Trends on UNT campus . . . 

Since we got major rain this week, I figured I would explore the trends in rainwear on campus. People, especially students, seem to get really quirky when it rains. The change in weather seems to cause a whole shift in the way we dress. One of my favorite things that people don when it's wet is rain boots. I think the variations of prints, pictures and patterns really give an insight of the person wearing them. Even if they don't match anything else, or really clash with the other garments, rain boots seem to become a focal point on the body. Here are just a few examples that I saw on campus today.

These have little pictures of the Statue of Liberty and New York:

This one is my favorite:

I love the laces on these purple ones:

So many wacky styles . . . I think that when it rains, people don't care quite as much about what is really fashionable, because these rain boots are quite . . . well, not fashionable . . .  without any designs on them. They really look like muck boots that I would wear when mucking out a stall. But when we add some loud and quirky designs to them, suddenly insta-fashion!

Personally, I like the idea that people have taken something so practical, like rubber boots, and have turned them into something fun and exciting. Too often fashion goes in an unrealistic direction. Many clothes have become impractical for many activities, or even for just comfort. But I think these rain boots give us a perfect example of unique style and practicality. Perfect for a rainy day.

What inspires me . . .

Okay, so by now, after reading the title of this blog, you can probably guess what my life mostly revolves around. Yes, fashion and horses. I know these two things don't really go together though, and it's a problem for me because both things are pulling me in separate directions. But I love both, and they both inspire me to get out of bed and make a name for myself. They also keep me busy. And anyone who knows me well will tell you that I am very unhappy when I am not busy. I actually prefer to stress about something, believe it or not. Just sitting around and playing xbox all day (still very fun though...) isn't really my thing. I would rather have something to work on, something to inspire me to greatness, if you will.
Now, both fashion and horses play such large roles in my life, that naturally they have begun to collide a sort of osmosis has occurred between them. They have both absorbed each other basically. For example:

Now doesn't that just make you smile? Even horses can be fashionable . . . haha okay. That really isn't what I mean. (But the Pink Panther horse still cracks me up!) I mean fashion that is worn in the professional equine world. This first picture is an example of Hunt Seat attire (which happens to be very strict in the rule books):

And here is a western showmanship outfit:

And lastly is a traditional Arabian costume:

Each of those garments, among many others, are very important to the equine world. There are very strict regulations at horse shows, rodeos, even just for plain riding. Ever wonder why cowboys started wearing cowboy boots? The tall calf protects your legs (grass, snake bites, etc), the heel prevents your foot from slipping too far into your stirrup, and the traction-less sole allows your foot to slide out of the stirrup in case of an emergency. See, you just learned something; that cowboys had methods behind their madness.
What I'm trying to get at with all of this is the fact that it is possible for me to love and be inspired by two opposite things, like fashion and horses. Looking at each of the garments above inspires me to create. I mean, right at this moment, as I am typing, I am thinking about the possibility of creating an Arabian costume for a fashion competition . . . No idea if the judges would allow a horse on the catwalk though . . .
See I'm inspired already.