FREE SPIRITED

THE EQUESTRIAN TREND IS CIRCLING BACK INTO 2023 AND IT’S MAKING A BOLD STATEMENT.

If you’ve ever ridden a carousel as a child, you recall the calliope tune as your heart fell with the peaks and dips of your moving steed and, for a moment, you felt confident, graceful and free. This is a feeling the fashion world has long sought to capture. To its success, it found the equestrian look; Ralph Lauren polos, Gucci horse bit loafers (the Horse bit icon remains present in the company’s designs and handbag hardware to this day) and Hermès, the epitome of saddlery, whose motif of the horse permeates its various departments including scarves, jewelry and handbags. Like a carousel, the sporty style has circled around time and again, never failing to be front and center on fashion spreads, whether it was Vogue declaring cowboy boots “the standout footwear trend of 2022,” or Monaco royal Charlotte Casiraghi riding a horse down the runway for the Spring Chanel Paris fashion week show the same year. Likewise, high fashion’s tie to the equestrian world has been one that’s remained genuine and long-lived. Just as Hermès began as a saddle maker and now, among equestrian partnerships, saddles, bags and scarves, also transforms harnesses, buckles and bits into precious objects with its Cavelier jewelry line, by the 1930s, Guccio Gucci’s international clientele flocked to Florence to browse through his equestrian-style shoes, trunks, belts, and bags, all of which were inspired by the designer’s clients. And, while equestrian fashion may seem like another circulating trend or preppy “go-to” look, it goes beyond the surface: It’s someone’s story, another’s passion, and an industry’s symbol of freedom.

OUR TOP CHOICES

1) Charlotte Casiraghi opened the Chanel Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2022 show during Paris Fashion Week by riding down the runway on her steed, the eight-year-old Spanish bay horse, Kuskus, dressed in a black tweed jacket with jeweled buttons from the collection designed by Virginie Viard, the longtime Chanel designer who took over as creative director after the 2019 death of Karl Lagerfeld.

2) Christian Dior Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri updates to the iconic Saddle bag with the Saddle Bag with Strap, crafted in latte grained calfskin with a magnetic D stirrup clasp, as well as an antique gold-finish metal CD signature on either side of the strap; $4,200; dior.com.

3) Gucci’s Zelda two-tone leather knee boots, crafted from panels of two-tone leather with equestrian straps punctuated with the brand’s horse bit hardware, were styled with many outfits on the Fall ‘21 Aria runway, which celebrated the Italian label’s 100-year anniversary; $2,050; net-a-porter.com

4) Lugano Diamonds’ passion for the equestrian world runs deep through the brand’s DNA, having sponsored and supported the Global Champions Tour, Wellington International’s Winter Equestrian Festival, and the Hampton Classic Horse Show for years. This Carousel Bracelet with pink diamond encrusted horses, celebrates the artful sport with exquisite jewels from Lugano Diamonds’ unique jewelry collection features pieces that capture the majesty of equine culture; luganodiamonds.com

5) Designed by Jean-Louis Sauvat, the Hermes Chevaux Au Pre shawl 140, printed on the brand’s iconic cashmere and silk material, is the ideal companion for wrapping up on cold days; $1,225; hermes.com

6) Ralph Lauren Purple Label’s signature mens Equestrian Suede Overshirt is updated with sketch-inspired prints of a horserace and delicately finished with hand-painted details; $3,495; ralphlauren.com.