Classic Individuality: Best Fashions From the 2025 KY3DE

This year was all about pairing timeless classics with smart accents. Check out the fun fashions we spotted at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event.

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There are so many reasons the Kentucky Three-Day Event is known as “The Best Weekend All Year” to eventing fans—and rider and spectator fashions are an integral part of the Kentucky experience. This year, tradition with a mod twist was the collective theme. Earth tones, bit accents, gold buttons, Swarovski crystal details, tweed, floral prints and pairing understated pieces with whimsical accents and pops of color were popular fashion choices.

Here’s a glimpse of the best fashions from the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. (You never know … we might have caught your Kentucky style on camera this year!)

Lauren Nicholson (USA) is all class in a floral blouse and denim a-line skirt with I’ll Have Another before the CCI5*-L first horse inspection last Wednesday at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. ©Alana Harrison

Katherine Coleman (USA) is stunning in black leather pants paired with a camel jacket and matching suede over-the-knee boots accented with a silk scarf during the second CCI5*-L jog with Monbeg Senna. ©Heather Terdan

Amateur eventer and commentator Frankie Thieriot-Stutes looking chic before her on-camera interviews. ©Alana Harrison

Cassie Sanger (USA), who completed her first CCI5*-L with Redfield Fyre this weekend, in a military-style army-green jacket dress with gold button accents, black leggings and ankle boots. ©Heather Terdan

Volunteers clad in classic khaki and white help man the in-gate while watching the CCI5*-L competitors warm up for their dressage tests last Thursday. ©Alana Harrison

Dana Cooke (CAN) looks elegant in a navy jacket with gold buttons and matching tall boots with tassel accents paired with white jeans during the CCI4*-S jog with FE Quatro. ©Heather Terdan

Savannah Fulton (USA), who completed her first CCI4*-S with Cash Point this weekend, sports a navy pinstripe suit during Sunday’s horse inspection. ©Heather Terdan

Monica Spencer’s (NZL) Sunday CCI5*-L Jog fashions included a fitted black leather jacket and white jeans during the second horse inspection with Thoroughbred Artist. ©Heather Terdan

Pairing different shades of brown and tan was a popular color theme among eventing fan and competitor fashions this year. ©Alana Harrison

Seven-time Olympian Phillip Dutton and Denim at the CCI4*-S jog on Sunday. ©Heather Terdan

A Kentucky Three-Day Event spectator sporting a chocolate shawl with an elegant bit pattern and white trim. ©Alana Harrison

A spectator at the second horse inspection shouldering a gorgeous leather hand bag with genuine bit accents. ©Kathleen Landwehr

While tradition formerly reigned supreme in dressage, subtle yet elegant details like Swarovski crystals are now popular trends on shadbellies. ©Alana Harrison

Spectators navigate Kentucky’s massive cross-country track in elegant tweed. ©Kathleen Landwehr

Allison Springer (USA) in a dark tan trench-style coat with gold button accents and matching ankle boots paired with white jeans as she and and No May Moon jogged for the CCI4*-S horse inspection on Sunday. ©Heather Terdan

Monica Spencer (NZL) in a Fairfax & Favor black-and-white checkered shawl-jacket paired with black leather pants and suede over-the-knee boots during the first CCI5*-L jog last Wednesday. ©Alana Harrison

Jessica Phoenix (CAN) in striking shades of cream during Sunday’s CCI5*-L Jog with the loudly colored Fluorescent Adolescent. ©Heather Terdan

Buck Davidson (USA) sported a tweed jacket with soft green and baby blue undertones as he and Sorocaima did their CCI5*-L jog on Sunday. ©Heather Terdan

Buck Davidson’s mom, Carol Davidson, looked elegant in green slacks and a silk floral top while supporting her son at this year’s event. ©Alana Harrison

While international travel to the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event was down this year, many British fans still crossed the pond to support and cheer on Great Britain’s contenders. ©Kathleen Landwehr

Bec Braitling (AUS) in a classic powder-pink tweed jacket with gold button accents as she and Caravaggio II jogged for the CCI5*-L second horse inspection on Sunday. ©Heather Terdan

CCI5*-L competitor Emily Hamel (USA) in a hunter-green Fairfax & Favor jacket with gold button details and tan leather boots with tassel accents before the first horse inspection on Wednesday. ©Alana Harrison

Hayley Frielick (NZL) wears an oversized cream sweater paired with jeans and chocolate boots during the CCI4*-S jog with Sportsfield Lumiere on Sunday. ©Heather Terdan

A spectator dons a bright-pink hat with feather accents while watching the second horse inspection on Sunday. ©Kathleen Landwehr

Swarovski crystal detailing was also spotted on the front of dressage shadbellies and as button accents. ©Alana Harrison

Jonelle Price (NZL) sports an ivory ME+ME mini-dress for the CCI5*-L first horse inspection with Hiarado last Wednesday. ©Alana Harrison

During Sunday’s CCI5*-L jog, Jonelle Price (NZL) was spotted in a lilac cropped jacket and matching pleated slacks. ©Heather Terdan

A British fan supports Great Britain’s riders with the country’s flags in his back pockets. ©Alana Harrison

Kingsley dressage boots in polished Uragano blue leather with ostrich blue dulce top and Swarozvski crystal accents. ©Alana Harrison

Ema Klugman (AUS), who competed in both the CCI4*-S and CCI5*-L, sported a blue and orange ribbon in support of Liz Halliday who is recovering after a fall last year. ©Alana Harrison

Mary Bess Davis (USA), who completed her first CCI5*-L this weekend, wore a tan cropped jacket over a baby-blue turtleneck with matching ballet flats paired with white slacks during Sunday’s second horse inspection with Imperio Magic. ©Heather Terdan

Micahel Jung (GER), who claimed his fifth Kentucky CCI5*-L win this year—and his second with eventing partner fischerChipmunk FRH—looking dapper during Wednesday’s first horse inspection in a tailored navy suit and red socks. ©Alana Harrison

A spectator in the Rolex Stadium in a white and chartreuse mid-length maxi-dress with bubble sleeves. ©Alana Harrison

A spectator at Wednesday’s CCI5*-L jog in a blue-and-white seersucker sundress and straw hat. ©Alana Harrison

Arden Wildasin (USA), who completed her first CCI5*-L with Sunday Times, in a colorful silk blouse, black slacks and ankle boots during Sunday’s second horse inspection. ©Heather Terdan

Mia Farley (USA) sports a cropped tweed jacket with gold button accents and black skinny jeans while jogging Invictus during Sunday’s CCI4*-S horse inspection. ©Heather Terdan

Molly Duda in a ribbed cream sweater, pleated navy slacks with a bubble hem and chocolate ankle boots during Sunday’s CCI4*-S jog with Disco Traveler. ©Heather Terdan

For more of our coverage on the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, click here.

Thanks to Kent Nutrition Group and Blue Seal for our coverage of the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event. It includes lead-up events, rider interviews, competition reports, horse spotlights, photos, videos and more.