay on the mannequin?  A quality garment will drape more easily and adjust to being tried on more easily, if that makes sense.  Struggling to make it even or straight is often an indicator of poor workmanship or simply poor care of the garment.

Ask the Fashion Pro – March 2020

Posted on by Wendy Brown

Ask the Fashion Pro

March 2020 

Q:  Hi, Wendy.  I know Hunt Seat attire is pretty classic, but are there any trends you are seeing for 2020?

 Show Me Again is no stranger to hunt seat attire, and we’ve successfully partnered with Boo Yah Custom Clothing since 2018 to represent the tasteful hunt shirts and hunt coats they offer at a competitive price!

We agree that it’s always safe to dress in classic hunt seat attire, and colors like navy and black never go out of style.  What we love are the ring-appropriate variations Boo Yah is making to those colors, offering conservative options as well as choices that appeal to those who like to show a bit more vividly!  They also offer subtle accents that result in a luxurious feel for the exhibitor while maintaining an appropriate ring presence.

We’ve consulted with our favorite Boo Yah expert, Elizabeth “Spike” Brewer, to get her input on upcoming trends and what you can expect to see in Show Me Again and Boo Yah inventory.

“The trends for the HUS remain similar to last year with shades of blue and navy coats still being highly sought after, coat fabrics in unique patterns with the velvet, piping accents and covered buttons are still in demand. Shades of gray also are trending and gaining popularity,” she explains.

Brewer says that the trend is expanding to classic twists of the black and navy coats, adding a unique pattern, for example, such as a stripe or check, but still maintaining a classic look acceptable in any arena.  “Also, some folks will add the accents such as velvet, and/or piping and covered or fancy buttons to jazz up a more classic coat. Adding the subtle patterns and textures to classic colors is an easy way to be different but still classy, just with a little twist!” she reveals.

Watch for new black and navy coat fabrics with subtle textures from Boo Yah in 2020, and you can visit showmeagain.com to view our in-stock coats and shirts.  Order now at showmeagain.com and take advantage of our 7-day trial period, or visit us in person for a complete line of Boo Yah Custom Clothing at upcoming shows like Silver Dollar Circuit at South Point, Sun Country Circuit at WestWorld, AQHA Level One Championships at South Point, APHA Zone 2 Show at South Point, or Pinto World Championships in Tulsa!

Ask the Fashion Pro – February 2020

Posted on by Wendy Brown

Ask the Fashion Pro

February 2020

Color Breed Issue

 

Q:  Wendy, I ride a loud colored paint – How do you choose an outfit for a horse of a different color that compliments instead of clashes with his flashiness?

 

A:  That’s a great question!  It’s one we are often asked, and there’s not an abundance of advice online about it.  An experienced show clothing consultant can easily help you with more than one option, but don’t be surprised if she asks to see a photo of your horse!  As with any horse, it helps to know the undertones of the base coat color, and to see how much white is visible.

Work with Coat Color

Although jewel tones are typically recommended for loudly-colored horses (and this advice is solid – colors such as blue, green, turquoise, teal, etc. are complementary to most any horse), don’t be afraid to utilize the base color of your horse to find complementary clothing.  For example, one of our recent customers had a very loud frame overo horse, so most of the mare’s sorrel color existed only on the legs, back, and face, and tail.  Instead of focusing on the large amount of white on her sides, we worked with the customer to choose rust and copper-embellished clothing that drew attention to the beautiful, coppery sorrel tones of the horse.  It resulted in drawing the coppery color of the horse to the eye, particularly for showmanship!  Utilizing the horse’s coat color is a powerful method of color coordination.

Using Jewel Tones

As mentioned above, jewel tones like sapphire blue and emerald green are excellent choices for horses with coat patterns.  Just as you would for any horse, you’ll want to consider the coat base color and the amount of white, in addition to choosing a color that you like and feel good wearing.  Remember that adding color doesn’t have to mean head to toe; embellishments with color on a neutral base is always a good idea.

One of our favorite methods for determining if a color or garment complements a horse is by draping – either a large swatch of the color or the garment itself – on the horse and viewing them together at the distance a judge would see it.

What About the White?

Often customers are concerned pairing white clothing or accents with a loud horse.  White is used extensively in show clothing because it’s not only a neutral base, but it’s noticeable and bright in a good way in the show pen, and the rider isn’t going to be in black from head to toe like many of her competitors.  White can work for you even if your horse has an abundance of white – it just depends on where the white is, and how much you decide to use.  It’s definitely not a big no-no, so don’t rule it out until you try it.  Drape it with something clean between the garment and your horse, try it on while you’re in the saddle, or hold a photo of the garment you like on top of a photo of your horse.  You might be surprised that the white on your horse actually is enhanced by the white in your garment, and you can catch the judge’s eye in a positive manner.  We’ve seen it paired very successfully many, many times.

Making it Easy

Draping a garment you like on your horse, or trying it on by your horse is easy with Show Me Again’s Try It Before You Buy policy!  Our Try Before You Buy policy enables you to order with a credit card on authorization only, by phone or online, and you have 7 days to decide. If you need to return, your final cost is shipping only, and we include a return shipping label.

We also make your search for the right color simple by offering a state-of-the-art website that allows you to search by color, and of course, budget, size, designer, and more.  Shop the finest selection of pre-owned and brand new designer horse show clothing and find the right color for your horse, risk-free at showmeagain.com.

 

 

Ask The Fashion Pro October 2019

Posted on by Wendy Brown

October 2019

Click to read in Show Horse Today:  Ask The Fashion Pro

As we approach the Fall 2019 Majors, staying on trend is easier and more flattering than ever.  Read on for tips to update your show wardrobe with Wendy Brown of Show Me Again, Four-Time Winner of Best Show Clothing Consignment Store Gold Award!

Show Your Stripes

To begin:  Stripes, stripes, and more stripes!  It’s no secret the horse industry always follows suit with runway fashion, and prints are in – especially stripes.  Update your look easily by adding a budget-friendly striped, zip-front shirt.  Show Me Again has an incredible selection of Platinum Show Apparel striped shirts in comfortable wrinkle-resistant, breathable Lycra fabric, with straight stripes, pin stripes, flattering v-stripe options, and more. Already have striped zip-front shirt?  Wear it alone, or pair it with a vest or bolero to add a whole new dimension.

Shine On

Satin shirts have become a cool, comfortable way to display a luxurious look without the weight!  Exhibitors can’t get enough of them.  Show Me Again has taken satin shirts to a whole new level with stretch and embellishment, princess seams, zippered sleeves, plus a hidden zipper behind a faux button placket.  Available as ready-to-wear or with further customization.

Right on Retro

Retro hints within modern cuts and fabrics are on-point as we move into the fall and winter show seasons.  From buck stitch to piping, retro is always a welcome, subtle addition.  Touches like piping, hidden zippers, princess seams, shoulder pads, and crystal buttons enhance our renowned Platinum Lycra fitted shirts to offer fitted, tailored, and affordable retro looks in many colors and piping options.  The best part:  No more wrinkled sleeves from bending your elbow and the fabric has a beautiful slight sheen for the show pen.

On the Fringe

Designers are creating more ways for exhibitors to enjoy fringe, ranging from airbrushed and crystalled fringe to beaded fringe and much more.  Fringe can be a wonderful way to camouflage and enhance in the right places, too.

But wait – there’s more. Designers have now gifted us with the best characteristics of fringe possible: Velcro or snaps.   Detachable fringe offers a super-smart approach to get more bang for your buck and make one outfit work for multiple events without sacrificing style. Western riding or trail on the agenda today?  Wear the fringe.  Getting ready to go from western pleasure to horsemanship in the same afternoon?  Detach the fringe after your pleasure class.  Show clothes with fringe that catch your eye are worth closer investigation as they just might offer the best of both worlds.

Balancing Act

Symmetry matters in today’s show fashion, and it has no signs of slowing down.  Matching proportion on each side in a symmetrical design of a jacket or outfit creates balance in the look of the rider or in-hand exhibitor.  In addition, a symmetrical design can provide a flattering look by drawing the eye upward, or diffusing body areas of concern.  Whether using feminine shapes or geometric design, keeping balance is always in style.

Visit www.showmeagain.com to explore the huge selection of choices for updating your show clothing wardrobe for an exciting fall show season!

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