Polo Ponies, Puppies, and Pink Posies

Dress (Nine West); Shrug (J. Howard); Hat (Nine West); Shoes (Lindsay Phillips Switchflops with custom floral embellishment); Pink Leather and Silver Bridle Bit Bracelet (Churchill Downs gift shop); Pearls (vintage); Watch (Wyler, vintage 1940s from the G. Thrapp Estate Collection)

         On Friday, we attended a polo match at Hickory Hall Polo Club.  The match was a fundraiser benefiting Waldo's Muttley Crew Animal Rescue, whose mission is the rescue and placement of stray and abandoned animals.  This was my first polo match, and as a life-long horse lover, I was excited to experience a new (to me) equine adventure.  I've also been thinking a lot about a new dog lately, so the fact that the match benefited an animal rescue organization was an added bonus.
         Of course, a polo match also seemed like a good opportunity for a new outfit, but I decided that shopping in my closet was the better tack (money saved for rescuing a new puppy, perhaps?)  I resisted the urge to wear the brown and white polka dot "Pretty Woman" dress I wore to the Derby this year (see it here) - a little too cliche, even though I do love that dress!  Anticipating the "stomping of the divots" between chukkas, however, I knew that heels were a bad idea, so I paired a pink floral sundress with my go-to outdoor summer shoes - the Lindsay Phillips switchflop, this time customized with bold bright pink flower clips.  
          If you live in central Indiana and have an interest in polo, consider a visit to Hickory Hall - nearly all of their matches benefit local charities; you can pack a picnic and pinot to enjoy on the sidelines; and the players visit with the guests between chukkas.  It's a wonderful way to get acquainted with the "sport of kings" in a friendly, accessible atmosphere.  Already planning your visit?  If so, you might enjoy reading "Top 8 Tips for Your First Visit to a Polo Match" and "What to Wear to a Polo Match" from the blog, That's a Pretty Hat.  
          Just for fun, here's a throwback photo of my first equine outing in this dress (with a more elaborate hat and slightly less elaborate flowers on my shoes) for the Kentucky Oaks "pink out" in 2010:

Fashion is what you buy; Style is what you do with it!