Lexington Style
Image via Ralph Lauren. |
Ralph Lauren famously once stated, "I could design my entire collection based solely on the style of three
places: The Hamptons, Santa Fe and Lexington, Kentucky." In 2006, Esquire Magazine named Kentucky the most stylish state in the Union. And, legendary designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka's Central Kentucky horse farm is said to be as fabulous as their bridal designs. (Which, in a related note, why am I not BFF with Badgley Mischka? I think we've just set my goal for 2012, y'all.)
Image via Ralph Lauren |
Lexington is far from a world fashion capital. It'll never be confused with Milan, Paris, or New York. But its style is undeniable. It's still the kind of town where people dress up for a nice restaurant. You don't see flip-flops or dressy shorts at cocktail parties, nor do "dressy jeans" constitute dinner attire. It's the kind of place where a small-town haberdasher bases his collection directly on an suit designed for Edward VIII.
But, yet, Lexington seems neither as formal nor as over-the-top as these images suggest. That Lexington style boasts a heavy equestrian influence is undeniable, but it's far less garish and in-your-face than Mr. Lauren would have you believe. The town's truly horsey folk are often seen in faded, relaxed jeans and barn jackets, and their broken-in boots are constantly caked in mud. And, Lexington never stops being an SEC college town. When I think of Lexington's style, I immediately envision preppy frat boys in navy blazers and khakis tailgating at Keeneland with their sundress-clad girlfriends. I picture the Junior League Horse Show, which boasts more per-capita Lilly Pulitzer dresses than the Breakers on Labor Day weekend. I picture the ubiquitous needlepoint and horse-harness belts. And, then, I picture all the blue.
Kentucky Girl Dress via Red Dress Boutique |
My new besties, via Elle Decor |
But, of course, if Bagdley and Mischka ("Mark and James" to me, natch, since we're soon to be besties) want to meet me at Jonathan's for a cocktail soon, I'm all about the labels...