Valentine's Day Equestrian Lookbook| Holland Cooper

Following the drearier weeks of winter after the holidays, it can be hard to find things to look forward to and enjoy, especially when winter weather can make riding much more difficult. Winter is my least favourite month due to the perils of not having an indoor and my climate being so damp and cold, I feel like I am always dressed like a swamp rat at the barn throughout the winter, it can wear on you to never feel dry or stylish for a season that feels like it lasts 6 months of the year. February, I find is a positive month due to its inherent shortness, closeness to spring and, of course, Valentine’s Day. This particular hallmark holiday doesn’t appeal to many, but single or taken, I think V-Day is an excuse to treat yourself, love yourself or direct your love towards someone else. It does not have to be about relationships with others, it can be a day of connecting with and treating yourself!

My “treat yourself” Valentine’s gift was from Holland Cooper, the Sports Team Gilet, an adorable puff vest that is as warm as it is pretty. From their Valentine’s lookbook, this vest contrasts navy with a red and white chevron pattern and is perfect for layering. It looks fantastic over top of sweaters (which are over top of your long sleeve and however many other layers you need, I treat layering as “the more the merrier”) and low profile jackets but is also fitted enough to wear underneath winter coats without it adding too much bulk. The zipper is high quality and contrasts nicely with this vest in gold. Wearing the vest made me feel good about myself due to it being flattering and spiced up the dreariness of the winter days by allowing my photos and videos to look more appealing and less soggy and sad!

Holland Cooper’s Valentine’s gift guide has a number of other options for those who aren’t fans of vests or simply would prefer something different. For casual wear, there is the stylish Team HC Navy Hoodie, which also stands out in its navy and red contrast colouring. For more practical winter wearing, they have the Team HC Riding Jacket in red, the colour is vibrant enough to light up the darker days of winter In a bit more of a subdued red, you can also get their warmer version, the Sports Master Puffer jacket, contrasting the red with black accents. If your wardrobe is already full of jackets, their gift guide also boasts a Cable Knit Headband, a fun accessory for people who like to keep their ears warm but also want to show off their hair more than a beanie may let them. Lastly, for riders who need more base layers, they have their Heritage Base Layer, which offers the comfortable form fitting fabric and flattering silhouette that I found with one of their other base layer options. They are high quality with far better quarter zip zippers than a lot of the other options I’ve tried on the market and I really like the feel of the thin, but extremely stretchy comfortable fabric as I do not find base layers that feel constrictive to be comfortable to be in all day.

Team HC Jacket

Holland Cooper is a great brand to consider for riders looking for high end products that have stunning finishing touches while also remaining practical and comfortable to wear. I have absolutely no complaints about their products after spending much of my day, often in the rain, in them and trust me, I am rather weird and picky when it comes to clothes which is why I often live in sweatpants if my clothes don’t cover it comfort-wise. I enjoy this brand as through their styles, I’ve tried some looks that I honestly would not have thought I would like, such as the striped accents on the vest, and this has allowed me to broaden my horizons fashion wise.