WOW them in WHITE: Your perfect competition breeches await...
Can we be honest for a moment, everyone hates wearing white breeches, right?! We all dread it...phew...just to check we’re on the same page.
What if I told you, you didn’t need to feel this sense of existential dread every time you had a competition drawing near...you’d probably think I was lying, but thanks to My Breeches - the breeches experts (and...well..me), there’s absolutely no need to struggle in finding show breeches ever again.
I started my career on the show circuit, finding great fitting white breeches for my lovely customers was a daily challenge, and trust me, I’ve heard it all. I need a pair that flatters, I need a dirt resistant pair, I’m looking for a pair which doesn’t rip when my horse flings me onto a barbwire fence... And of course the most popular request, I need a pair that doesn’t announce the colour of underwear I’m wearing to the world. In the throws of busy horse event life, I learnt to think on my feet and find perfect pairs in a matter of minutes. And the great news is, whilst my botox would prohibit you from knowing this, we’re over 12 years on from my first ventures into equestrian retail, and solutions to these issues are only improving. We know have a better range of styles, fabrics and brands to choose from, so let’s get going.
As I’ve already mentioned, one of the most common concerns when buying and wearing white breeches is are they going to be see-through. If this is something that worries you, then you’re going to want the best quality fabric there is. And yes, that means you’ll likely have to stretch the purse strings a little, but as the saying goes by cheap by twice, and miraculous solutions are seldom cheap.
Vestrum and CT are two brands known for their high-performance luxury fabrics, that you can move, breathe and look great in. If you already have a training pair, then you know just how supportive, yet still stretchy and lightweight these feel, as well as how well they last. In white, the quality is equally high and they are in my opinion the gold standard for competition breeches.
Here are two great options, that work great for all shapes:
CT American Breeches (Knee grip or full grip)
If you’re die-hard Pikeur, well then you’re probably in the right place, and this doesn’t mean there aren’t any good options. My best advice if you're looking for Pikeur white breeches is to focus on thicker fabrics without any cotton (note: this doesn't mean these aren’t breathable or a good choice for Summer)
Pikeur New Candela grip
If you’re a traditionalist, you might feel isolated so far, but don’t despair, for those that favour more classic fabric blends, with a cotton content, there is absolutely still a solution for you, and that is Pikeur’s 402 fabric. Only available in white, this fabric was specifically designed to satisfy both the need for none-see through flattering white breeches, and a timeless and modest look for competitions.
We have two elegant styles available in this fabric:
Candela II
Candela grip
Another concern of course is keeping clean, both during the show and long term. Once again, if this is your principle worry, then focus your attention on the cotton-free fabrics. Pikeur is great brand for this, and their 490 and 486 fabrics are much easier to clean than anything else. Depending on what the mark is of course, you can usually lightly dab with tepid water to remove, or at least reduce small stains instantly, and for tougher dirt and grim, this fabric cleans very well in the washing machine after the show. As always, non-biological detergents only, gentle cycles if possible, and absolutely no washing over 30 degrees as this will damage the fabric and could shrink your beloved breeches.
The Gia I’ve linked above work for this concern too, also the new Candela.
Now that we've tackled the two biggest challenges in buying good quality white breeches, we can move onto selecting the right style for your shape.
Coincidentally, all the styles I’ve linked so far are high-rise, which is a fantastic option for almost every shape, they are flattering, forgiving and look fab on just about everyone. These styles are a particularly good choice for hour-glass figures, and ladies on the curvier side too.
If you’re on the other side of the spectrum and struggle to find breeches that fit your enviably slim legs, we’ve got your covered too. Vestrum and CT work great for slimmer legs, as well as pretty much all body types. I find the breeches almost stretch to where they need, or don’t need to as the case may be for this body type.
Outside of these brands, Pikeur offers a great and cost-saving solution to this fit issue, children’s breeches. My top pick would be the Xenia which have feature the 486 fabric we already know if a super none-see-through option.
Xenia
Another option is to opt for a full suede seat as a opposed to a full grip, as this gives a closer fit through the leg.
New Lugana
Daphne Full Seat
Also the Candela ii which I liked above.
I’m sure there are concerns you guys face in buying white breeches which I may not have addressed here, so if you’re still unsure about which style is right for you, then please do not hesitate to reach out to me either via phone or email.
I love a challenge, and even if it takes me a few hours of frantic searching, I’m confident I can help you to find your new favourite white breeches, a pair so good, all the rest you dread to wear, will be going straight in the trash.
Stay safe and stylish,
Henrietta
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