Equus Couture Vintage Ladies Competition Shirt Review

Rachel MasenOctober 30, 2017

Reviews For The Rider0 Comments

8.8Overall Score

Style10

Fit7

Quality9

Comfort9

I lusted after the Vintage Ladies Competition Shirt from Equus Couture for a number of months before I finally hit that purchase button. I love this shirt so much, I needed to give it a review so more of you can see exactly what your missing! It is a stunning piece of equestrian fashion and feels very couture (as you would expect from the company). It is so very different than anything else on the market and when you wear it, you feel like you’re wearing something very special…not just a simple shirt.

A sheer vintage fabric covers the top of the shirt and a more structured fabric makes up the body of the shirt, with yet a third fabric in the sleeve and button details. Beautiful vintage styled buttons accent the shirt and the pleating on the sleeve and ruffles add a very soft and feminine touch. The grey is neutral, classically elegant and unique at the same time. This shirt stands out in the crowd of the sportier shirts that are so popular right now and they don’t look like they belong in the same century, and I’m totally happy about that. I have gotten a number of compliments at shows on this shirt and if jackets are waived I have no concern going without a jacket as this shirt is so sharp. It has also translated well to street style and no one is the wiser that it is a show shirt and it draws compliments anywhere it goes.

Comfort and performance is not really the goal of this shirt I admit, but it is surprisingly more comfortable than it looks. It is tailored quite beautifully and is very flattering but it is a little warmer than your average modern show shirt (but not by a lot surprisingly). I have worn it to a couple of shows with no complaints on comfort or restriction. It is long enough to tuck in, but doesn’t have too much fabric to add bulk when tucked in. I have plenty of movement in my shoulders and arms and the sleeves are sleek enough that they don’t add bulk under a jacket. It doesn’t stain easily and still looks brand new after a number of wears (and several around Mr. Spicy who loves to wipe his face on my stomach). It needs to be hand washed to preserve the delicate nature of the vintage fabric but has cleaned easily each time.

The shirt fits fairly well, but there are a couple of things I think could improve it. A zipper in the chest area under the arm would make it easier to get on and off (or a fabric with some give in it. Elastic in the arm would make the fit a bit more forgiving as well. The sizing is a bit old school (aka it’s not vanity sized) and I needed an XL to fit my arms and chest (I usually wear a 10 on top). I’m not sure I could have fit a large over my shoulders without a zip of some sort, and if you have much of a bust at all this shirt probably isn’t for you in its current variation.

I personally love this shirt and recommend it if you’re looking for something special to help you stand out in the show ring (or just let you feel special).

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