How Lucky Am I?

Pinch me, please. I cannot believe my luck. When I saw that maroon Ovation helmet on Facebook, I was pretty sure it would match my Romfh show shirt. It doesn't just match, the colors are identical. Romfh has the shirt listed on its website in purple, but I am pretty sure the color I bought was some kind of burgundy. Of course, this shirt won't last forever, but for now, it will look great when coats are waived. Either way, finding a helmet to match my shirt was a major score, and thankfully, the helmet turned out to be much darker than what was pictured. 

Perfect color match.

My luck didn't end there though. When I started thinking about getting a coat in burgundy to match, I landed on the Motionlite Competition Show Coat. I wrote about it last week. While I don't have loads of cash just lying around waiting to be spent on show apparel, I just couldn't get that coat off my mind. I love my navy Romfh coat, and it fits perfectly, but I wanted that maroon coat. I didn't need it, I wanted it, and now, there it is, hanging in my closet.

Even the shirt matches.

The coat is everything it's advertised to be. It is so lightweight that it barely weighs more than the shirt. And yes, it is nearly see though, but once on, you can't see what's underneath. I put it on over a t-shirt with loud graphics, and no matter how much I tugged on the fabric, I couldn't see what was underneath unless I really stretched the fabric thin. It also has a hidden zipper, a must have for me, and it is really stretchy, like, spandex stretchy.My only complaint is the sleeve length. They're at least three inches too long, and I don't have t-rex arms. My arm length matches my body. I know a lot of riders struggle with sleeves being too short, so this coat will serve their needs. Right now, I plan to tuck them under and put a few discreet stitches in to hold them at a shorter length.

Beautiful and comfortable.

Of course, color shouldn't be the deciding factor when purchasing helmets and coats. Fit and function should be our first priorities. The Ovation helmets have all fit me really well, and this one was no exception. With the dial adjustment at the base of the skull and the adjustable side and chin straps, the fit is perfect. I could not be happier. Coats, too have undergone a revolution when it comes to fabrics and fit. I never had a wool coat - I came to the sport too late for that, but even in the decade I've been showing, fabrics have come a long way. We consider ourselves athletes, so it's only appropriate that the fabrics we ride in are made for athletic endeavors. This one checks all the boxes. It's lightweight, stretchy, and no doubt cooler than coats of the past.

It's all just so pretty.

We're scheduled to show at the beginning of March. I can't wait to wear this ensemble. Maybe the judge will be so awed by our look that our scores will reflect a fashion bias.

At this point, we need all the help we can get!