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| not exactly show appropos |
Ok y'all--I loved last week! I am definitely exploring coat options and reading feedback. It's nice to have an idea of what to look at.
So. In the continued interest of not looking like the hill billy cousin next year, our next logical progression is show shirts. For serious. I see so many pictures of all of you on these adorable shirts and I'm like "maybe shows wouldn't be so bad if I could wear that."
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| his outfits are fine |
Help a girl out--What's the best value on the market? Long sleeve or short sleeve? Lace? Sparkles? Cute Patterns? Does the shirt exist that flatters those of us who are not a size zero? I'm planning on recognized dressage, so I need something legal. And cute. And not absurdly expensive (though I'm not in a rush and can wait for sales.)
For recognized dressage, you need white. Sleeves, short or long...unless they changed the rules you have to have sleeves if it's hot enough to go coatless. Check the rule book. I love the Romfh knit shirts I have. I did get them on super sale. Very comfy and sleek...but I am "into" comfy.
ReplyDeleteIf they waive coats (and they usually do if it's over 80 or 85), your shirt must have sleeves and no (huge) monogram. Short sleeves are fine, sleeveless is not. If you don't wear a coat, you don't wear a stock tie.
ReplyDeleteI believe the rulebook allows shirts of a light color, and this last weekend I saw a light grey shirt on a grey horse (looked great), a blue and orange shirt on a bay (awful), and a couple of light blue shirts (eh). There are some shirts on the market that have small ruffles on the front (cute if you like ruffles or are under 21), and some that have lace on the back (cute but you really can't see it when you're riding). There are contrasting cuffs and collars (stay away from contrasting cuffs unless your hands are rock steady).
That said, both of my shirts are short sleeve plain white cotton blends, Goode Rider. They're about $40 each, and they wear launder well. I've looked at fancier/pricier shirts, but a lot of them are very very thin (see through thin) because they're technical fabric, and I really don't like that. I just want to look tidy and workmanlike. I wouldn't mind a contrasting black collar, and I think a blingier belt would add a nice touch, but overall the clean plain white looks fine IMO.
If coats are NOT waived, I wear the same white shirt with a stock tie. Nobody sees the shirt anyway so you could be wearing hot pink polyester and nobody would ever know. If it's cold, I just stick an UnderArmor ColdGear white shirt on instead of the show shirt, and I'm good to go. Keeps you toasty with no bulk - works great for me!
I'm tough to fit for shirts and coats, but I purchased the Essex Classics Talent Yarn show shirt through SmartPak (duh) and I really like this shirt. It's on sale at the moment, the sleeves are mesh so they're breathable, and I think it's pretty comfortable, especially as someone with broad shoulders and a chest.
ReplyDeleteLink here: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/essex-classics-talent-yarn-shirt--longsleeve-11096
Also, I will point out that this shirt is NOT see-through: I wore it at the schooling show a while ago with a black sports bra underneath, and it didn't show through at all. Just an FYI.
DeleteI just ordered the short sleeve version of this. Thanks for the share!
DeleteOkay. First of all, I missed the coat post, but I picked up an Equiline Alice (same as $900DollarFacebook's navy coat, only mine is black with yellow piping) from Cavallo in Germany. Shipping took forever. The coat was super cheap, super comfy, and washes IN THE MACHINE. Best. Thing. Ever.
ReplyDeleteNow, show shirts. Honestly, I show in a cheap SmartPak white with black trim short sleeve shirt. For recognized dressage, you'll see people in all kinds of shirts. Typically if coats are waived, you'll see everyone in white shirt sleeves with the collars undone. The rules say "short sleeved shirt, open collar" or something like that. DON'T go in the ring without your coat and with your ratcatcher or stock tie still on. Disqualifying offense. I just wear my coat anymore. F it. It's only 5 min in the ring. Worth it not to look like a beached white whale on top of a horse (and EVERYONE looks unflattering in all white. Trust me.).
I've been considering getting a sleeveless shirt and a stock tie bib. Sure, it's kinda janky, but it looks super airy and comfortable!!!
Oh! And when coats are waived the short sleeve shirt HAS to be a solid color. The rules don't specify what color, but you'll find TDs and ring stewards who are dumb and will try to forbid you from showing in anything but white. It's dumb, but happens.
DeleteJust checked the rather confusing rules. You might try a light colored shirt, but I'd err on the safe side with white...sorry. Some of the white ones have side cutouts of pastels. They are pretty and slimming. They just say "gloves," but I was once corrected by a judge because my gloves were not white. Conservative color coat, but only approved colors. Light or white breeches still in rules. Never saw anyone eliminated for wrong dress, but sat with a judge who did give a rider a score in a big show even though she had no gloves and one wearing half chaps because it was a big event and they were from the other side of the USA. (Event held at USET in NJ.) So he noted it, but excused them from the rule.
ReplyDeleteNice, informative site here: http://www.doversaddlery.com/images/art/Equine%20Library%2037%20Dressage%20Attire.pdf
ReplyDeleteI have a goode rider one that I got on sale and I LOVE it. The others I have are about ten years old so I don't know what brand they are. I tend not to show without a coat (even if they're waved) because of my back brace, but I see some people showing with dark vests on over their white show shirt- that could be a way of getting away from the all-white look. I dunno if they still allow that though.
ReplyDeleteYou got to use a shadbelly with Rico though. I'd wear my coat too, just because those coats are awesome!
DeleteI've anyways shown in black gloves, never gotten a negative comment. Also, love any shirt with a bit of color, not a surprise! I agree though, I've always worn my coat in the ring, blame vanity, but I hate the way I look in a sea of white, and I'd rather sweat for 5 minutes for good pictures. There are lots of non see through tech shirts and I find any shirt with stretch a winner!
ReplyDeleteI have a long sleeve Romfh shirt... it seems that brand fits the more well-endowed ladies of the barn a bit better. They also have an awesome black vest with lots of bling (I tried my best, but I could NOT get my boobs to fit in it). I love my long sleeve shirt though. It has mesh from the armpit to the wrist on the underside of the sleeve, and I find it much more comfortable and breathable to wear with a coat than than short sleeves with a coat. I'm a sweat machine, plain and simple. My arms would get "stuck" to the inside of my jacket, which would make me feel even hotter... and competing in almost 90 degree heat with almost 100% humidity sucks already. No reason for it to suck more. Because I've got some "curves", I rarely show without a coat. If I do, I use a polo, but that's not a recognized show option. I'm trying to find a shirt that I like without a coat... I need a shirt with starch (like a polo) but it needs to fit my shoulders and boobs... so I'm going to be going through the comments too!
ReplyDeleteMy shirt has a lot of stretch (love) but I have trouble finding white shirts that aren't see through.
DeleteOh man, I do wish I had a lace show shirt! But I do love my purple essex classics yarn show shirt.
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of the Kerrits Ice Fil shirt if you can find one in white. I have the short sleeve version, it's really comfortable and it looks tidy without a jacket - not clingy but it's a little contoured. I also have Essex Talent Yarn and Essex Cool Max long sleeves. I like them both, but I like the Cool Max better, it's more comfortable overall. The talent yarn looks cool with the mesh on the underside of the sleeves, but it was a little snug even though I ordered a size up because it's very fitted.
ReplyDeleteI love my Kerrits shirts - have a white short sleeve and a white sleeveless. Costs around $45 - wash up nice, cool and comfortable, with nice stretch.
ReplyDeleteYour shirt must have sleeves, but it does not have to be white! (My boss is fond of saying "Why look like the moon over Miami while you're walking around the show grounds?")
ReplyDeleteI recommend short sleeves, some kind of tech fabric in a fun color. Kerrits makes a variety of affordable and flattering show shirts, but the hottest seller on the dressage trailer has been a HOT PINK shirt with like, mini studs on the shoulders. (http://www.lvsports.nl/en/product/competition-shirt-debora) Not even kidding.
Essex Talent Yarn shirts are expensive but CHANGED MY LIFE. No really. For those of us with... bigger busts buttons are not our friends. Snaps are better. 4 snaps are EVEN BETTER. Also, machine washable and SO much cooler than cotton.
ReplyDeleteI had a FITS long sleeve. Lovely. But noticed my white cuffs stuck out when I rode. Really broke up the picture. So I switched to short sleeve this year. SO FAB. I ordered like 5 diff ones and ended up loving this one in navy (smartpak) Ariat® Aptos Liberty Show Top. Ran true to size, even for my bustiness. Love the navy up the sides, no embarrassing sweat. :D
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