When I was about twelve I was in lust with a stone coloured, long, belted riding mac that sat elegantly in the small ads of the horse magazine I read at the time. I never got one as my pocket money at the time only stretched to hoof picks and plastic curry combs (it's a sad life!) but my love for that classic, the mac, never went away.
So what is it about the mac that I love so much-or shouldn't I enquire too deeply? Ok I'll admit it, it's definitely the masculine, military element. When you put on a classically styled mac you put on a chic uniform that links you to the past in it's flatteringly crafted practicality. In a word you feel smart! And smart isn't a word I attach very often to my day to day equestrian attire. But is it time to dress up not down?
At Pony Club Camp where our instructors were colonels and captains we had a morning inspection of our outfits. I used to love polishing my boots and badge and getting dressed had a sense of timeless ritual that made me feel prepared to face the day with pride and confidence. Only the other day I discovered that one of the female doyennes of our PC made her son ride out every day in a shirt, tie and hacking jacket. And one of my friends who worked in London would ride out in Hyde Park in 'proper' attire. Do we owe it to our horses to be better turned out? Is it practical?
Anyway back to the mac. I was reminded of my love affair when I attended the extremely stylish Gucci Masters in Paris last year and caught a flash of the rider in the photo above, as she strode out of the arena. Typical-I'd been too busy talking at the time! If you know who it was and where I can get this hot little red number then please tell me.
The fashion world has always loved a mac. Burberry has re-invented itself as the new cool and this wednesday sees the launch of the first ever Mackintosh store in Mayfair hoping to do the same. The worlds first waterproof fabric was invented by a Scottish Scientist Charles Macintosh(the K was kicked into the garments name) in 1823 and the first item of clothing his company produced was a riding mac with internal leg straps. The fabric has gone on to be used in designs by amongst others Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga. So, isn't it time us equestriennes snatched a bit of that style back?
This is an equestrian classic I'd like to see revived. Style wise it definitely knocks a puffa jacket off it's horse. Do you agree?
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