The Kostüme Women's Short Sleeve Jersey is perfect for those who want something a little different without compromising on quality and comfort. This jersey exemplifies the high standards we've come to expect from the Bristol-based boutique brand. It truly lives up to its 'do-it-all' name and is an excellent choice for various types of cycling, whether it's a leisurely ride along local paths or a competitive race.
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Kostüme Women’s Short Sleeve Jersey - Technical details
The jersey showcases the Edit001 design, which represents the brand's inaugural range. Kostüme releases different limited-edition prints in each edition, created by various artists. For Edit001, artists Kai and Sunny designed the 'Dawn Wave' print, which they say "captures the energy, colours, and movement experienced during cycling". The front of the jersey displays a striking print, while the back features a solid blue colour. The rear pockets also incorporate the Dawn Wave as an accent, and the side panels are made of a single blue fabric.
The Kostüme Women's Short Sleeve Jersey is mostly crafted from a silky, Bluesign-certified recycled fabric. It boasts a two-way stretch that prevents sagging and vertical stretch while allowing some expansion around the torso to accommodate different body shapes. The jersey's body feels incredibly soft against the skin and dries quickly, thanks to its thin weave. The sleeves, designed with structured 3D-waffle fabric made from regenerated yarn, offer a looser fit and enhance breathability.
True to Kostüme's ethos of 'less is more,' this jersey provides ample storage with six pockets. It includes the traditional three main pockets found in most jerseys, along with two mesh pockets. The double-width outer mesh pocket at the rear offers flexibility in loading and accessibility. Additionally, there is a discreet zippered key/card pocket on the left-hand side, ensuring the safety of any valuables.
And in terms of the target user for this jersey, Kostüme has dubbed it as a "do-it-all icon".
Kostüme Women’s Short Sleeve Jersey - Performance
I’ve needed to wait for the warmer weather to test the Kostume Women’s Short Sleeve jersey properly and because I had thoroughly enjoyed the brand’s bib shorts, expectations were high. And they were not let down when the sunnier days finally arrived and I got to hit the roads - both on- and off-road.
The print on this jersey is bold and, although I was pondering if the wavey pattern mixing tones of blue and yellow is really "my style", I’ve come to really like it, especially when paired with Kostüme's own sleeveless baselayer.
It's not only the looks that have pleased me with this piece of clothing. The main body of this jersey is made of a very soft and thin Bluesign-certified quick-dry recycled material that feels very stretchy but hasn't lost a touch of shape during the review period. The textile makes the jersey feel very pleasant against the skin and because of the thin weave, it also dries very quickly. I am - I have now become used to admitting it publicly - a heavy sweater, and I can quickly tell if a jersey doesn’t deliver what it promises in terms of wicking moisture off the skin.
Further helping the breathability are the sleeves of the jersey. They are made of a different, 3D-waffle fabric (made of regenerated yarn from plastic bottles). Kostume says they are “fractionally longer in length” but, in my view, they are shorter than for example those on most Maap or Rapha jerseys. The length of the sleeves might be affected by the cut of the jersey as I found that it fits quite narrowly around the shoulders. Overall, I really enjoyed the sleeves and the fact that they have no grippers so they sit nice and loose on the arms and let a breeze into the armpits.
Regarding fit and sizing, the Kostüme Women's Short Sleeve Jersey effectively offers a comfy mid-ground: it's figure-huggingly snug, without being too short to be considered race-fit. For me, the length of the jersey proved ideal in both the small and XS sizes I tried and it didn't travel up when riding, meaning the silicone gripper on the hem really worked.
Initially, the small size felt too loose around the chest and waist, prompting me to switch to the XS size, which offered a more comfortable fit similar to other XS jerseys I've worn. However, I still wished for a bit more width on the shoulders, which were already on the narrower side in the small size. But despite this concern, the jersey's performance remained unaffected.
In terms of pockets, this jersey has six of them. The three main pockets are the traditional ones you usually get on a jersey, but on top of that Kostüme has added two mesh pockets. This design adds very minimal bulk or weight to the back, but those mesh pockets have been excellent for stashing away a bulkier item such as a rain jacket. There is also a discreet reflective logo on the back pockets to add some safety for riding in the dark.
The zipped key pocket sits on the side of the jersey instead of the back, which makes it easier to access and it's also a great size for storing a bunch of keys and a bank card.
And finishing it off with the finishing. The attention to detail on this jersey is excellent; there are no loose strings hanging about and every seam remained intact during my testing and came out of multiple washes looking like new. The same goes for the zip - which is very thoughtfully equipped with a zip puller - and a good-quality, full-length zip tape that keeps it from rubbing against the skin or baselayer.
Kostüme Women’s Short Sleeve Jersey - Verdict
Although Kostüme is still a small boutique brand, I would place its products in the same category as the bigger market names such as Rapha and Maap. The quality of Kostüme's products is outstanding and the small-batch production clearly pays dividends.
Priced at £135, this Women's Short Sleeve Jersey is also on par with the premium cycling apparel brands in price. Maap jerseys - for example, the Women’s Alt_Road - regularly cost north of £130 and, bar Rapha's 'Core' range, the brand's jerseys are similarly priced to the Kostüme jersey here. Thus, I think the Kostume jersey is not priced above its value.
It's true that this jersey is only available in one colourway (until Edit 002 drops soon) but for any eco-conscious cyclists, this is a pro rather than a con. And if you like the design, it's available in the baselayer and bib-shorts from Kostüme as well...
In conclusion, this jersey performed beyond my expectations. For me, the sustainability credentials behind the product and brand are a huge positive, as is the fact that these jerseys are not mass-produced and then sold on sale in a few weeks' time. I had minor niggles with the fit around my shoulders but nothing so much that it'd impacted the performance of the top - it remained excellent in dry conditions from low double digits to the higher ones.
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