Hello! I’m new here. I’ve started riding again after a 20 year (!!) hiatus. I ended my show career in the high junior jumpers and now after my first few lessons recently, I can barely walk, LOL. I just bought some new Ariat paddock boots and half chaps (I used to ride in full custom chaps and I dont think anyone does that anymore?) but need advice on great schooling breeches and helmets! My mother is sending me my old Tailored Sportsmans but have a feeling the fit and material might be a little off and there are probably some better options just for lessons a couple times a week and getting my seat and leg back. I know helmet technology has evolved as well so any advice on those would be helpful. I do prefer a slimmer/more streamlined profile, if that makes sense. I dont want all the barn kids making fun of me for my out of touch oufits!! I’m joking…sort of. TIA!
Welcome back! Performance fabrics are a thing now and they are glorious. Browsing Dover will give you a sense of the current trends, though they’re by no means exhaustive of good/trendy products and brands.
The new helmet technology is MIPS. Several brands are now offering one or more models with it. If you can find one that works for you, it’s a great new option.
Welcome back! There are a TON of trendy breeches with the newest tech fabrics, at all price point levels. Outside of TS, I am a fan of the Hadley Breeches (available through SmartPak), they’re really flattering and budget friendly. For helmets, definitely the MIPS technology. OneK, Trauma Void, and Tipperary are the three brands that come to mind that are utilizing that technology, but I know there are others as well. Good luck, I think outfitting your new riding wardrobe will be so much fun 
Even if you have “kept your figure” you will doubtless find as an adult that you are much more picky about fit and comfort than you were as a teen! Also quality.
As a teen I tended to grow out of everything before it wore out. As an adult, I’m really ticked off when boots and breeches wear out after 5 or 10 years!!
If you can get to tack stores, go try on things and see what you like in fit, waist rise, and fabric. Lots of people like riding tights, which can have knee patches, full seat, or silicon. I find they are too flimsy to look good on me, I like a structured
mid rise full seat breech.
I’ve bought all my good breeches at discount. You can also find good used breeches for sale locally on FB, especially if you are size 30 or under, as more recent juniors clear out the stuff they’ve outgrown :).
There are so many good brands, and IME quality pays. But on the other hand, if you are just doing a lesson a week to get started, buying something cheaper that fits, is comfortable, and flattering, that may not last 5 years of daily wear, is fine.
There are also lots of colors these days and IME most adults wear darker neutrals for lessons and riding, keeping the beige for actual shows. But of course you can also ride daily in beige.
How exciting! Welcome back!
I highly recommend The Tried Equestrian (triedequestrian.com) for discounted high-end riding clothes. I love the silicon on Animo & Ana Scarpati breeches. The tech fabrics are life-changing across the board. I do love the new TS front zip breeches for schooling also.
Most, if not all, helmets on the market now go through rigorous safety tests. I have the Samshield “MissShield” & after purchasing found out they’re not that well rated. I did have a fall in it where I hit the side of my head & did not sustain any injuries (well, to my head. I did break my arm! lol). I think I will replace the Samshield with a Charles Owen because of the safety ratings of CO.
I live in the PNW & ride in full chaps in the winter. A lot of people are actually doing this!
If you’re still generally a TS-type fit, you’ll probably like the SmartPak Hadleys and the RJ Gulfs. Those are also easy to find on sale, unlike TS. Breech fabric has improved substantially in the last few decades. Greys and blues tend to be classic colors that you can keep wearing for years without worrying about it being trendy, if you want to go with something other than tan. (And no one wears the puke green TS color anymore, either.)
Helmets are more about fit than one specific brand any more. I love my OneK, but there are a lot of other good options out there and you really need to try them on and see what fits your head best.
I am a huge fan of the Tuff Rider ribbed schooling breeches. They are cheap and last forever, and are also a flattering, forgiving fit that comes in a regular rise.
Do invest in a technical fabric riding shirt, you’ll never go back to riding in a polo or a cotton T again.
Yes to technical fabrics! I also just re-entered the riding world after a while away and being able to ride in actual athletic fabric is amazing. Horseware makes some really nice but affordable baselayers. The TS fabric is also great, and you have more options in terms of style and cut that are show-ring acceptable instead of just the once-mandatory puke green TS. MIPS helmets are also the latest and greatest- I just got a TraumaVoid EQ3 and love it, have shown in it several times at nice horse shows.
Everyone here has great suggestions so I’m just here to say that full custom chaps ARE coming back - I still wear mine from 2005! The kids are all jealous 
Heck yeah! Winter is coming and my full chaps will be back ( in fashion or out)
I am recently back as well. I am just amazed by the new fabrics and cuts and colors. I got in a new RJ Classics show shirt today and love the snaps and wrap collars with all the air vents. So much more comfortable than the starched Van Teal’s with the razor sharp collars that indented your neck. Yes, we kept our chins up, we did not want to decapitate ourselves.
I do miss this wools of old, the flattering structure of those old coats, but the new stretch coats are air light and flexible. I was impressed with the new construction. It is almost like they were built to be tailored, which is a must for me. My shoulders are huge, so I need 6" inches tailored out of the waist and the sleeves let down, to make them fit. I had good luck with a RJ Classics and a TS.
I still like side zip breeches, found a deal on 5 pairs of buff Ariat pros on ebay for a steal. I still love my ancient corded Harry Halls for schooling and have 2 pair of TS side zip in plastic for when I get the guts to go back to showing.
For a schooling and comfort helmet Trauma Void Lynx with Mips, have CO Fian for the showring.
I have my faithful Ariat paddocks and half chaps and did buy some cheaper tall boots to school in. They are okay, they have the zipper and ankle wrap. Very comfortable, no break in, but they look like the price tag next to my Vogel’s and Dehner’s. I decided to wait to send the customs back to the manufacturers for refit, gussets, zippers, etc until I am back in riding shape. I know my old body will change shape as I ride more, so better safe than sorry.
I have found that some of the older gear is still very cool. I have had nice comments on “my brick breeches” ( Rust Harry Hall’s) and my old school worn to death stirrup leather belt with brass nameplates is “so pretty”.
Wear what fits. What is comfortable to you. I am a fan of the quarter zip performance sun shirts, I just get them on sale from TJ Maxx or wherever, I have seen all kinds if labels at my barn. As long is you have a good modern helmet, you are ahead of the game.
This is all soo helpful! I picked up some RJ Gulfs locally because I needed something immediately but have ordered some TS (in french blue so pretty!!) but I’m torn on front zip verses side zip. It seems front zip is the trend now but I remember liking the side zip. Also Hadleys to try on for size. My local place did not have a huge selection (Was not paying $400 for Equilines even though they were gorgeous). Will probably just keep the best fitting one to start. Also not sure if I might need the L as I’m 5’8" and a smidge. Should they hit the ankle? I can’t remember! I will start checking discount sites once I know my size for the different brands; such a good suggestion. A Charles Owen helmet was my final pick and I love it!
I have a lot of technical fabric base layers for skiing which I think might work for now in the winter but will probably invest in something rider specific for the summer.
Just realized I will probably need some gloves for winter as well which should be fairly straightforward but if anyone has specific recs, please let me know!
For winter I love the black gloves sold as ski glove liners. Fleece inside, smooth outside, and silicon grips on the palm and fingers. I’m finding them as unisex or men’s. They are from various brands, North Face, Firefly, etc. I find they wear better than equestrian brand gloves in the same price range (usually under $20 CAN).
In general I prefer shopping for general sporting goods brands for riding tops, hoodies, jackets. Better performance, better range of colors, better range of sizes, and importantly better prices and sales, compared to equestrian brands.
I ride every day, year around, in a place with fairly big seasonal changes, so I need an entire wardrobe of summer polo shirts/golf shirts and then microfleece and hoodies and parkas and down vests and long underwear!
I do like equestrian rain gear, I splurged on one of the Asmar flared riding raincoats because I trail ride in the rain.
