The fashion world has long flirted with equestrian references, but 2025 feels different.
This year the “horsegirl aesthetic” isn’t a one‑off motif on a knit or a cute campaign shot with a pony—it’s a fully fledged movement charging straight down the runway and into everyday wardrobes.
Luxury houses are rewriting their archives, TikTok creators are trading crop tops for crop jackets, and retailers are scrambling to restock riding boots that once gathered dust.
I’ve spent weeks tracing the trend’s breadcrumbs—from Paris show notes to late‑night hashtag dives—and what I’ve uncovered is bigger than saddle stitches or stirrup leggings. This is a story about longing for structure after chaos, nostalgia wrapped in quiet‑luxury tailoring, and the sheer power of social media to turn an old stereotype into the season’s most coveted uniform.
Where the trope meets the runway
Ask anyone who’s followed fashion for longer than a sprint and they’ll tell you Hermès, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren never really left the paddock. Yet even heritage brands seem newly energized.
Hermès’s fall/winter 2025 show layered leather wrap skirts over quilted vests and sent out riding boots with shorts cut to mimic saddle flaps, a wink so on‑the‑nose it drew audible laughs from editors in the risers.
Gucci’s FW24 set seemed to double down with gleaming horse‑bit hardware on everything from bags to corseted blazers, while Stella McCartney shot her latest campaign with actress Sarah Snook astride a midnight‑black stallion.
The references aren’t subtle—and that’s precisely the point.
The psychology of a post‑pandemic rider fantasy
Why does a style rooted in privilege resonate with Gen Z thrift fiends? I’d say partly, it’s escapism. After years of elastic waistbands and existential dread, tailored jackets and sturdy boots promise control.
Showjumper‑turned‑fashion‑insider Peter Lutz frames it more poetically: “I believe that the equestrian aesthetic has a wide-ranging appeal to people outside of the horse-riding world because it represents a unique combination of elegance, athleticism, and tradition,” he told Harper’s Bazaar.
Data backs the vibe shift. Fashion site NSS Magazine noted a 260 percent spike in Asos searches for “riding boots” late last year, while UK department store John Lewis saw week‑on‑week riding‑boot sales jump 74 percent!
There’s also a socioeconomic layer worth unbridling. The horsegirl look dovetails neatly with the ongoing quiet‑luxury narrative: minimal palettes, impeccable fabrics, subtle nods to heritage.
A single calf‑skin boot can whisper generational wealth without screaming logo.
Tips to ‘carry the reins’
Want to get the look? Here are a few quick tips.
- Boots before breeches – A sleek knee‑high in leather (vegan works too) instantly anchors the look. Keep heels low and silhouettes streamlined; think dressage, not derby queen.
- Tailored layers – Swap your oversized blazer for a hacking jacket or slim wool coat. Pair with wide‑belted trousers or straight denim to dodge cosplay vibes.
- Hardware harmony – Choose one equestrian cue—a horse‑bit bracelet, a saddle‑shape bag, or bridle‑inspired straps—and repeat it subtly rather than piling on all three.
- Neutrals win the day – Camel, charcoal, milk‑white, and pine‑green mirror traditional stable palettes and play nicely with existing capsule pieces.
- Buy vintage – Raid vintage tack shops or resale apps for real riding jackets—they’re cut to last decades and usually cost less than a fast‑fashion dupe.
Will the horse stay the course?
Micro‑trends often burn bright and bolt, but this one benefits from century‑deep roots and a cultural story bigger than any single show.
As sustainability pressures mount, garments that reference utility sportswear (remember, riding clothes are built for longevity) feel future‑proof. And if the runway keeps feeding our collective pony‑club fantasy, the aesthetic may canter on well past next season.
Beneath the hype lies a relatable desire—structure, heritage, and a splash of rural romance in our overstimulated lives. Whether you commit to full‑length chaps or simply knot a rugby top over jeans, lean into the confidence riders embody: shoulders back, gaze forward, reins held lightly.
