Show Clothes Designed to Dazzle
by Louisa Amirault, EquineSite.com, LLC

This May marked the two year anniversary of Lindsey Todt’s clothing design business.  Lindsey, now 19 years old, is the young entrepreneur behind Diamond Delight Clothing.  She designs show clothing and accessories for all styles of riding.  What makes her designs stand out is the bold use of color, quality detail accents and innovative fabrics.

Lindsey Todt began riding horses at the age of 4.  When she started showing at 9 years old, she wasn’t going to settle for any of the show clothes she found on the rack.  Her attire was custom made by her grandmother, because she wanted to stand out above the rest.  Now, Lindsey is designing show clothes for everyone who wants to stand out. 

At 15 years old, after realizing her talent by designing her own costumes, Lindsey started planning her business.  She had designed her own Hunt Seat outfit for a show (seen in photo below) and received rave reviews.  She started by designing show bows and hair nets for equestrians, incorporating dazzling Swarovski crystals. Soon, she moved onto vests, using fabrics imported from China and Italy.  Before she knew it, Lindsey was creating custom Saddle Seat suits and Hunt coats by request.  The name, Diamond Delight, was inspired by her Morgan horse, Delight…who is “worth more than a diamond” to Lindsey.

“Our dark colored shirts are the most popular items with Hunt Seat riders,” says Lindsey.  Color in the Hunt Seat show ring has grown in popularity, but it is still difficult to find shirts in anything other than pastel colors.  Diamond Delight Hunt Shirts come in a wide variety of colors including plum, teal, orange and royal.  Some styles have collars that are embellished with Swarovski crystals and beads.   All the shirts are made with a lightweight cotton blend fabric, to give the them more wrinkle resistance.

Saddle seat riders gravitate towards the Sleeveless Saddle Seat Show Shirts...a useful item for summer showing.  Like the Hunt Seat shirts, there are styles with Swarovski embellished collars.

Lindsey’s new L&D line consists of “design your own” Hunt Seat coats, Shadbellies, Saddle Seat suits and Western outfits using lighter weight fabrics for comfort.  Cool microfiber chaps are available in an endless stream of colors.  The Saddle Seat suits boast snaps, eliminating the need for pinning.  You no longer have to hunt for the right color hunt coat.  The line “represents everything I imagine a champion should look and feel like,” says Lindsey.

Western riders usually build their outfits around one of Lindsey's eye-catching vests.  All vests have Velcro closures for convenience.  These silky vests are available in prints and solids, some accented with Swarovski crystals.  However, if you don’t find the vest you want, Lindsey can create it. 

Much of Lindsey’s work is custom design.  She can create beautiful custom clothing for any style or any size.  If you can imagine it, she can design it and have it made for you.  All colors and designs of Diamond Delight Clothing’s show clothing have been pre-approved by the USEF, so riders can feel confident to express their individual style while still adhering to tradition.  

Diamond Delight Clothing is available for children too!  What little girl wouldn’t want to create her show outfit from such an expansive array of colors with a glitzy show bow or bun cover to match?  Lindsey’s designs are perfect for the little equestrian who also thinks of herself as a little princess.

On the website, the Design Your Own Hairbow section is very popular.  Shoppers can select the style of bow they want, pick the ribbon color, pick the pendant and even pick the colors of the crystals on the net.  On-line shoppers can also sign up for the Delights Reward Card to earn a $10 gift card, birthday surprise and early access to sales.

Diamond Delight Clothing is already making its mark in the industry.  Lindsey’s accessories and clothing are starting to appear in tack shops around New England, and her story recently appeared in Morgan Horse Magazine.   Diamond Delight Clothing will be at the 2010 Equine Affaire in West Springfield, Massachusetts next fall, where curious equestrians can see these designs up close and personal.  Lindsey hopes that Diamond Delight Clothing will someday be the leading brand of quality equestrian show clothing.  Check out Diamond Delight Clothing at www.DiamondDelightClothing.com

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