This year is literally flying by and I am not quite sure how I feel about it! It’s August now and the weather is scorching! Who else is looking forward to Autumn/Winter? I am! There is something about Winter fashion that I just love and I can’t wait to snuggle up in front of the fire in a big slouchy jumper.. The past couple of months I have taken a bit of time out from putting up blog posts for you guys but that is literally down to spending time thinking about what I want to actually post on my blog and what you guys will find interesting and exciting to read and trust me, there is a lot of exciting things to come! All will be revealed in the next couple of months, be patient! (Coming from the most impatient person on the planet)..
July was a busy month for me regarding everything un-blog related.. A month that my birthday falls on which most of you probably already know. I had the privilege to have a one to one polo lesson with an Argentinean Polo player and instructor at Cambridge County Polo Club – I must say this is one of the best days I have had in a while and I have found my calling in equestrian sports! I have always been a team player so I am keen to get in to it as a regular thing! You can read all about this if you are interested in the Polo Lesson & Birthday Celebrations blog post.
I also went back to work full time in July after being on part time hours due to the Doctors call after I had been through a pretty tough time to say the least. I am really enjoying being back in a routine again and building my life back up. Writing posts for Country Frantics is also really helping me get through some of those tough times and I can’t wait to share with you all everything I have planned for the blog and what I have been doing! Anyway.. Enough of the boring stuff now!
I WON THE GOLDEN TICKET FROM THE SUMMER BIRTHDAY EDITION FOR IN THE COUNTRY MAGAZINE! I was literally ecstatic to receive the Summer Edition for this magazine anyway as there is only two issues a year but to open it up and find the Golden Ticket I was just amazed! I never win anything! – The Golden Ticket in this issue is an Exclusive, luxury spa package from The Little Retreat worth over £400 for two and an overnight stay at Langar Hall. I also get to feature in the Autumn/Winter edition of the magazine talking about my Golden Ticket experience, how exciting! Thank you Hollie-Ella! This couldn’t have come at a better time, so watch out for that in the next issue where you can read all about it and don’t forget to Subscribe to be in the chance to win the next Golden Ticket!
Jumpsuit is from New Look and my Hat is from Mackenzie & George
I have decided that every month now, as well as talking to you guys about what I have been up to I am going to do Two Monthly Favourites – One Equestrian favourite and one Country/Fashion favourite. I will briefly talk about the product/item and tell you my thoughts on it and why it has entered my favourites that month!
So what is in my July monthly favourites?
Polo Leather Headcollar
My July Equestrian monthly favourite has to be my Polo Leather Head Collar. This is a polo head collar I purchased a couple of years ago after buying Buddy. I went to see a friend in Portsmouth and he took me into a tack shop there and instantly it caught my eye. Two years on and I have only ever used it on Buddy for best. Since having a polo lesson in July I have been embracing the Polo Look – I always use my Pampeano Polo Belt as my ‘go to’ belt for my breeches so I have been using the head collar a lot more on Buddy too! Obviously, I do not turn him out in this as I do not want it to get wet or muddy if it falls off of the gate or chucks it down! I don’t believe in turning horses out in head collars so Buddy never wears any of his in the field.
I believe this head collar is made by Horseware Ireland but do not quote me as it does not have any branding on it but I have seen one just like it online by them. I was initially looking at the Le Mieux polo head collars but the colour of this one was just what I was after. It was around £59.99 and well worth the money! It is made from the finest quality brown leather and hand stitched with the polo pattern. It has brass fastenings and looks really striking on my bay, especially when he is wearing his weatherbeeta blue and red travel boots and rug! Matchy Matchy! To clean this head collar I use my Stubben saddle soap and saddle wax which works really well and treats the leather to keep it supple. My horse is 15.2hh and wears a COB size and it fits really well. It can be adjusted just like any other head collar. I find the leather is super soft and it moulds to my horses face shape.
Mackenzie & George Fedora Hat
My Country/Fashion favourite this month hands down has to be my Fedora Hat by Mackenzie & George. This beautiful hat is stylish yet classic and can be adjusted to suit different looks by changing the feather brooch on the side! I got the Golden Pheasant Speer (Large) and I put this on my chocolate brown Fedora and it looks lovely! I love the combination of the colours. The Fedora hat comes in five different colours which made it very difficult to choose which one I wanted! You can purchase this hat from £49.99 and you can purchase two different sizes of brooch.. Small and Large ranging from £34.99 – £44.99 and they are well worth the money. The detailing on these are incredible and made from real feathers. The hat itself comes in 3 different sizes Small-Large and I wear a small (55-56cm). The hat is made out of 100% wool felt and is showerproof which is perfect in this English weather! Inside there is a padded inner sweatband and on the outside of the hat there is a leather band with a shotgun cartridge which looks beautiful even without the added brooch.
This hat is perfect for any Country or Equestrian event. I have been wearing mine all the time – It really is versatile for any weather or occasion! It keeps the sun off of your face in the Summer and then the rain off of your face in Winter! The Brooch can also be clipped in the side of your hair or up-do to add a bit of Country Chic! I am in love with this Hat and I will 100% be purchasing another colour in the near future!
Thanks for reading, Until next time..
Francesca x
No Comments