I used to get so excited when my mom would take my sister and I out shopping for clothes when we were kids. Back to school shopping was really the biggest time of the year for those kind of trips – but there were other times of the year when we would go as well. I just remember the feeling of excitement when I was led into the store though, as would see all of the new clothes lined up on their racks.
Unfortunately for me (or for my mom, as it were), I was one of those awkward, gangly sized kids. I was always (and I mean always) growing taller. And so one of the problems that I were really pretty normal for me to encounter were to not be able to find pants that fit quite right. Because if the pants fit me at the waist, they weren’t long enough. And vice-versa, if the pants were long enough, they were practically falling down.
So there were always a lot of clothes that I really wanted to like – they looked great on the hanger, or on the more average sized mannequin. But when I tried them on, they just didn’t work for me. Maybe the sleeves were too short. Or the pant legs weren’t long enough (till this day, I still think that it would be fab for clothing companies to make girls clothes in TALL sizes … I still honestly have a complex about pants that are not long enough).
Suffice to say that being able to put together an outfit that I truly LOVED was a rarity for me. Because I’m a person who is very into details, and I can be a little bit critical, so if something doesn’t fit me quite right, I’ll notice. And it will bother me. But I don’t really expect everything I own to fit me perfectly — when you buy clothes off of a rack that are meant to fit a wide range of individuals, they will fit everyone a little differently, depending on their body type.
That is simply because everyone is an individual, and totally unique. And that is what makes the world such a great place — that everyone is NOT the same. There are different personalities, opinions and body types. So there is a need for different styles, colors, and fits to offer something for everybody…which is great! That just means that it is only a matter of finding what works for you.
This post is going to be a little different then my norm because I had an completely awesome chance to work with Noble Outfitters to put together my very own spring look to get ready for the 2015 schooling and show season. With so many styles and colors to pick from, there is something for any preference, but I’m about to give you a preview of what my personal picks are for this season, and why they work for me.
Starting from the top…let’s talk about tops. This season, I’ve been wearing the Ashley Performance Shirt and have been oh-so pleased with the fit, styling and how it wears for me in the saddle. The Ashley shirt is both lightweight and breathable; it is made of a stretchy-feeling Tactel fabric that has a UPF 50+ rating and is machine washable. The underside of both sleeves have a breathable mesh, and the back also has a built in mesh panel that helps to provide additional ventilation.
And the fit just works for me, from the flat seam construction, the dropped back and the princess side seams, I feel like the Ashley Performance shirt is very flattering. The shirt also features the Opti-Dry technology that I’ve come to appreciate very much, as it helps to pull moisture away from my skin and dry quickly. Which keeps me looking and feeling terrific.
The shirt does come in five different colors, though my favorite is a shade of pink called ‘Vivacious’ because the mesh under the sleeves is an chic looking pattern of pastel leaves and palm fronds. I don’t feel overheated, even on warm days, thanks to the super sassy looking mesh built in under the long sleeves. And let’s not forget that the sleeves are long enough even for my long arms!
Pairing the Ashley Performance shirt with the Balance Riding Tights works really nicely. I’ve had a bit of history with the Tights, as I started wearing them late last year — in fact, you can check out my full review of them here. The Balance Riding Tights are made of a stretchy fabric that is a blend of Supplex Nylon & Spandex. They feature a Euroseat design, flat seam construction and Toray ultrasuede knee patches.
But my favorite features of the Balance Riding Tights? Firstly, the fact that the tights also feature my favored Opti-Dry technology that keeps me comfortable while in the saddle. Though I’m also a fan of the ‘stash pocket’ that is integrated into the design. Having that stash pocket conveniently located on my left leg is great to be able to slip things in, and it even fits my extra large sized smartphone.
Continuing to move downwards, I’ve been wearing Noble’s Over the Calf Peddies as part of my riding outfit. The Over the Calf Peddies feature a padded toe and foot, that reaches up to offer an ankle shield, which protects from pesky boot pinch points. The rest of the peddie is made of an ultra thin calf.
I like how comfortable the Over the Calf Peddies are to wear; the padding in the foot and ankle works really nicely under riding boots, be they paddock boots or tall boots. And the ultra thin calf provides coverage, without adding extra bulk under my boots or half chaps. Plus, I also like that the Over the Calf Peddies are available in either solids or fun prints. My favorite pair has a pastel palm frond pattern that perfectly matches the mesh of the Ashley Performance Shirt.
When working around the barn, I also like to pull on a pair of MUDS Cold Front High Boots. I was excited to try a pair of the newly redesigned MUDS boots during this past winter. They are made out a soft, flexible feeling rubber, and they are specifically available in women’s sizes, so there’s no picking out a unisex pair of boots that feel like they will swallow up your foot. I also like that the boots are offered in half sizes, as I typically have to size up to the next whole size.
The MUDS Cold Front Boots feature a fleece lining (that is a snazzy looking blackberry color), and also have a 5mm insulating neoprene lining. They have done a nice job holding up through the cold, and have kept my feet warm through snowy and muddy conditions. I’ve still been wearing then during the nippy mornings of spring, since our temperatures have been dipping down into the 20s and 30s overnight.
And what better to finish off an outfit then accessorizing it? I was really excited when I found out that Noble Outfitters partnered with Clever with Leather to offer a line of belts and bracelets to help accessorize an outfit. My picks from their lineup include the On the Bit Bracelet, along with the matching On the Bit Belt.
Both the bracelet and the belt are made of leather, and they feature stylish little Eggbutt Snaffle Bits. I personally gravitated towards the havana colored belt and bracelet. Because the bracelet is actually available with different colors of padding – and there is an option for a havana colored bracelet, with a Vivacious colored padding to match my favorite colored Ashley shirt. Perfect. Match. That’s all!
You can check out each of my picks for my Spring Look at the Noble Outfitters website.
The Ashley Performance Shirt retails for $79.99, and you can find it here. Then, take a look at the Balance Riding Tights here, which retail for $89.99. Also, the Over the Calf Peddies are available in many (many) colors for $14.99 a pair, which you can find here. The MUDS Cold Front Boots also have a retail price of $109.99, and you can check them out here. And finally, the On the Bit Bracelet and Belt retail for $22.99 and $59.99 respectively, and you can find the bracelet here, and the belt here.
Go Spring Style AND Performance (Around the Barn & In the Saddle). Go Noble Outfitters. Go Eventing.