Samshield Elsa Boreal Competition Shirt Ladies

Keep this shirt apart from your training kit: white asks for its own wash and for quick treatment of marks. In its general care guidance, Samshield advises washing inside out at 30 to 40 degrees, without fabric softener and without bleach, and no tumble dryer. Washing inside out is no small point on this model: it protects the crystal panels and the crest on the collar. Hang the shirt up after washing rather than folding it, and you will hardly need to iron. If you do have to iron, do it inside out at a low temperature, so you do not go over the crystals. Combine it with a white stock or tie.

Choose the Elsa Boreal if you want a white competition shirt with a high collar and a measured crystal detail, and if a close-fitting cut suits you. If you are looking for a shirt whose collar closes with a magnet, the Samshield Roxy Premium suits you better. If you need targeted ventilation for warm days, the Samshield Roxy Premium Boreal with mesh panels is the alternative. If you want a shirt with a full-length zip that you can get in and out of quickly, the Samshield Marina is the logical choice. And if you ride a class in which the shirt colour is free, the Samshield Carolace is an alternative.

The crystal panels sit at the collarbones, exactly where a stock tie or stock falls over the shirt: slide those over the top rather than underneath, so the stones do not shift. Turn the shirt inside out before washing and leave the fabric softener out. Samshield publishes only guidance for its whole range and no instructions per model, so read the care label. Let the shirt dry on a hanger: the stand-up collar keeps its shape better that way.

What is this shirt made of?

Samshield speaks of a technical Italian weave in the shoulder yoke, but publishes no fibre composition with percentages for this model. As soon as the manufacturer supplies it, it will join the technical features.

What does the UPF figure mean?

Samshield states UPF 50+ for this model. That is a manufacturer's figure. It names no standard or test method, EN 13758-1 for instance, and no CE marking or declaration of conformity comes with the product.

What is that teardrop-shaped cut-out at the collar?

A small, teardrop-shaped opening in the stand-up collar. It lengthens the neckline and keeps the fabric from closing flat against the throat.

Does the shirt have long or short sleeves?

Samshield does not state the sleeve length on its own product page. Check the size information and the photographs of the variant you choose.

Which sizes are there?

At Maddelin the shirt comes in XXS (EU32 - IT36), S (EU36 - IT40), L (EU40 - IT44) and XL (EU42 - IT46). The EU and the IT equivalent is shown with every size. Samshield publishes no size guide in centimetres.

May I wear this shirt at a competition?

That is decided by your federation's rulebook, not by the shirt. In showjumping, article 207.2.3 of the FEI Jumping Rules requires a white collar, a white tie, stock or choker, and for children and pony riders a fully white shirt. The Belgian dressage rulebook requires a white shirt. Rules differ by federation, by discipline, by level and by country and change regularly, so check the current rulebook of your own federation.

How do I wash this shirt?

Follow the care label. Samshield states across its range: wash inside out at 30 to 40 degrees, without fabric softener and without bleach, no tumble dryer, and iron inside out at a low temperature.

Can I wear something underneath?

A thin layer fits, but the cut is close-fitting and leaves little room for a thick base layer. If you are between two sizes and do want that room, take the larger size.

• Women's competition shirt with a close-fitting cut
• Stand-up collar with a teardrop-shaped cut-out at the front
• Technical Italian weave: breathable, stretchy, quick-drying, pill-resistant
• Panels set with Swarovski crystals at the collarbones
• Swarovski crest on the collar, Samshield logo at the back
• Samshield states UPF 50+ for this model
• White, in sizes XXS, S, L and XL
• Composition, sleeve length and fabric weight not stated by Samshield