I’ve been watching the trends in fashion for quite some time and it still amazes me how form and function often gives way to form. What I mean to say is, often clothing is developed for use in a particular sport, and then becomes adopted to mainstream use. Take the case of riding boots. These started out in the realm of equine riding. They have a very specific purpose when it comes to horseback riding, and are made for the seated position. When a rider is upon a saddle, the boots slip down. So, they’re made long and often go above the knee. This is comfortable when riding, but not very practical for walking around during the day to day.
Ariat Riding Boots
So what happened? For starters, mainstream brands – Tory Burch boots being one of the latest – picked them up as a fashion accessory. Will the popular brand, Ariat – known for authentic riding gear enter this space? Perhaps. But how do the designers adapt these boots? Simple. They shortened the length, adopted the style and called them riding boots. Only these weren’t for riding, they were for style. And… people loved them!
So, what’s next? I suppose it depends on the sport at hand. Jerseys are popular among men – it will be interesting to see how women pick them up as a new trend. In the world of horseback riding, polo shirts are popular. And in mainstream fashion, we see polos by Ralph Lauren, Joules and others. Anyway, something to think about.