Product Review: Ariat Ladies' Gridwork 1/2 Zip Top

I've gotten a couple of new winter riding shirts lately, and I wanted to review them before it got cold so you could add them to your wishlist!  This is review 1 of 2.

A while back, I started riding in real breeches because I was finally ready to adult ride in pants with belt loops, and also because I could not say no to these colors:

Stock photo from Dover because I'm lazy.

I really should review these too...

But when your only breeches are blue and purple, you start to realize there are very few shirts out there that go with them.  Oops.  So I started hunting for a 2-3 season shirt that I could wear with both pairs, casual enough for every day but classy enough for clinics.

I immediately liked the Ariat Ladies' Gridwork 1/2 zip top at Dover, even though the stock lay-flat photo tells you literally nothing about how the thing will fit.

Stock photo from Dover

But it's $89, which is about four times as much as I've ever paid for a riding shirt, haha.  So I spent hours scouring the Internet for something I liked as much that was cheaper.  And I finally had to admit this was The One.  So I bought it, and I am SO glad I did.

This photo shows the color the truest of all the photos in this post.  The rest of the photos were taken in our kitchen with orange LED Edison bulbs.

The price may be expensive, but the cost-per-wear is going to be super low: I am going to LIVE in this shirt at least six months out of the year.  It's super warm without being stifling, as comfortable as pajamas, and I also wore it to an outdoor non-horsey party, and my husband said, "Wow, that shirt looks amazing, is that new?"  not knowing it was a riding shirt.

Comfortable riding clothes that my husband finds attractive?  Yes please!

As far as fit goes, it's flattering without being super tight.  I'm wearing an XS, and as usual, it's not really made for a petite XS with the shoulders being sliiiiiightly too wide and the sleeves sliiiiiightly too long, but it's doable.

But you know what helps with too long sleeves?

Thumbholes.  This shirt has them.

This shirt's secret weapon, though, is the "gridwork" part of the name.  It's called that because it has the same fluffy grid-like heat trapping system as my beloved Underarmour 4.0:

Took a picture of the underside because I couldn't be bothered to take it off to write this review....which should tell you how much I love this shirt.

It's not nearly as warm as my Underarmour 4.0, but it's way warmer than a shirt like this would be without the "grid".  It's not windproof, so you'll want a vest or undershirt to go with it when it gets colder.  Dover expects you to wear the below vest with it, as shown in the photo below, which I've seen in real life and was not crazy about:

Stock photo from Dover website

It works tucked or untucked, although with the world's shortest torso, I do find I have a little more material tucked into my breeches than I'd like.  Short people problems.

Shown untucked with yoga pants

Bottom line: I've got some minor short-person fit annoyances with this shirt, but that won't keep it from being tied for favorite cold-weather shirt in my closet.  I anticipate it being comfortable to wear by itself between 40-60F, and at colder temperatures with additional layering.

What: Ariat Ladies' Gridwork 1/2 Zip Top
Price: Currently $89.95, Dover Saddlery exclusive (sigh)
Sizes: XS through XL
Colors: Caponata Heather, Oatmeal Heath (Oatmeal Heather shown in this review)

Disclaimer: I bought this shirt with my own hard earned cash and was not compensated or influenced by Ariat  or Dover for this review.