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Ariat Show Garment Bag
by PerfectPeaches
When it comes to competing I like to have everything near and tidy whether for my horse or for myself. Therefore, I try to keep various items separate. For example my competition clothing needs to be kept in pristine condition so the easiest way for me to do this is to keep it (my jacket and white breeches) in a garment bag. Once my ... horse is all tacked up and ready to go I can then quickly grab the garment bag, get changed and get on my horse and my clothes are still perfectly clean. I had been using a garment bag for a number of years and although it had served me well it needed replacing and it was the perfect excuse to treat myself to a nice new one.
Despite the equestrian world having hundreds upon thousands of items for both horse and rider the choice of luggage type items is actually quite limited so there isn't much of a choice. However, the garment bag I chose and purchased was the Ariat Show Garment Bag in black and tan. Ariat is a global brand known for their high quality products but of course with high quality tends to come high prices and Ariat is a brand not for the budget conscious. I had seen this garment bag a few months before I purchased it and to make it easier I did set aside a small amount of month a month so when handing it over all in one go it didn't harm my bank balance too badly.
The Ariat Show Garment bag has been specifically made for those that compete and need to protect their show attire whether a county showperson or a BSJA showjumper regardless of discipline you always want to keep your clothing clean. The garment bag is no different to those that you can get for travelling with it just happens to be made by an equestrian manufacturer. The Show Garment Bag comes in either black with tan detailing or navy with red detailing. I opted for the black version simply because I preferred it, it looks smarter and the colours are quite a classic combination and are very much Ariat staple colours.
To look at the garment bag like I said above looks exactly the same as a 'normal' garment bag. It is made from poly canvas which is incredibly durable so ideal for storing in a horsebox/trailer or even at the yard as it meant to be tough to withstand yard life. It has a full length zip right down the middle of the garment bag which is cleverly concealed. The bag's dimensions are 40"L x 25"W making it an ideal size to carry my show jacket as well as a pair of breeches with room for more. Of course it doesn't come with it's own hanger so you will need to use your own - it simply slots out of the top of the bag for easy hanging. On the front of the bag you will also see the small 'Ariat' logo.
On the inside of the garment bag the Ariat signature lining is black with images of small snaffles (horse bit) which is made out of soft nylon material and is in keeping the black/tan theme. The nylon material also helps keep your clothes clean and smooth (although I wish it managed to keep them crease free!). To help carry the bag there are durable webbing handles at either end of the bag which are tan in colour and the garment bag itself can easily fold in half for easy carrying with the aid of the handles. On the outside of the garment bag there are two pockets which are ideal for keeping items such as ties, stocks, broaches/pins and other show related items which are small enough to keep in the pockets.
Despite being made from a type of canvas material the garment bag is still incredibly lightweight and easy to carry. Obviously the more you try to fit in the heavier the bag will be to carry but for what I wear it certainly does the job well. The handles are not adjustable so it is a case of having to carry the bag by hand as you can't have it over your shoulder should you want to (I have heard a few people moaning about this point). Although it isn't advised to put this in a washing machine I have found that any marks I have got on the bag do come out incredibly easy with a damp cloth and a bit of soap and this hasn't left any marks behind. But being black it does have a habit of showing up dust or dirt easily.
I have had my garment bag for a little over a year now and it is used on a very regular basis due to me competing regularly and it certainly does manage to keep my jacket and breeches spotless. I don't over fill my garment bag simply because I don't need to and that I don't want to have to carry a heavy bag to and from a horsebox. The poly canvas used for this garment is definitely durable and it feels just a little rough to the touch but considering it needs to last then this is definitely the best type of fabric to use as it is soft enough to be lightweight but tough enough to withstanding constant use and I can safely confirm it will withstand being dragged around the floor by a very nosey horse who couldn't resist pulling off where I had it hanging and dragging it around by his feet!
As said above my bag is constantly used and despite this is still looks in near perfect condition apart from the odd mark or pull in the canvas. I do love the overall style of this garment bag and the black and tan does make it look like quite a classy contender to all the other garment bags available. Now, not only can I recommend this show garment bag to those that need it for equestrian use but also for those wanting a decent, hardwearing and good quality garment bag should you frequently travel as it will do the job just as good. It will certainly last for me a good few years and it does make the price tag definitely seem worth it. Would I recommend? Yes, definitely! A big 5 stars from me.
~ Useful Information ~
Brand: Ariat
Price: £58.99
Availability: Derby House
Colour(s): Black or navy
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Cath Kidston British Birds Overnight Bag
by Shoptillyoudrop
I am a massive fan of Cath Kidston products (my kitchen looks like a Cath Kidston shop lol) and one of my most loved possessions is the Cath Kidston British Birds weekend or overnight bag, which I purchased for £68 some time last year. As I did not want to buy anymore handbags (I have far too many) but felt that I absolutely had to buy ... something in this particular design, I opted for the overnight bag. This is because I thought that it would not only come in handy for holidays or nights away, but I could also use it for uni, on those days when I have to take in a load of stuff, which would not otherwise fit in my ordinary carry-all bag.
This design is absolutely exquisite, I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it, as it is slightly different from the other typical floral or polka dot Cath Kidston designs. It features various types of birds perched on branches which are in full bloom (looks like it could be cherry blossom), all in different positions, which gives you the impression that they are all doing different things. Some of the birds look like they are singing as their heads are up and beaks slightly open and some of them look like they are just about to fly off as their wings are spread out. There are some which simply look like they are resting and others that seem to be looking around them, there is even one that looks a bit sad. The birds are very colourful, most of them in red, blue, white and brown, which makes them look quite tropical and exotic, so I don't really understand why Cath Kidston actually named this design "British Birds". The design looks almost vintage but at the same time young and fresh.
The bag itself is a dark navy colour, almost black, and is made out of the famous Cath Kidston oilcloth (100% PVC coated cotton), which is easy to wipe and durable. The inside of the bag is 100% cotton lined and there is a large zipped compartment (the zip features a leather pull tab with Cath Kidston embossed on it). There is also a care label inside the bag, advising to wipe clean with a damp cloth, made in China etc. The bag measures approximately 49 (length) by 32 (height) by 18 (depth) cm, making it quite spacious and, as advertised, ideal for weekends or nights away. The bag opens and closes via a zip (again with the same leather pull tab as the one inside) and the navy canvas handles have brown leather trims with contrast white stitching, this adding to the bag's good looks. Also, for the designer snobs, there is an "Original Cath Kidston Ltd London" logo stitched on the front of the bag, between the handle leather trims, highly visible as made of white material which stands out on the navy background. The bottom of the bag features four large gold metal studs placed in all four corners of the bag, which are designed to protect the bottom of the bag when placed on the floor.
Now, I shall give you my opinion of the bag. It is absolutely stunning and receives many compliments when carried around. In the one year that it has been used (probably once a week at least, but no more than twice a week), it has proved to be robust and durable, with no rips or holes in it and stitching still intact. The zips still work smoothly. Truly, there are no signs of wear, apart from a very few minor scratches on the bottom, hardly noticeable. The bag itself is more than fit for purpose, very spacious and you can easily fit in enough clothes for a weekend away plus a couple of pairs of shoes! The outside of the bag is also easy to clean with a slightly damp cloth, but the inside, being a light grey colour tends to mark easily. My only gripe with this bag is that the handles are quite short, making it almost impossible to carry it over your shoulders when full, however I really cannot take away a star just for that, so I have awarded the lovely British Birds Overnight Bag a full 5 out of 5 stars!
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