Polo Style advice from Style For Hire Stylist Paula O'Neil
Can you tell me a little bit about your background as a stylist and how you first came to love polo?
I have loved both fashion and horses since I was a little girl growing up outside of Seattle in WA state. I especially loved showing my horse, because it combined the elegance of the English equestrian look with the beauty and fluidity of the horse’s movements. There was something so exciting and lovely about the two together. Having my hair in a bun, wearing breeches, a smart riding jacket and my velvet riding helmet definitely made me sit up straighter!
My love for polo specifically came as a result of working with dear friends who owned a two polo clubs, one in the Pacific Northwest and one in La Quinta, CA. As their marketing and special events consultant, I traveled to polo clubs across the country, connecting with the players, horses and many people who live and breathe this amazing international sport.
What are some tips for American ladies on choosing a hat and outfit for a polo match?
First, it is important to consider what type of match you will be attending, and like any special event, take note of the time and location. Will it be a casual match on a lazy Saturday or is it a special memorial cup, 26-goal event to which "Everyone" will attend?
"Polo is a very international sport, and that Argentine + European sensibility and love for perfecting tailored, luxurious fabrics and accessories in simple silhouettes will be appreciated much more on these fields"
There are a few specific tips on what can be both appropriate and comfortable, but overall my opinion is that an "easy-chic elegant" approach will fit the bill every time. Unlike going to the "races", i.e. the Kentucky Derby, polo is a very international sport, and that Argentine + European sensibility and love for perfecting tailored, luxurious fabrics and accessories in simple silhouettes will be appreciated much more on these fields than the ka-pow of the super-posh, over-the-top chapeaus of the track.
That being said, here are a few tips to nailing that effortless "Who me? I just threw this on" look that we are discussing, while remaining comfortable and ready to fully participate in all that a polo match has to offer:
1. Ladies, please do not wear shoes with stiletto heels. Period. A polo match might be held in a beautiful club environment, but you will inevitably walk on grass to get there. It completely ruins an overall look when one is constantly pulling one's heels out of the dirt. Our solution? A fantastic wedge heel or an elegant and embellished flat sandal can not only complement your outfit, it can make it possible for you to participate in the "divot-stomping" on the field during half-time. If you don't know what this is, go ahead, rent Pretty Woman one more time.
"There is no better accessory than a hat for a polo match"
2. There is no better accessory than a hat for a polo match, as it can both complete a total look AND save you from the sun beating down on your head during the hours that you are near the field. Again, when considering a hat for polo, it is better to leave the long feathered, structured, multi-tiered bonnets at home in their boxes, and instead reach for a chic panama, or the unstructured look of a wide, yet flexible more "beachy" type hat. I have also seen fantastic geometric print headscarves, a la Pucci, put to great use at polo matches, hearkening back to the days of Princess Grace in Monaco - especially when worn with oversized, Jackie O dark sunnies.
"A jersey or sun dress in a sleek, modern cut or a long maxi dress with some statement jewelry pieces can be great for those warm weather matches"
3. The ultimate goal for one's outfit should be to combine comfort with style and polish. I find the easiest way to do this for women, utilizing the footwear and head accessory tips above, is to throw on a dress. Polo is almost always played when it isn't raining, and a jersey or sun dress in a sleek, modern cut or a long maxi dress with some statement jewelry pieces can be great for those warm weather matches or, when layered with a great little jacket or knit number on top, can easily transition when the clouds roll in.
Do you think American polo fans have different style depending upon the location of the polo match?
Absolutely! When I visited Big Horn in Wyoming, the perfect outfit was a perfectly fitting pair of white or dark wash jeans (for the ladies, not just the players whose uniform is always a pair of white jeans), some sort of long sleeve or short sleeve silk shirt in a muted color, and a well-worn pair of Ariat boots - accessorized with a cashmere shawl, an Hermes bracelet and men's watch. Polo is very much a family sport, and at clubs like Big Horn and San Diego Polo Club I spent much of my time sprawled on a picnic blanket with a glass of Veuve in my hand. This would not be so easy to fully enjoy if one was in an Herve Leger dress...
In West Palm Beach, the most stylish women (again, many of them from traveling from Argentina, Australia, or Europe to play in one of the most competitive polo communities in the world) will wear an outfit that whispers rather than screams uber-chic, sometimes approaching the event with a nod to a more "formal" affair - enter a Trina Turk colorful sheath or BCBG flowing maxi dress with Stuart Weitzman wedges, or Gucci Romanesque-flats. Throw a great clutch into the mix and you're done to enjoy the day. More often than not, however, they are sporting a more easy breezy look and focus more on luxurious accessories than anything else (great bag, sunglasses, hat, shawl, statement jewelry)
I would recommend for anyone attending a polo match/event for the first time, take a bit of time and search out some of the club's previous event photos online. This will give you a better idea of how to refine your look given that particular club's approach to polo overall (more casual, more formal, or themed attire) and give you some intel as to what type of match you will be attending (regular play or a finals cup).
Do you have any secret tips to get the most out of a polo match?
My advice would be to spend some time learning the very basic rules of the sport. If you have the time, go online to search out some of the players and learn their backgrounds. Many of them are from other parts of the world (as are their horses!) and this international element, combined with some of the best athleticism of any sport, can be as intoxicating as anything you might receive at the bar!
Paula O'Neil has worked as the executive director for a private polo club and is the National Market Director and a Personal Stylist at Style For Hire.
Find more information about Paula here: https://www.styleforhire.com/stylists/11/profile
See photos of hats I have worn at Saratoga Polo polo matches here:
And a sneak peek at what the Saratoga Polo experience is like:
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