70° Equestrian Sun Shirt Review

Thank you to www.70degrees.life for sponsoring this post.

If you want to stay as cool as possible this summer, sporting a high level of sun protection and style, expand your wardrobe with the Classic Safari Sun Shirt by 70°. This UPF 50+ equestrian sun shirt evokes the spirit of Out of Africa or the early days of Banana Republic. The vintage-vibed khaki, pocketed sun shirt made from high-performance athletic fabric, makes it an ultra-modern piece for today’s active lifestyle. It flatteringly fits a wide range of beautiful equestrian bodies in sizes XS to 2XL. 

Keep scrolling for a 15% off promo code!!!

Terrific for Travel: 70° Safari Shirt

I didn’t go on safari with my 70° equestrian sun shirt; instead I cantered and capered in Ireland. For packing, I folded the safari shirt in half vertically and rolled it into a cylindrical shape. Next, I shoved it into a two-gallon Ziploc along with my five other riding shirts (I also packed the soon-to-debut 70° Scalloped Sun Shirt–more on that in a future blog post). Both of my 70° shirts emerged from the bag wrinkle-free. 

Black breeches, black boots, a black and white stretchy woven belt partnered with the khaki safari shirt for a Guinness-inspired palette. The safari shirt breathes, which was perfect even though the weather was cool in Ireland. My Tipperary protective vest made the climate feel hotter than it was, so I was grateful for the cooling comfort. 

Funny story: even though I had not one, but two rain jackets with me at the horse farm in Ireland, I got caught out in the field riding when a soft, misty rain developed into a downpour. Had we been in a sunny destination I’m positive the safari equestrian sun shirt would have dried quickly (it dries quickly when I pull it from the washer, but I’m getting ahead of myself.)

The 70° Classic Safari Shirt is a quintessential travel top that has already become a much-loved wardrobe staple.

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Not Just Another Equestrian Sun Shirt Brand

I first encountered the brand 70° at the equestrian trade show AETA last August. Alisa Durando, the designer/entrepreneur behind the burgeoning business, had a booth next to Hunt Seat Paper Co. At first we exchanged smiles and hellos. Then, during a lull in trade show traffic, our conversation took off as we chatted about our mutual interest in fox hunting (she rode with the Rocky Fork Headley Hunt in Ohio). 

Alisa also showed 1.10/1.15 jumpers. When she wasn’t in the saddle, her day job was in fashion. Now she is merging her passions–equestrian sport with creative apparel design.

After attending Parsons School of Design in New York, Alisa worked for Calvin Klein and Abercrombie and Fitch. She’s traveled around the globe to source materials and meet with the talented teams in factories who bring design ideas to life for us to wear. She’s definitely a fashion insider!

(Use promo code SSHsummer for 15% off full price apparel! Shop 70Degrees.Life here.)

What impresses me about Alisa and the 70° line is the thoughtfulness behind the styles and the innovative products. I had a chance to try on the Air Flow Performance Glove–I had never seen anything like them before! These breathable, fingerless gloves have grippy panels strategically placed where our fingers touch the reins that work even when wet. When it rains or your horse gets sweaty, you’ll be able to keep your grip. 

Alisa wears the riding gloves she designed for playing tennis as well. In fact, most of her pieces are created to cross over from sport to sport. For example, the Classic Safari Sun Shirt can take you from farm to fairway, or tennis court to canoe (or any type of boat, for that matter). 

Another thing that stands out with 70° is Alisa is not just a good listener, but a good questioner. Whether greeting shoppers at her booth at Land Rover Kentucky or WEF, she always asks for feedback on what people like in the shirts such as, how does the fabric feel, or what do they think of the cut. Her desire is to bring pieces to life to delight their wearer with both fashion and function. If you’re going to World Equestrian Center in Ohio anytime soon, Alisa will be there in her 70° booth, so go say hi and shop.

Grass Stain Be Gone!

My tan Safari Sun Shirt got slimed by the darling Irish horse Mitchel after our rainy ride, and my sleeve gained a patch of green. Mitchel’s mishap concerned me—that the green would turn into a permanent cuff decoration. Although, the shirt has a button about halfway up the sleeve and tabs so you can roll the sleeves up, thus making a three-quarter length sleeve shirt. Here’s the best part of the slimy situation!

When I returned home to the States and did laundry, I didn’t do anything special–just tossed the sun shirt in the wash and the green came right out! I can’t say I’ve had that level of grime-conquering success when washing any of my other equestrian sun shirt brands.

Grab your own UPF 50+ Safari Sun Shirt (use promo code SSHsummer) 

Curious about how easily that worked out, I asked Alisa (a self-proclaimed fabric geek) if the slime washing out was a fluke. She said, no, it is a feature of the fabric. Alisa explained the blend of material used in a 70° shirt will allow the fiber to “release” stains. Basically the stain does not get absorbed, it’s only “allowed” to stay on the surface of the fabric and can be washed out easily. 

When washed, I pulled the 70° equestrian sun shirt out and put it on a hanger. It dried in a few hours and was essentially wrinkle free.

Beyond Breeches and Boots

What I love about the Classic Safari Sun Shirt is it can be worn for many different looks both in and out of the saddle. (By the way, there is a similar styled safari sun shirt in white.) The khaki color pairs well with really any color of breeches. I was at first skeptical of how it would look with my tan Tailored Sportsmans, but it’s a brilliant monochromatic look. I can envision it with a bright-hued belt like fuschia or tangelo, and it would be smashing! It also looks amazing with navy and green–don’t get me started on how fabulous it is with rust breeches.

Try these ideas for styling the 70° Safari Shirt:

• With cropped jeans and ballet flats 
• Under a sweater for a preppy collared look
• Untucked with hunter green or black leggings and loafers
• Swimsuit cover up for lounging poolside . . the possibilities are really endless!

In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m a huge fan of my beautiful and practical 70° Classic Safari equestrian sun shirt. The cut is flattering, the color timeless, and the ease of washing is next level. This is just one of the fabulous finds Alisa of 70°has to offer. Follow @70degrees.life on Instagram to keep up with all the new merch!

Click here to buy a Classic Safari Equestrian Sun Shirt for your very own! (Remember you can use promo code SSHsummer for 15% off full price apparel!)

Question: Which feature of the 70° Classic Safari Sun Shirt is most appealing to you? Sun protection, styling options, performance fabric or something else? Scroll down and leave your reply. 🙂

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