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I’ve been a Kastel Denmark fangirl for a LONG time. I was honored to become an ambassador of this brand a couple of years ago…but have been a customer for a decade before that. Why? Consistently awesome/comfortable products and beautiful designs. I’ve got dozens of their shirts (and every time there’s a sale…I pick up more). I also happen to think the founder Charlotte is just an awesome lady I look up to a lot. Recently their outerwear came into my life and I find myself reaching for the jackets and the vest daily…both for the barn and at home, going to meetings, going on school runs and more. Full Zip Quilted Vest is on the docket today for review. Is it as good as everything else from Kastel has been lately?
Firstly…how gorgeous is this color? It’s such a pretty blush shade that goes with so much in my closet. I’ve paired it with similar pinks, green, blues, browns, blacks, grays. There’s honestly not much it doesn’t work with. It’s one of my favorite colors to wear for a reason! And because it’s a rosey shade, I can easily pair it with things to make it spring (like pastel blues or yellows or other pinks)…and easily warm it up with more fall/winter colors like burgundy or rich browns. Because of the design of the side paneling, I feel the vest elongates the body in a pretty way and is quite flattering, which is always a nice bonus for someone with a short torso.
The design of the vest is great. I love the classic quilting with the inclusion of the thinner, stretchy material on the sides and the shoulders. While I love the look of quilting, I don’t always love it in action as the stiff materials always make me feel like I lose some ability of movement (especially on the shoulders) so I appreciate that design when keeping in mind this vest needs to perform while riding. I typically feel the need to take vests off in the car because I tend to get uncomfortable in the shoulder area, but this one I don’t feel any restrictions and don’t have that problem. Because of that, it’s really comfortable to ride in as well.
The design also features zip up pockets (THANK YOU) to secure your keys, phone, treats…etc. I have lost my phone off the back of a galloping horse in the past…so a zipper is king. I also appreciate the double way zipper, though with the cut of this one, I don’t feel like I have to use it to sit well in the saddle. I love the high collar that is cozy enough for warmth, but wide enough to breathe. And I completely appreciate the tone on tone subtle logo as we know not all brands are so subtle with their banding (and in the past Kastel hasn’t been subtle with theirs either at times).
The weight is light…so it’s perfect for spring and fall (or even a cooler summer early morning before a horse show). It’s just enough to cut the wind and chill and keep your core warm, but it’s not going to overheat you quickly. In the saddle it’s the same. It’s just enough…but not too much I need to rip it off mid ride. The stretchy panels are more breathable. The quilted bits are wind resistant. When it’s a little colder, it’s trim enough to fit under a warmer jacket as an extra layer, but also stretchy enough to fit over a jacket if you prefer that look. It’s really a great vest design. I probably should get another color or two…
It’s easy enough care. I wash it cold with all my other horse clothing and hang it up to dry…but I’ve also thrown it on the dryer on low heat and it’s been fine. It hasn’t stained at all (which is always a risk with light colors).
The price is reasonable (on par with other vests of similar quality), and even more reasonable if you use a coupon code on it. My coupon code Rachel10 gets you 10% your order as well to save a little money on the Kastel website, but other people have coupons as well…so use whatever the best one you can find is!