Retail therapy - showing jacket for the amply proportioned

Annagain

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I'm bored, fed up of not riding and dreading the thought of not riding until January so thought I'd try a bit of retail therapy. I'm aiming to do a bit of dressage when I'm back in the saddle and I've noticed over the last couple of events I've been to that nobody wears tweed any more. It's been about 5 years since I did anything properly and although there was always a mix of plain / tweed when I was out and about, it all seems to be navy / black these days. Jackets also seem to be more comfy and stretchy now so I figured a new one would be more fashionable and functional for me.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a jacket for big boobs and a bit of tum (I am the classic apple shape) please? I noticed when I did my dressage the other day (I've put on a few pounds recently that will be coming off but it's not a problem that is going to go away completely) that my tweed jacket gapes over my tummy and my white shirt is obvious underneath, which makes me look fatter than I am. I'm planning on a navy jacket and navy shirt (with a white bib) so that's not so obvious but anything that's more generous in that area would be welcome. I'm not huge (14-16) but would never choose to wear a jacket if I didn't have to as they are very unflattering on me - really tight across my boobs then gaping at my tummy when done up. A bigger size doesn't really help as I still get the same issue but it also swamps me everywhere else so makes me look even bigger. I'm just the wrong shape for jackets.

I've googled "dressage jacket for the fuller figure" and they don't start until a size 18. I don't need a big one, just the right shaped one.
 
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Roxylola

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I'm rubbish at shopping, but lots of jackets now have a zip fastening under the buttons so eliminates the gapping. I'm pretty sure most pikeur do
 

Annagain

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I went down a rabbit hole of size guides last night. I could be anything from a size 14 to a size 20 according to the measurements on websites. I've never been more than a 16 anywhere non-horsey. What is it with horsey sizes being ridiculously small and wildly different from place to place? Tredstep seemed to have the measurements to fit me best but are way more than I wanted to spend so had a look on ebay and bought a second hand one (in a 14, which is a bonus!) Just hope it fits now!
 
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Annagain

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Whatever you do don't get one of the new fangled short jackets that look awful on anyone over size 10.
Short jackets usually look better on me (not that I wear a lot of jackets, they're not really my thing) as I have a long body and short legs so they balance me out a bit and make my legs look longer. My legs and my bum are also my best (least bad?) bit so I don't mind them being on show! The one I've gone for is shorter than traditional length but not super short.
 

eahotson

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Just a thought but you could buy a jacket of the right design but too big and have it altered.We have a business near us that have well trained seamstresses that could do that very easily for you.You may have a suitable firm near you.
 

Annagain

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Just a thought but you could buy a jacket of the right design but too big and have it altered.We have a business near us that have well trained seamstresses that could do that very easily for you.You may have a suitable firm near you.
Yes this is always an option. I do know a good seamstress, I'm hoping to shift some weight once I've had my back op so it will probably need altering then even if it fits now. The plan is it will fit when I'm first back in the saddle and as I lose some weight I can alter it. Hence buying a more expensive make (albeit second hand) I hope it'll take being fiddled with more.
 

whizzer

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I bought an equetech last year it's one with the zip under the buttons. It's a bit stretchy & definitely the most flattering jacket I've had in years. However do have my eye on Pikeur Paulins,tried one when i bought the equetech but the paulin was just a bit out of budget at the time... but I'm a bit better off this year so am very tempted to get the Pikeur soon!
 

Annagain

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I went down a rabbit hole of size guides last night. I could be anything from a size 14 to a size 20 according to the measurements on websites. I've never been more than a 16 anywhere non-horsey. What is it with horsey sizes being ridiculously small and wildly different from place to place? Tredstep seemed to have the measurements to fit me best but are way more than I wanted to spend so had a look on ebay and bought a second hand one (in a 14, which is a bonus!) Just hope it fits now!
Well it arrived today. It won’t even do up. I measured it and every measurement is 4” shorter than the size guide 😩. Not sure if it’s been mis-sized or they lied on the size guide. Back to the drawing board. Anyone want a size 14 jacket that’s more like a 10?
 

HorsesRule2009

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Oh no that's such a shame, Do you have a picture?
I love my TAGG jacket and even now at 10+ yrs old still looks smart - albeit a bit faded which i hadn't actually realised till looking at old photos the other day .
also think some of the shires ones are ok, but think any show jacket really needs trying on as the sizes vary soooo much
 
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