Le Fash: Fashions in the Fast Lane - Sidelines Magazine

eFashionLe Fash: Fashionsin the Fast LaneBy Dani MoritzA life-long equestrian and fashionista, Arianna Vastino saw theconnection between horses and fashion in high fashion clothinglines, but noticed the exact opposite with equestrian apparel.Although companies like Ralph Lauren and Gucci have beenselling equestrian-inspired clothing for years, she felt equestrianapparel companies just weren’t catching on.“What I wanted to do with Le Fash is create riding clothes thatwere a little more high end that had a fashion appeal to them,”said Arianna.In 2011, she launched Le Fash – an equestrian fashioncollection suitable for showing, schooling and walking through thestreets of New York. The line is a favorite among top riders likeJennifer Alfano and Maggie Jayne.Arianna combined her experience in the hunter/jumper ringand years of working in the fashion industry to produce a clothingline that would appeal to equestrians and non-equestrians alike –even women looking for professional apparel.“I wanted to create high fashion for riders that would alsocreate clothes that would really appeal to non-riders who like theequestrian style,” Arianna said. “All of our clothes are designedto cross over into your everyday life, so it doesn’t look like ridingattire when you are out in the city, at work or with your friends and,of course, it does look like traditional riding attire when you’re inthe show ring.”Le Fash products are made with high quality fabrics, likebamboo, to provide attire perfect for performance and the fashionscene. The clothing line reflects vintage riding and hunt attire,enhancing the line with details like plaids, richer hues and goldenand silver buttons that emulate hunt club pins.Arianna says another hit feature is the color blocking style intheir show shirts. “[This style] has become our trademark andis not only because it creates a slimming feature when worn,but also is very on trend,” she said. “Polished off with a hiddenmagnetic collar closure, our shirts are really the perfect buttondown whether in the ring or every day life.”An equestrian herself, Arianna creates products with the fitLe Fash, an official sponsor of the Hampton Classic, will holda Wear It & Win It Challenge at the show. Le Fash’s designs,including their perfect button down, are made in the fashiondistrict of New York City.Arianna Vastino with her Dutch Warmblood, Zeus, who doublesas her show horse and a model for Le Fash.Photos by Dorian Wolf Photographyand feel equestrians’ desire, without forfeiting style. “I think it’simportant to be a rider still on the circuit and tell people that I wearmy clothes and test all the products,” Arianna said. “I actively wearmy clothes all the time.”In addition to being proud of Le Fash’s high quality products,Arianna is also proud to say that all of her clothes are made in theUnited States in the fashion district of New York City.To celebrate their collection of show shirts and reward thosewho wear them, this summer Le Fash launched their Wear It & WinIt Challenge for the 2013 summer circuit. The challenge offeredcompetitors at various shows throughout the season a chance towin prizes including free Le Fash products, gift certificates andcash to the winner of select hunter and jumper classes if theywere sporting a Le Fash show shirt.The challenge was inspired by the thought that you’ll performas well as you look. “Ultimately when you feel like a million bucks,you’re going to ride like a billion bucks,” Arianna said.The challenge concludes with The Hampton Classic’s $25,000Hampton Classic Jumper Derby, held just before the grand prix.Le Fash is an official sponsor of this year’s Hampton Classic andthey will have a pop-up shop in the boutique garden the entireweek.While at the Hampton Classic, Le Fash will also be launchinga new line of breeches to add to their current collection of showshirts. Arianna wasn’t able to release too many details, but didsay you can expect the same fashion forward look her showshirts cater to. “Basically they’re in line with the shirts,” Ariannasaid. “They will cross into everyday life that you can wear out withfriends with a cool heel and they will also be totally functioningriding pants.”The breech line will be available for pre-order during theHampton Classic – and will be on display for the very first time.For more information about Le Fash, catch Arianna at TheHampton Classic or visit her website at lefashny.com.84 SIDELINES AUGUST 2013 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE

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eFashionA Head For FashionBy Maria WynneSidelines Writer Across the PondThe helmet world is constantlychanging along with the rulings ofthe various associations. And eachdiscipline has its own style andinterpretation of what a helmet shouldlook like. Manufacturers are constantlychallenged to meet all of thesedemands, whilst ensuring that theprotective properties of their helmetsare not compromised.The fashions within the dressagemarket are changing rapidly alongwith the new legislation regarding thewearing of protective headgear. Veryquickly the Top Hat has now cometo look old fashioned, as traditiongives way to protection that combinesfashion. The Top Hat will quickly beconsigned to museums and the dustyhalls of historical etiquette.The accident that befell CourtneyKing-Dye and the movement thatis Riders4Helmets has meant thathelmets are the required choice. Theuvex company is proud to be involvedwith the annual Riders4HelmetsInternational Awareness Day, and aredelighted to help this very importantdate grow in stature globally yearupon year. The uvex company sloganis “Protecting People” and theyhave been investing in research andtechnology in order to do just thatsince 1926.uvex offers a tailored service,whereby riders can co-ordinate theirhelmet with their colours, be it crosscountrycolours or the colours of theirnational flag. They also manufacturehelmets that combine discreet amountsof Swarovski elements in differentdesigns that catch the light ‘just so’to flatter and accentuate. Crystals and diamonds are particularlyfavoured by the dressage and jumping communities and for thisuvex manufactures a glamorous model named perfexxion. Thehelmet features Swarovski elements to the front and sides of thehelmet along with a discreet swirl design.The multitude of styles within the perfexxion model includes theperfexxion paisley which offers a discreet dual colour that lookspretty in the hunter ring. The uvex model – perfexxion elegance cc– has a more traditional velvety suede finish with a broader peakthat flatters broader faces and cheekbones, and the perfexxionactive model boasts a smooth mat finish in a range of subtlestandard colours.For the younger rider, uvex offers the supersonic helmet in12 different colour combinations and finishes, including: silverLaura Tomlinson wears her uvexhelmet while riding Mistral Hojris.Photo by Fiona Scott Maxwelldégradé, titan dégradé, black mat dégradé, ranch dark silver mat,ponies pink mat, ponies blue mat, flowers navy/blue, flowers grey/black, horse black mat, horse white mat and plain black mat. Trulysomething for every child’s heart.The uvex helmets are certified by SEI to ASTM F1163 and areavailable online and at tack stores. For further information, contactGEM Tack, Inc., at866-Gem-Tack (toll free in the United States) or visit theirwebsite at www.gemtack.com.About the writer: Maria Wynne lives in the UK and has spent her entire life withhorses and her family background is steeped in them. She is a proud (single) Mumof an adorable five-year-old son named Theodore Denman, who is named after the2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner.90 SIDELINES AUGUST 2013 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE

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eFashionKarina Brez’sCrowning AchievementBy Dani MoritzKarina’s logo, a butterfly ina crown, symbolizes beauty,femininity and royalty.Karina Brez wasn’t born in the saddle. In fact, horses enteredher life only three years ago when she became involved with herfriend’s nonprofit organization, Horses Healing Hearts (HHH), asan ambassador and honorary chair.She became involved with the organization after her friend wasmurdered by her alcoholic husband, leaving her friend’s orphanedchild behind. Little did she know how much the organization wouldimpact her life.For Karina, her involvement with HHH meant an opportunity tomake a difference and gave her a chance to interact with horses.“I always loved horses, I just never had the opportunity to ridethem,” she said. “That’s the reason I moved to Wellington.” Andsoon, helping with fundraising and working at the barn on theweekends became much more than a way to volunteer. It becameher inspiration.Karina combined her newfound love of horses and her passionfor gemology to create an equine collection as part of her KarinaBrez jewelry line, which debuted in 2010. In return, Karina givesa percentage of the proceeds from her equestrian pieces back toHHH. “I’m always trying to raise money for HHH,” she said. “It’s agreat charity and I don’t know where these kids would be withoutit.”While Karina may be relatively new to horses, she has a longhistory with jewelry. Actually, she is a third generation jeweler.Her parents immigrated to the United States from Ukraine in 1989and her dad started working with Tiffany & Co., doing repairsand assembling jewelry, later opening his own stores. Her dadcurrently owns a store, Alex Jewelry, in Boca Raton, Florida atthe International Jewelers Exchange. Karina worked at her dad’sstore as a young adult and later became a graduate gemologistthrough the Gemologist Institute of America.Today, Karina has created her own jewelry line, which includesequestrian pieces and other items such as engagement rings,wedding bands and fashion jewelry.And while she gets a lot of inspiration from working with horses,her collections are also inspired by the French countryside – eventhough Karina jokes that she’s only been there once. “I just wentKarina and Argento at Horses Healing Hearts sponsor barnDouble J.Photos courtesy of Karina Brezthere one summer with my mom and I fell in love with the Frenchcountryside,” she said.Even her logo, a butterfly in a crown, reflects her love for theromance of France while symbolizing beauty, femininity androyalty. The crown also represents a special chapter in her life –being named the 2012 Miss Florida USA.The concept for the logo came about when Karina was tryingto create a “B” for her last name and stumbled upon the idea ofa butterfly. “In a way, I want my jewelry to represent the stagesof life, like a butterfly goes through,” she said. “I also want myjewelry to be something that people can keep for a time and thenpass onto their children, so it can become a keepsake for futuregenerations.”To create jewelry that people truly value, Karina gives specialattention to each of her pieces. She handpicks stones from allaround the world and is always the last one to approve an item.When working on her equestrian jewelry, Karina emphasizes theindividuality of horses and expresses horses’ unique personalitiesin her equestrian collection.She also offers the option for customers to send in images oftheir horses, so that she can customize pieces with a specifichorse in mind. “I can create a piece of jewelry that they can keepand remember their horse by for years and years.”If you are interested in Karina’s jewelry line, you can visit herwebsite at karinabrez.com or catch her at her booth at next year’sWEF.A piece from Karina’s Equestrian Collection.About the writer: Dani Moritz is a graduate of William Woods University withmajors in Equine General Studies and Communications. She is a staff writer forSidelines Magazine, freelance journalist and proud owner of a beautiful Paint/Arabian mare named September. She is also the 2012 American Horse PublicationsStudent Award winner.92 SIDELINES AUGUST 2013 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE