What will the best-dressed horses and riders be wearing this year? In addition to blue ribbons, winners in '08 will be sporting attractive ensembles that flatter their horses and make horse and rider appear as a coordinated team.

Winning riders know they can help create their own luck by presenting a picture of competence and confidence to the judge, and know that they have two tools to create that winning impression: color and silhouette. Incorporate color into your show presentation by wearing clothes that blend attractively with your horse, and carefully consider the fit of your apparel to be certain it creates a smooth, flattering side silhouette to get an edge on your competition before you've even performed.

The most important new silhouette to be seen this year is a hip-length riding top with French cuffs and an elegant tall collar. Worn over the top of your chaps, these short tunics are fuss-free since you don't have to keep them tucked in, and extra-cool in hot weather. Consider styles with stretch side panels that blend with your chap color for a very figure-flattering appearance, paired with brightly colored fabrics in the center front and center back panels.

Show blouses continue to be very popular in boldly-patterned stretch fabrics. Remember a print that would be loud across a room is often just right across the arena; large designs work well 'on stage' in the show ring, especially when a prominent color in the blouse is coordinated with a matching saddle blanket which ties horse and rider together visually.

Whether you're a size six or a size sixteen, you'll need your show apparel to fit trim for a great show-ring silhouette. Don't compromise comfort and confidence for fashion, though: if you like choose a blouse but worry about its tight contours around your waist, find a body-hugging camisole in a firm sport fabric to wear underneath your show clothes for extra control.

French cuffs and fanciful collars remain the perfect finishing touches to show blouses, and offer a large, flat surface to embellish with crystals and delicately-shaped appliqué pieces. Collar variations include decorated lapels and modified tuxedo looks. Some cuffs are removable, which allows the blouse to be used in horsemanship classes when a trimmer sleeve is desired.

Also for horsemanship, fitted blouses with solid color bodices that match chaps continue to be a great look to highlight equitation elegance. Consider contrasting color and texture in deep V shaped yokes and fitted sleeves when your form is being judged; this look creates an elegant frame for your face while minimizing movement throughout your body.

Vests continue to be a great show wardrobe basic because they trim your torso yet allow complete freedom of movement. A classic western vest that matches your chaps makes any blouse into a show outfit with the sleeves, collar, and cuffs revealed. If you're showing on a budget or worried about your waistline, you'll have a 'vested interest' in this look.

For halter and showmanship, suit looks are gaining in popularity. You'll see more tailored blazers and jackets in halter, often paired with matching show pants for a head-to-toe color impression. For showmanship, body-conscious tunics again match pants, but may be textured fabrics and highly embellished. Some tunics can be worn untucked for showmanship, then tucked in for riding in horsemanship classes. Gloves are usually left off in favor of a perfect manicure.

Fabrics play an important role this season; nearly everything stretches for comfort and shapely fit, and surface treatments are intriguing. Tiny overall sequins outshine crystals from a distance at a fraction of the cost; polished fabrics reflect light for shimmering highlights both indoors and in natural sunlight. Textures including brocades and metallic finishes add more interesting effect in the arena and thoughtful use of embroidery remains an elegant embellishment as well.

Now, a few words about color. Black continues strong in the show ring, but other deep shades like chocolate and midnite blue are getting a second look. For youth riders, expect to see some beautifully coordinated outfits in red, royal blue and other brights. Versatile neutrals like sand and caramel are growing in popularity as they can be paired with both subtle matching fabrics and high-contrast brights for wardrobe versatility.

To flatter your horse's color, consider using earth-tone neutrals like sand, caramel, and chocolate with blue-green shades on horses with red hair in their coats, including sorrels, chestnuts, and red roans. Horses with black, brown, or white hair, including bays, black, and white horses, are nicely accented with jewel-tone colors like red and purple, usually paired with black.

Experiment by 'test driving' a color in a towel or other large piece of fabric draped across your horse, then view from a distance to help choose what's most attractive on your horse. And do consider the horse first; there's a lot more horse than human visible in the show ring!

Now, on to your other apparel. Chaps are the basis for your western show outfit: they're the largest piece of color in the overall look, so build a winning wardrobe around chap color and silhouette. Classic show chaps that will stay in style for years feature fringed legs and waist-high fit with small silver buckle to close the front. If you add crystals or contrast color to the waistband area, you'll have fancy chaps—but will you tire of the look, and do you want to draw attention to your waist? Another shopping hint: matching chaps, pants, and belt color not only makes shopping easy, but visually sheds a few pounds around the middle—which most of us consider important if we've 'wintered well.'

The watchword for western hats is quality. Invest in a good hat that will hold its shape well, and you'll always look like a real showman, not a wannabe. Hat brims are continuing to trend upward so check your hat if it's been out of circulation for a while—a good western store can steam you back into style with a narrower brim silhouette. Neutral felts in sand, platinum, or caramel are versatile toppers, and straws continue to cool horse show brains in the hot summer months. Black hats are always popular, but consider whether a lighter hat might be visually more interesting by drawing attention upwards to your face and eyes.

Accessories continue to be important—the often inexpensive, always interesting touches that express your personality. Jewelry makes an outfit unique, and gives versatility to a well-planned wardrobe. Rhinestone necklaces and earrings can highlight an exceptional garment design—it's smart to collect a variety of accessories to change the feeling of your show apparel to suit an event or your mood.

Boots should be purchased for comfort and unobtrusive looks in the show ring: chunky footwear with vivid contrast and crystals are best worn après-show. Only the toe of your boots shows while riding; classic ropers are inexpensive and can be dyed to match a special showmanship outfit or pant color.

Western gentlemen are using classic tailored shirts, heavily starched and often sporting a subtle monogram or embroidered figure, and picking up shirt colors in their saddle blankets. Great solids and discrete checks are 'the right stuff' and look professionally tasteful from the center of the ring when topped by a fine quality felt hat or a smoothly woven straw.

Top horses will be fashionably turned out too, in a light to medium natural oil colored saddle encrusted with silver everywhere it can be attached: under the gullet, across the cantle, and certainly on the extra-deep skirts with cut-away rigging. Headstalls have double-ears and sport flat silver with square and oblong silver patterns as trendy looks; some crystals add face-fun for show horses. Oversize solid color saddle blankets hang well below large-skirted saddles, and usually match either the chaps or shirt color of the rider.

No matter what you choose, remember your presentation must look great from a distance, be appropriate for both your skill level and the class, and most importantly, give you a feeling of confidence. There's no better feeling than going in the arena knowing you and your horse are ready to win and that all your practice and patience are about to pay off. So...ready, set, show off—and Good Luck!