Hello!! in less than a month it will be Pippins first show!!!!! :D Cannot believe we are finally getting there and that my baby is growing up so fast!! Was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on the right colours of clothing to buy to complement a black dog/(yankee :) ) in the ring! I am quite a disaster when it comes to this kind of thing ......all advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!
Carol :)

pink, white, light blue, green, peach, orange, well basically any colour!!!!! :D

with my aussies (black tris) I normally wear pink or light grey.  will sometimes wear a chocolate but try not to if indoors due to dark lighting! :)

Basically with black you can wear any light colours! :)

Good luck in searching, black is the in colour for suits ATM!  (I finally got black suits for my setters...infact 3! )

Edit to add: bet your not a disarster...and my condition is worse...I am addicted to buying suits.  Also don't forget about shoes to go with the suit.  You will need a nice comfy pair of flat shoes with good grip...did I state they should be comfy! :D  Have  alook in M&S at their shoes.  they have some lovely ones sometimes in 'footglove'  They bend in half and feel like slippers more the shoes...

Just a thought, for indoor shows pick cooler colours (blue pinks, blues, blue greens, blue reds etc) as the lighting is often very strange and can make warm colours look dingy ;)  same for make up, cooler colours make you look less dingy ;)  outdoor shows aren't a problem this way :) :)

It also affects the colour of the dogs too - I have one warm grey dog who always looks dingy and grubby at indoor shows but looks fine outside :rolleyes: but there's nowt can be done about it :(

Thanks Ice queen and Dill for great advice!!! I will look for the light colours then...never thought of the lighting affecting the colour at the indoor shows but now I think of it I have noticed it!!   Ice Queen thanks for the shoe advice, never thought of it either.....thank goodness I asked, I will look in M&S and let you know how I get on!! :)
Carol

Dill, with mainly white dogs I know what lighting can do...in some venues they look yellowish :(  at least all dog dogs are at the same disadvantage!

Carol, I've no problem about giving advice on clothes!  I love suit shopping!  Mum buys me a couple of suits a year (well both for crufts!) and they are always teh best suits because mummy pays for them! :D  But I have to try so hard to stop myself buying more....I have 3 pink suits, 1 of them is a 3 peice! Don't know why I need that many in one colour!

Shoes are the thing everyone forgets (and little bro forgets to take to shows....).  Also look in sales for suits, or if you want charity shops have some great stuff sometimes.  :)

I wnat a new suit now...even though I've not yet worn my newest one....

OK, how about something that will suit a blenheim (chestnut and white) and a tricolour (mainly black and white) Cavalier. I thought medium grey but was unable to find this colour in the shops, so ended up with light beige, which isn't good when the puppy jumps up at me!!

How about a dark/deep greenish colour (doesn't have to be pure green ;) ) or lighter tone of the same?  this would show up the blenheim superbly and still show the tri to advantage :) :)

Ice queen,

with grey dogs (or blues to be correct ;) ) the shades of blue/grey can vary from clear blue grey to muddy brownish blue grey, this doesn't seem so apparent in daylight but can be glaringly obvious in a leisure centre :(  they always seem to have the worst lighting :( - I'm just glad I don't have a weimeraner, they look just awful under the yellowish lighting :(

Hmm, hadn't thought of green. Mind you we are supposed to be saving money, which will be difficult after some idiot came out of a side road and hit my car today! Luckily the dogs weren't in it or they would have got a shock! :-(

I'll have to see what's around at Christmas and put a new suit for Crufts on my present list! :-)

Lucy what you want to do is shop in january sales! ;) cheep suit for crufts! ;)  Just ask for the money for one!!! :D

Excellent idea! :-D

you could then get two suits ;) :D Therefore not having to panik wash one and get it dry especially in winter when they are more prone to get muddy and it's harder to dry them, unless you dare to put a suit in the tumble.....

Oi, stop tempting me to spend money!! :-)

But this is a Necessity.... :D

But if you really want me to....

Lucy only buy one suit in the sales with the cheepest price tag... ;)

I know you won't follow my latest advice ;)

Avoid red, orange, black or white.... (aaahhhh my avoiding colours!)  Lilac or pink if your skin and hair allow it.  As dill says Green.  Olive green would go well or a slightly lighter shade of green, but not too light.

Many colours are not suitable for jumping pups, not even my chocolate suit, infact my beige one was best untill some dog chew the pocket!!!!!! :)

Mid grey would go well.  Have you tried Primark if there's one near you?  I'm sure there's a grey one in there ATM (well in our local one there is!) which is nice. 

Oh something else to think about...what are you going to wear under your jacket?

Get a colour to compliment.  I normally wear bright tops under dark/dull suits (pinks, lemon etc) or a black top under light suits. 

I have recently found that shirts/blouse are much nicer then t-shirts but that's me personally.  and because I found matalan do nice comfy quality shirts at a good price! 

Just something else for you to think about! :)

Something else to think about is how low cut your top is.  I was shown a photo taken of me at Windsor and it wasnt of my dog

To me this is the hardest part than showing the dog!! :D :D :D

Do i look too casual? Do i look to posh? Does my bum look enormous when i bend over to place my dogs legs? Do my boobs pop out my top when i do they same? :D :D :D
One thing i don't wear are bridget jones knickers at shows after seeing a lady in white pants wearing dark big knickers

It is a bit of a nightmare isnt it, you dont want to look overdressed but you dont want to look scruffy either :rolleyes: ive got some quite smart (but still casual) combat style jackets ( but not camoflague :D ) which I wear with trousers or I wear a suit jacket with jeans.  I dont like wearing a full suit, in my breed very few people go the whole hog :)

I also have to bend over in front of the mirror before I leave to make sure nothing falls out

roflmao i'm sure nobody told me about this side of showing.

Hmmm well at least you've had the benefit before you go in the ring :D
I've seen some horrors at shows and you just cringe for the 'handler' saying
that they always seem blissfully unaware of their faux pax :)
Like the G-string which comes above their trousers as they stack their dog
giving all the ringside full view of what underwear they are wearing...

Even judges aren't safe, I know of one judge that split their trousers before
judging and had to wear their coat the whole time in the ring :D

So just make sure when you do buy your showing clothes that you do all
manner of 'exercises' in the changing room to make sure you have enough room
for full movement and that your bits stay where you want them..
Always found that a sports bra is a necessity for the top heavy, much more comfortable
and less likely to embarrass too :)

See this showing lark isn't as simple as it first appears :)

at a show and the judge pointed to a lady after she had done just a lap of the ring and she said me he said no madame your boob,
she was bright red and the ringside sniggers could be heard .so make sure they stop where they are supposed to be.
carol

Hi Carol......which is going to be your first show? i will look out for you
Pauline

what about heels, ive got my first show with my bitch soon and i never wear flats only trainers when i go to ringcraft. The problem is i was going to wear black trousers and all my black shoes and boots have heels, will i have to go out and buy flats especially?

I picked up a really nice pair of leather type trainer/smart shoe for £4.00 (reduced) in Bacons shoes in Belfast. Have a look in Asda, PRIMARK, matalan for some shoe bargains.

Luvapug, if your heels are only an inch or so then you should be OK with a Pug being a walking dog if you will be comfortable all day in heels.

I go by the fact that at a show I'm running around outside the ring and I also mainly show setters and aussies which are a running breed.  I do have seperate shoes for showing as to be honest they are far from fashionable!  I go for comfort and shows and not for style! ;)

I have a friend who did pick up some very nice, comfortable black flat shoes, debanhams make, price tag included in a charity shop for £2!!!!!!!

I have had shoes for £5 before from Newlook in a sale however I also go back to my M&S footgloves. :) JMPO!

I wear a pair of grey/black trainer/leisure shoes (not trainers exactly) but they appear to go with anything or at least i haven't heard any whispers outside the ring saying "Jees look at those shoes!"

I wear a maroon trouser suite, although I'm really looking for a nice blue as that would go with any colour :d

Does it really make a difference on what you wear ? :)

Surely if you look and feel comfortable and feel confident in what you wear that should be enough ?

Is there a dress etiquete then ? As in you couldn't wear a mini skirt and a boob tube :D

Lucy
xx

(total virgin to showing :) )

From the replies i guess its a woman thing i mean lets be honest woman notice these things and are often more critical.

Having said that i must give thanks to my wonderbra that i swear got me a BOB and not my dog ;)

My girl.  Sharing my showing with two boys (Dad and bro) blokes also take care in what they wear!  They both spend hours in changing rooms trying on the suit making sure sleaves don't rise when arms out streached (staking setter).  Shoes also being comfy etc etc etc...only difference is...have you ever seen the price of a man's suit!!!!  My 3 for crufts cost the same as Bro's one for crufts (a 15 year old lad still growing) it only just fits him now... 

It makes a lot of difference; you have to pick a colour that contrasts with the dog so that the dog shows up well against your clothes. Like a zebra on a zebra crossing you wouldn't be able to see it properly but put it on a violent blue back ground and could see it really well! The judge needs to be able to see the dog completely. You can also adjust the tone of the dog by what clothes you wear. I know someone who wears a pinky jacket when showing a wheaten and it is unbelievable just how much difference it makes, it makes her dog look more 'wheatenie'

sarah xxxxx

But isn't a wheaten a small terrier so what difference would a pink jacket make ? :)

Lucy
xx

Not a small terrier more like medium size and when showing a wheaten they are floor dogs that are stacked so you have to crouch down this make your jacket right next to the dog or you bend down and again your jacket in next to your dog. Like I said you wouldn't think that the jacket would make that much difference but you have to see it and straight away you notice. Its like if you wear black with a wheaten their coat tends to look paler that if you wore a brown suit which make them look more reddish.

Sarah xxxxx

Lucy, even with a small dog and for this example I'm going to use a Parson russel.

The Parson is a mainly white dog with some black/tan, the one I'm handling for the example is white with very little tan on the face Now lets take a nice pair of black trousers and a pink jacket.  On the floor my parson is freestood with my infront of him.  The background is the outside of the ring!  I then put my parson on the table where he becomes a stacked dog where I top and tail him standing to his side.  He is now against my pink jacket showing well to the judge.  Next it the movement, where now my parson is against my black trousers.

You see my black trousers are important and my pink jacket showed my dog on our individual attention! :)

Hope that makes it clearer even if it is a small dog! :) 

oh and I just noticed my friend who handles a parson is wearing black trousers and a pink jacket in the photo of me and her.... Freaky!

>As in you couldn't wear a mini skirt and a boob tube

I'm sure you could but all eyes would be on the wrong end of the lead :D :D Or in my case, the people rolling on the floor and laughing would be terribly distracting for the dogs :D

:D :D

Does it also depend on what sex the judge is or even sexual orientation :D :D

Lucy
xx

LOL

Lucy, a few years back there was a woman at one of the shows I went to, she was wearing a boob tube and mini (well almost!!) and I can tell you, everyone outside the ring had their eyes hanging out (even the women, we'd never seen the like!! ) she had a lovely dog but wasn't picked out, the rumour was that the judge was afraid to look towards her as his wife was at the show too :D :D :D :D    So revealing too much isn't always good idea ;)

I've noticed that in the hound rings some of the exhibitors wear jodhpurs (or jodhpur type slacks) and dark riding jacket, this looks extremely smart without being too 'dressy'.  Wish I had the figure for it :)  - but then I have terriers and flat cap, green wellies and Barbour don't really have the same effect :D :D :D

Well doesn't it show that judging is not just what the dog is like and is open to outside influences

Lucy
xx

:D :D :D I'm sorry this thread has really had me giggling.

I tend to wear either blue or khaki colours (or generally dark colours) my dog is fawn, if i wore similar clours i doubt you would be able to see her topline as clearly.

Of course I've read that if your dog's hasn't got a good topline you might want to wear a similar colour to make sure it CAN'T be seen as clearly!! :-D

Yes Lucy that is something that can be done and is done....you can also disguise the height of a dog if you wear the same colour making everything blend in!!!!! ;)

Rox,

I wonder if to wear a colour the same as the dog to 'hide' the dog, makes the judge take extra care when they are watching you then. If it is well known by 'show goers' ( ;) ) that this works, wouldn't a judge be looking out for it?

Sorry, none of it applies to me, just wondered! :D

Nat :D

Some judges yes.

Having learnt all the handling tips and grooming tips for me as a judge I can look under everything.  Checking the REAL bone of an aussie on the legs and thinking "why".  :D But shhhh some judges judge the dogs on what they see/feel not what they can find hidden!

OK Rox, I won't tell a soul.... ;)

Lucy, if you read any junior handling book there is at least a page on dress etiquite on what you should and should't wear! 

And now think about this....Have you ever seen a championship show group winner where anything less then a suit/trouser & jacket/shirt and all men wearing a tie? :)

It's just seen as normal to dress smart to help make your dog look it's best :)

will i be able to wear my bum bag in the ring for treats for my dog?

Yes, no problem with that!
:)

Bum bags are ideal (although I prefere pockets because I don't like the size of bumbags!) :D  You don't even HAVE to look smart...it just looks nicer! :)

brock is a red bullmastiff what colour should i wear is it black?

Black would go well (and easy to get hold of this season!)

you could also try pastel blues or greens which can normally be found for summer in short sleaves! (good for those hot days!) :)

Believe it or not today I bought the suit I'm going to wear for Crufts :D And shoes to match!! I just HAD to have it and I expect, for what it cost, I will get alot of wear out of it! Just need to lost a couple of pounds then it'll fit perfect...why do we always buy clothes that are just a tad too small!!!!