From Lisa Simpson to Velvet Brown, the pull of a pony has long been strong for little girls, and probably some little boys, too. But, let’s be honest, everyone knows its much more about wearing a really cool outfit than leading a reluctant pony around a field. The lure of riding clothes lasts past mucking out age – while jodhpurs and riding jackets have had their moments, it’s riding hats that are winning the race in the style stakes this winter.
Like the love child of a baseball cap and a cloche, they are the outsider overtaking the favourite – the pom-pom beanie (to continue the Grand National metaphor). If in doubt, see Monday-night TV’s newest style reference, Zayday from Scream Queens. She wore a riding hat-style cap in episode three, with two strategically placed pom poms to look like mouse ears. Or there’s the slightly less Instagram-friendly personality that is Jeremy Corbyn. His fisherman’s hat is on the way to riding cap territory. Corbyn’s leadership may be in question, but his role as unwitting style icon continues apace.
Moving on from the pom pom beanie, fashion people are getting themselves on Asos and buying the Catarzi riding cap, which has the shape of a riding hat, but with the crucially current pom-pom. Sure, the riding hat might not have the squish-in-your-bag practicality of a beanie but, with a high shape and short peak, they are very useful at accentuating their wearer’s cheekbones.
This is – obviously – something that fashion has known about for a while. Stella McCartney had them on her catwalk in 2013, and Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci included one with cat ears (the whimsical fashion motif that preceded the pom pom. Do keep up) in his autumn/winter 2011 collection. Anna Dello Russo was unsurprisingly very fond of it, while fellow street-style regular Miroslava Duma is also partial to the riding cap.
This all contributed to the fact that you’re now considering the merits of wearing one this year. As have shows ranging from Pucci to Lanvin and Moncler Gamme Rouge including versions of them in their shows. As for the deciding vote, Corbyn is one thing but it’s all down to Zayday. She might be living in a house full of morally questionable psychopaths but, thanks to that riding hat, her style status remains at five stars. Buy one, and yours will, too.
