Womanly-sized riders, unite!

Glad I didn’t add them to my cart last night! I was seriously almost about to get a pair.

For anyone who can wear a 36 in breeches (Ariats are sized generously in my opinion) their breeches have plenty of room in the calves. I have 17.5 inch calves, wear a size 18 in jeans and can wear the 36 in Ariats.

VCT- what style of ariat is your favorite?

Well, I LOVED the All Circuits, but they’ve been discontinued unfortunately. I just ordered a pair of the newer Heritage model and when they arrive I’ll report on them. I have a pair of the Pro Circuits (I think that is what they are called - the spendier show breeches) and I like those, too. And I’m drooling over the Olympias. FWIW I have found that their fit/sizing is pretty static across models.

Are you talking knee patch or full seat?

bradley breeches

[QUOTE=KrazyTBMare;6251021]
Well ladies, I wouldnt get your hopes up about the Bradley FS breeches from Smartpak. I just got mine in the mail today and I would LOVE them except theres no way they will fit. And its NOT the waist - its the calf! Theres some stretch but not a lot and theres no way they were going up where they needed to be over my calves. I have 17.5-17.75" calves so if yours are smaller, then maybe they will work for you. Really a shame because I really like how they are designed and the fabric used, etc. But I wouldnt recommend them for us womanly sized girls. :no:[/QUOTE]

boo hiss! I have some knee patch ones arriving w. our next ‘barn buddy’ shipment. the calf thing sounds like a deal breaker. my calves are 18" (L) and 19" ® so does not sound promising. although being vertically challenged (5’1"), maybe I will be lucky, as somtimes that means a bit more room where my calves actually are vs normal people. Will report back, though, once they’ve arrived

Kind of an opposite to the usual question, but does anyone have recommendations for SELLING plus-sized clothing. I don’t do ebay and my local consignment shop closed. :cry:

I have a show jacket (never worn, too big when I bought it) and a brand-new pair of field boots (XXW calf, maybe 16.5-17", gusset but no zipper; I injured my ankle right after I bought them and now need a zipper) to offload. Are there any sites that are better than others in terms of moving things? Good consignment shops in the Charlotte or Greensboro areas that does consignment and has the right clientele?

[QUOTE=KrazyTBMare;6252461]
Are you talking knee patch or full seat?[/QUOTE]

Both, really… though most of what I have is knee patch.

[QUOTE=saabski;6252485]
boo hiss! I have some knee patch ones arriving w. our next ‘barn buddy’ shipment. the calf thing sounds like a deal breaker. my calves are 18" (L) and 19" ® so does not sound promising. although being vertically challenged (5’1"), maybe I will be lucky, as somtimes that means a bit more room where my calves actually are vs normal people. Will report back, though, once they’ve arrived[/QUOTE]

Ill cross my fingers for you but I dont think it will work. Theres a synthetic material that starts below the calf to the ankle, to slide your boots over, and if you dont pull the breeches all the way up where they are supposed to be, youll have all of this extra fabric all bunched up around your ankle. :confused:

BTW

Did you happen to all see the posting on Horsenation yesterday?

http://www.horsenation.com/2012/04/12/your-turn-the-f-word/

Greetings from SmartPak! Bradley Breeches

Hello ladies and happy Friday!

I’ve spent some time this morning reading your comments on the Bradley Breeches. Thanks for the feedback! I did want to chime in on the calf measurements and provide some additional information that may help. The calf measurements range from 17.5" to 19.5" (0.5" increments) in the size range of 38-46 breeches. There is approximately 1-1.25" of strech in that area. I hope this information helps and thank you again for the feedback! I’ll be back to check in again soon :slight_smile:

So what are the measurements for the 38s? Because they certainly did not fit my 17.5-18" calves. And then if the 40 or 42 has a bigger calf, then its way too big everywhere else. :confused:

Yes, I see the problem - in order to fit my 20" calves, I have to go way bigger than the ordinary 38 that I would wear. It seems the best way to make most people happy, is have a really stretchy calf part. Pretty disappointing - I was really looking forward to these!

I second the idea of really stretchy calves, 19" doesn’t do it for me either

In theory, yes, the calf area is stretchy and will give, but the problem that most of us are experiencing is that knee patch area being too tight to even get the stretchy part to our calves.

I went to the retail store to try them on and was excited to finally see them in person. I tried on a few pairs while I was there and while I usually wear a 36 in ariat breeches, I couldn’t even get the 38 onto one leg the calf area was so tight. I went up to a 42 and while they were still tight, I could get them on enough to make it work.

Maybe future modifications could include a stretchy panel from the middle of the knee patch and down? That would solve a lot of problems for us larger calved ladies.

no go

[QUOTE=KrazyTBMare;6253332]
Ill cross my fingers for you but I dont think it will work. Theres a synthetic material that starts below the calf to the ankle, to slide your boots over, and if you dont pull the breeches all the way up where they are supposed to be, youll have all of this extra fabric all bunched up around your ankle. :/[/QUOTE]

yep, not enough stretch to get around my calves. I usually wear a 38, got a 40 in hopes that would provide the extra ‘give’. It did not. So, I’ll stick to my Equissentials, which fit, but are (IMHO) slightly more basic, looks-wise.
Darn!
they are nicely made and a great price point.

[QUOTE=SmartPak Customer Care;6253733]
Hello ladies and happy Friday!

I’ve spent some time this morning reading your comments on the Bradley Breeches. Thanks for the feedback! I did want to chime in on the calf measurements and provide some additional information that may help. The calf measurements range from 17.5" to 19.5" (0.5" increments) in the size range of 38-46 breeches. There is approximately 1-1.25" of strech in that area. I hope this information helps and thank you again for the feedback! I’ll be back to check in again soon :)[/QUOTE]

Okay, can someone sanity check me here? I got the 38s, I have a 16" to 16.5" calf and I couldn’t come even CLOSE to putting these things into place. I never got as far as trying them on in the waist since I couldn’t even get the knee patches in place. There certainly wasn’t another inch and a half anywhere…

Has anyone else tried them and felt the same way? It seems a shame to have “plus sized” breeches with such a restrictive calf. I can still struggle into my old size 36 and even some 34 breeches in Ariat and TS – too scary to wear in public – but even the calf on THOSE fit me.

Did I get a defective pair, or am I going insane??

Just a PSA:

I got the Smartpak Bradley Show Shirt, long sleeved. These run really small!!! Small all over and ESPECIALLY small in the neck collar, cuffs and armholes/sleeves.

It’s going back. Really disappointed. I got the 2X which according to the chart should have comfortably fit me. It was way too small.

Wicked bummed. I have a couple clinics coming up and wanted to look nice.

Rats, anyone else order the shirts?

If SmartPak Customer Care is still here, why oh why is the Cool Tech Show Shirt in a different sizing. Being a girl of generous proportions and having knockersaplenty, I would like the zip top style shirt, save the embarrassment of halting proudly at X and having a button fly off and hit the judge. The 3X size though is listed as 18 - 20.

In the Bradley the 3XL is listed as being size 24.

Why doesn’t the Cool Tech come in larger sizes, and why can’t the sizes stay consistent?

Tack of the Day has Kerrits schooling tights in all sizes today.

Hunt show coat help

Hoping maybe someone here can help me out. I’m looking for a hunt show coat that will fit but I’m confused about the sizing between manufacturers.

I bought a second hand dressage jacket that was made under the 1824 label. It’s a size 26 and probably a long since the sleeves are long enough for my arms. It’s about a size too big but that’s fine as I’d rather have too much than too little room.

Unfortunately I can’t find the 1824 label anymore, it seems to have been replaced by RJ classics and according to the size charts their size 24 would probably be a little too tight.

Tuffrider has a large sized dressage coat but I can’t find a show hunt coat.

I’d prefer at least a 48" bust. Again I prefer to err on the side of too big rather than too small.

Anyone have any suggestions?