Consider your body shape
Before you buy a competition jacket, take a look at your body shape and choose a style that will complement it. There are four main body shapes – pear, apple, hourglass and petite. Depending on what shape you are, there are key features your jacket should have so it flatters your figure. If you’re not sure what shape you are, take a look at the descriptions below.
Pear shape
Your hips are wider than your shoulders and you have a defined waist with fuller hips and thighs. When you gain weight, it’s likely to show on your hips, thighs and bum. Jacket choice: Pick one that covers your bum and has wide shoulders to balance your hips. Short jackets don’t look great on you and should be avoided.
Hourglass
You have a well-defined waist and your hips and shoulders are fairly equal. When you gain weight, it’s likely to show on your bust and bum. Jacket choice: Choose a jacket with stretch that nips in at the waist. Avoid boxy shapes as they’ll hang off your bust and make you look larger than you are. Fancy buttons aren’t a good idea – they draw attention to your bust.
Apple shape
Your shoulders are wider or the same as your hips, but you have little waist definition. When you gain weight, it tends to show around your middle. Jacket choice: Opt for a jacket in a tailored fabric to give you a crisp outline, anything with stretch in it may accentuate your tummy.
Petite
You’ll have a small, slim frame with narrow shoulders and narrow hips. Jacket choice: Select a jacket that finishes above your hips. If you go for one that’s too long, it won’t look great. Also, avoid wide shoulder pads – they’ll make you look completely out of proportion.
Over the page you’ll find a selection of great jackets for your riding wardrobe. Don’t forget to look out for the key to which style will suit your shape – pear, hourglass, apple or petite. However, we always recommend that you try before you buy – some jackets complement more than one shape, which you’ll only really discover if you’ve actually tried them on.