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Thunderbird Show Park // Visual Diary

This past August, we were lucky enough to visit the wildly popular Thunderbird Show Park in British Columbia for just one of their six major Hunter and Jumper tournaments held annually. The popularity of “Tbird” borders on cult following; known for their combination of a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, a gorgeous venue, and quality classes, Tbird’s show rings routinely draw everyone from the local weekend warrior to the seasoned Olympian.

Who: Thunderbird Show Park

What: CSI 3* & WCHR Summer Fort Festival, Aug 24-28, 2015

Where: Langley, British Columbia, Canada.

Claim(s) to fame: Voted 2nd best venue in North America by NARG (North American Rider’s Group), which is a big deal on it’s own, but pretty extra-impressive considering 1st place is held down by Spruce Meadows. Also, they do a pretty killer pancake breakfast. Tell your friends.

Vibe: Chill, yet outgoing. Friendly, but also ambitious. Plenty chic, but west-coasty. Sportsluxe reigns supreme. You can mix your Arcteryx and your Hermes here, and you will have to. It rains. Like woah.

LGCT // Visual Diary

What: The London leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour

Where: Syon Park, London

Why you care: Do you know what beauty is? Have you eyes? Ok, but on a more serious note. Lovely atmosphere, world class talent, riding kind and confident tracks. Very clean and chic. Footing looked fantastic. First rate vendors. Absolutely top Americano at the coffee stand and Pimms available by the jug, which is, of course, our favourite serving size.

KEY ATTENDANCE INFORMATION: See infographic, and then photos below, for more on the biblical curse that is London weather.

Kevin Staut (FR) and Elky van het Indihof HDC.

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (DE) and Comanche 28 — Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum
(DE) and Comanche 28

Edwina Tops-Alexander (AU) and Lintea Tequila

William Whitaker (GB) and Mersley Chakotay

Jane Richard Philips (CH) Pablo de Virton

Athina Onassis de Miranda (GR) and AD Contanga

Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QA) and Viena Olympic

Athina Onassis de Miranda's AD Contanga — Athina Onassis de Miranda’s AD Contanga

Christina Liebherr (CH) and L.B. Eagle Eye — Christina Liebherr (CH)
and L.B. Eagle Eye

Roger-Yves Bost (FR) and Sydney Une Prince

Pénélope Leprevost (FR) and Ratina d'la Rousserie — Pénélope Leprevost (FR) and Ratina d’la Rousserie

Emanuele Bianchi's Isco de Amoranda — Emanuele Bianchi’s Isco de Amoranda

Emanuele Bianchi (IT) and Isco de Amoranda

Mark Armstrong and Nuggets l'Amandour — Mark Armstrong and Nuggets l’Amandour

Bassem Hassan Mohammed (QA) and Eurocommerce California — Bassem Hassan Mohammed
(QA) and Eurocommerce California

Faleh Suwead Al Ajami (QA) and Come Soon

Beezie Madden's Simon — Beezie Madden’s Simon

Maikel van der Vleuten (NL) and VDL Groep Verdi Tn N.O.P

Mark Armstrong's Nuggets l'Amandour — Mark Armstrong’s Nuggets l’Amandour

Strip[ped] Down // Seasonal Studies ft. Altuzarra S/S 2015 RTW

Behold: your wardrobe template for the summer horse show season.

What: Altuzarra, Spring/Summer 2015 Collection

your new uniform // Altuzarra Spring/Summer 2015

Tell me more, tell me more: Luxury ready-to-wear brand launched in New York by Joseph Altuzarra in 2008, who previously worked freelance with Proenza Schouler and as first assistant to Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci. Massively modern, with a nod to the classics. The perfect marriage of Paris and NY.

Why you care: Gingham, hello. This is obviously your summer workbook. Aren’t you a country girl at heart? Yes. Yes you are. Get your pearls, baby. Classic layering with a sensual, modern vibe; tailored blazers with feminine belting suede as a layering piece. This vibe is screaming for a pair of crisp whites, a sun hat, and a plane ticket to Spruce Meadows Summer Series.

Altuzarra Spring/Summer 2015 // via British Vogue

Get amongst it: Channel your inner Audrey, and then give her a dapple bay 1.30 Jr/Am saintly kick-and-go, a sassy twitter handle, and a pocketful of sugar cubes. Focus on timeless, classic pieces that can be layered (and un-layered) as your day moves through the temperamental YYC seasons.

suede forever // Altuzarra Spring/Summer 2015

Think outside the box, inside the ring. Have you shown in dark breeches yet? Get brave. Get brave now. Sunday wants to feel special, it told us in a dream. Save your whites and go all black errthang on a Thursday, because James Dean would have and maybe you date him, and also because nothing is gonna make your gingham pop more. The Meadows on the Green ain’t even gonna know what hit it. Seriously, where has this summer been your whole life?

schooling life // outfit details 1

Live the dream: You will need a pair of dark breeches (no, not dove grey, put down your comfort zone right now, we can see you). Dark. Navy, Smoke, Emerald, Black. We suggest Cavalleria Toscana. We suggest it in a big way.

Steal absolutely anything of your mothers that is made of yellow gold and crafted circa 1960, but only wear one jewelry item at a time. Huge preference given to earrings.

maybe my mother was a ballerina, so what // Altuzarra Spring/Summer 2015

When it comes to apparel, layer it up, but keep it ladylike and fitted. Knit layers are given extra sass points if kept sheer enough for a second look, but not so sheer that George M. would give it a third. Fit is the difference between forward and unkempt, so keep it tidy.

Altuzarra Spring/Summer 2015 // via British Vogue

Remember where your natural waist it, and belt absolutely everything there. Seriously, belt everything, but under no circumstances are you to fuss with matching said belts to your footwear. Who are you, your grandmother?

Always remember, the more structured the garment, the more feminine the belting [see, blazer + girlish ribbon]. Keep your skirt game tight, (literally: tailor it if you must) on a Sunday night, but long as long, past those knees. You’re the lady of the house, even if you’re renting it for the circuit.

You will need to sort out your ideal classic red (blue undertones, not orange) lipstick shade, if you have not done so already. Matte is preferred for the PM, but a gloss or balm is good for around the grounds.

Stripes are to be embraced, even mixed.Buy one suede shirt in caramel or cream and practice in a mirror until you can layer it at least four different ways. Receive bonus points and unlimited sartorial blessings if you can tie it up whimsically without exposing navel (naughty).

Fetch yourself a few good gingham button downs, one in black and white, and on in either crisp blue or blush pink and wear them till friday. When the weekend hits, introduce a striped belt and buffalo-check-lined show shirt to your whites, and take them on a date with a charcoal grey hunt coat. Top it off with a modern take on the velvet helmet, because you ‘get it’. Smile smugly as you all live happily ever after.

outfit details //

1 // breeches Cavalleria Toscana, tee Celine, blazer Altuzarra, sunnies Oliver Peoples, beanie We Are Pop Culture, scarf Dennis Columb, belt Saint Laurent, earrings Tiffany & Co, short boots Parlanti, cell case Ted Baker

2 // breeches Cavalleria Toscana, shirt + crewneck H&M, boots Parlanti, bag Asmar Equestrian, lipcolor NARS, belt Anne Taylor, hat Flora Bella

3 // breeches Pikeur, jacket Cavalleria Toscana, shirt Asmar Equestrian, boots Parlanti, earrings Kate Spade, bet Tome, helmet KEPItalia, phone case Isaac Mizrahi, sunnies Ray Ban

additional stalking //

Altuzarra

Spruce Meadows

equestrienne.co on instagram

British Vogue

Dilemma Fix: Hideous Gifting

Problem: Horses are your favourite animal, and everyone knows it. You think most things are vaguely pony; you automatically translate civilian in your head. Hunting? Foxes. Weekend? Horse shows. J Crew? Appropriate layering staples. Wellies? Hunters, stop. Victorian? Probably means gold spurs, or something carriage-related, you know who Jane Austen is, ok?

Where things get weird: People (great-aunts) will try to buy you interest-specific apparel.

Example:

Solution: Pony chic. Behold, gifting options that won’t make you question every life choice that made someone want to buy you a hooded sweatshirt (!) that said “Born to Ride”.

Appropriate course of action going forward: Print this. Label with applicable size. Send. Pray. Reward positive changes in gifting behaviour. Withhold Christmas cards until a new pattern has been established.