PrintLet’s get past political correctness: In breeches, you either have a perfect figure or you are a fat chick. Because no matter how you package it or how many Up With People comments you can bestow upon your Abbondanza Persuasion, you’ve chosen a sport with a rudely unforgiving uniform.
Oh to be blessed with the perfect equitation body, whether for hunters or dressage. You know, those B-words—some of whom are your best friends—who have long legs, a willowy build and just enough endowment that they have something there but can still see their feet when looking down.
Sadly it took the manufacturers of breeches and show clothes a long time to realize that not everyone has only the tiniest of hips, very little backside and wears a 26L. But they woke up! They finally realized that not everyone was hipless, and not everyone was a size 10!
And then the ripples began spreading, and a selection of breeches, both for schooling and for show, became available to our pals The Hourglass Chick, The Pear Chick and The Round Chick.
My friend Edith, who wears Shapely breeches, introduced me to this On Course style, proclaiming that she had found the holy grail of breeches for the hourglass shape. She was right! Thank you, On Course, for these are indeed a wondrous invention, whether one wears a 26 or a 38.
On Course Shapelys are 5” larger at the hips without altering the waist size, and if you are hourglass shaped and Breech Challenged, the first time you put on a pair of these lovely front zips you will think you died and went to heaven. My only complaint is that there isn’t nearly enough color selection; most retailers carry only the standard white, black or tan. I also have some of the knee patch Shapelys in navy, which are very hard to find. One day On Course will make them in navy full seats, chocolate brown full seats and a nice olive green. Until then, we can only dream.
On Course also has other plus-sized breeches for both show and schooling. Tuff Rider not only comes in plus sizes but also has their FigureFit line (similar to the Shapelys but cut a bit lower). Irideon makes a great pull on breech, and the ribbed fabric style is very forgiving of the peaks, valleys and orange peel. Goode Rider also does a nice plus-sized breech.
One day there will be a manufacturer who will do a proper denim breech, similar to the Pikeur or Cavallo brands, in both knee patch and full seat. Several have tried and have failed so far because: A) Low ride on fat chicks, are you kidding, and B) Let’s make them look like proper breeches made from denim and not Kmart.
And never forget the smoothing properties of the SmartPak SmartSlims. Fabulous invention under breeches and under jeans.
My current favorite is the Fuller Fillies Checkmate breech. I like Fuller Fillies; they start with U.S. size 14. The cotton/polyester/spandex fabric is so forgiving and so sharp that you seriously look like you weigh 20 pounds less in these breeches than in others.
Fuller Fillies just came out with the Classiq Show Breech especially for the American market, with a plain seat and size zip and in the current hunter ring colors. Those are knee patch; their Showpro breech is full seat and both are the same fabulous fabric as their Checkmate breech. Love them.
