Best sweaters?

[Gypsy]

I'm looking for a couple of cute, warm, well made sweaters (cardigans)... where do you get yours? Or what brands do you prefer?

I want something high quality (I'm not referring to the brand name) and durable (conjures images of dowdy boxy sweaters, I don't want that) that doesn't pill, and looks good year over year.

I also want it to be feminine and cute. Which seems to be the problem. If a sweater is cute and femine it's either acrylic (not interested) or tissue thin in contruction or the seams are poorly sewn and the thing develops a hole (every ann taylor sweater I've ever owned).

I prefer merino wool, it just looks cleaner and then it is high quality it has a lovely sheen an no pilling, but cashmere is okay (not my favorite, too warm) but generally I'm not a cashmere girl.

I'd like something that is fitted but not too tight.

I love this sweater from Banana republic, but it's a fashion item-- not a staple as I know it won't wear well. Which is why I haven't bought a couple yet. http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5036&vid=1&pid=680699&scid=680699052

I looked at the Brook Brother's sweaters but don't know how they wear.

Where do you get your best sweaters from and what brand are they?

 

[mayachel]

Gypsy I hear you! Mine have been hard to find, and not limited to one particular brand.

I''ve been eyeing the cashmere cardigans at LLbean

 

[mayachel]

This one from express is part acrylic/wool/merino may be worth checking out in person.

http://www.express.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=22084&parentCategoryId=2&categoryId=20&subCategoryId=20

I can not begin to say how happy I''ve been with my Eileen fisher sweaters. Going on 3 years and with heavy wear, still look brand new. BUT the line on a whole is not always so well stitched, so I feel like I''m always picking through. (Of course the line as a whole is also not always particularly youthful either.)

 

[neatfreak]

My J.Crew merino wool sweaters have worn well-but not the cashmere. That seems to pill very quickly from J.Crew.

 

[PinkTower]

I am a teacher, and the children get their uniforms from Lands End.

They have the cutest sweaters, and they last.

Just go to the overstocks section and see if you find a couple you like.

In the search box, type in Kate.

I think I am ordering that one in charcoal. It looks professional, but really new at the same time.

They have another one I like, but I cannot remember what it is called right now.

 

[ms.halo]

My favorite brand for sweaters is Vince. They are made of very solid construction in both timeless and more trendy styles, depending on your preference.

 

[ksluice]

you might look into ibex. they make outdoor wear for layering and everything is merino wool-even the underlayers-so its even more comfortable and non-itchy than normal merino. SUPER high quality and in a variety of weights (some of which you would likely find too thin, but there are others weights as well). Retail prices average $100-200, but sierra trading post often has them for less.

 

[decodelighted]

I know its going to sound CRAZY but I've had great luck with Old Navy sweaters -- but only when they are 100% cotton. Also a couple of Gap sweaters. JJill. Eileen Fisher. Used to SWEAR by Banana Republic cashmere but not sure how it is these days -- I stopped being able to tolerate cashmere by my skin & aren't really in a cardigan-over- "white collared shirt" kind of situation as a freelancer. Though I miss that look from the 90's

I keep wanting ones from Anthropologie but never splurge sight unseen. And I got one I LOVE LOVE LOVE from Marshalls the other day -- a Michael Kors medium gray cowl neck slouchy shortsleeved sweater to wear over long sleeved t's. The color, the feel, the fit -- everything is PERFECT. Wanna go back & get the black version too. So comfy & cute. You might wanna check out Tjmaxx & Marshalls. I think the recession has gotten them all stocked up with better stuff. Just bought TWO awesome bags after, I swear, FIVE + years of not buying ANY purses period. It was a bag bonanza. Smooshy delicious Grape Jam-colored crackly leather cross body bag. And a cute Lucky Brand kalidescopicly multi-colored suede hobo. Also ridiculously comfie jeans in a smaller size than I thought I wore. I am so loving Marshalls right now - lol! But the spree has to end. DH & I were laughing when we realized we wearing all the same clothes in our fall vacation pictures for the last five years -- so we both decided we'd better get a few new things.

ETA: Oh, and my lawyer sister loves Ann Taylor Loft & Boden.

 

[ksluice]

Ok because I''m a totally consumerist junkie....this is from the ibex website...it''s so convincing isn''t it?!

"There are numbers, and there are numbers. When it comes to Merino wool, 17.5 is a number you need to know. What''s it mean? 17.5 is the thickness of the wool fiber measured in microns. The lower the number, the finer the wool. How fine is this fabric, then? Well, consider that a human hair is about 60 microns. That makes our 17.5 one of the softest, lightest fabrics around - but because it''s wool, it also delivers incredible softness and durable high performance. Is it any wonder we love what we do? "

 

[decodelighted]

And a quick shoutout for this sweater which I would normally abhor for its acrylic content ... but I tried it on & it was really cute, like an Anthropologie shape but an Old Navy price. Turns out my sister had bought the SAME sweater from Old Navy & called it her "new fave" -- went back & got two more colors (was on sale for $30) Have Plum & Marshmallow & Black. Didn''t like the red ones, weird shade but the other ones are pretty good for the price. Haven''t had it long enough to discuss how it wears over time - but i''ll say its very thick. More of a sweater coat than a thin cardigan. My sister & I are totally different body types & it looks cute on both of us. (She''s very, very slim -- I''m tall & curvy)

 

[VRBeauty]

Macy''s usually has a good selection of sweaters in both merino and cashmere at the beginning of each season, especially in their Charter Club line.

Of course, I tend to go in at the end of the season to look for bargains!

 

[cnspotts]

I just got 2 LLBean waffleweave cashmere sweater hoodies with two way zipper. Like you I''m not always sure about cashmere, but these are not too warm (maybe it''s the weave) they are comfortable and so cute! comfy sweater with hood

I desperately needed to find a replacement for my red hoodie sweater that I wear all the time, year after year. Hubbs was seriously considering burning it but I begged him to hang on until I found a replacement. I guess we can finally have the burning ceremony now.

 

[Kellybell]

J.Crew! (I like Vince as well...but J.Crew is better for everyday.)

I used to work as a sweater merchant for a big US retailer, and have been in factories where J.Crew product is being made. They use excellent quality yarns (mostly Italian), and do a pretty good job of producing a quality product. Just as an fyi about pilling, the following things will increase the amount a sweater will pill:

- The amount of "hair" on the yarn - a "hairy" yarn and a looser tension will cause the sweater to pill more. (Unfortunately, these things also help a sweater to feel really soft and cozy, so it is always a fine line between sacrificing hand feel for pilling.)
- How tightly you wear your sweaters - wearing sweaters tightly will cause the garment to pull open, which exposes more hairs and can causes more pilling. (This also, unfortunatley, applies to "bustier" women...a sweater that lays tightly across the chest area will pill more at the underarm.)
- If you "move" a lot while walking (ie swing your arms a lot), you will cause sweaters to pill more easily.
- If you wear a bag that rubs constantly against your sweaters, it can cause increased pilling.

Most sweaters will pill over time, though. Unfortunatley it is just the nature of the beast!

 

[Loves Vintage]

Big DITTO to PinkTower's Land's End recommendation!

And, they are having a big two day sweater sale starting today!

This is The Best Cardigan Ever I just received this sweater this week, and I love it! It is not big, bulky or heavy like you might expect a sweater with this type of knit. It actually feels quite light, but warm, and soft-smooth. Love IT! I have it in the green, which is a bit brighter than my screen displays. I am going to get at least one more in charcoal. And, for the price, how can you go wrong!?!

I also have the Kate, which PinkTower also recommended, in Charcoal. It is too, too cute.

Finally, not a sweater, but totally worth a mention: Cute Mary Janes. These are so, so cute and very comfy! At 19.99, I may have to order more!

 

[decodelighted]

So .... whaddjya get??

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I am such a sweater whore. Seriously I don''t know what is wrong with me. I am trying to be good and not buy any this winter but I usually get them from The Limited, Old Navy (though lots of those pill but they are so cheap I don''t feel bad if I only wear them for one season), Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Loft and The Gap.

 

[wsu12]

Third vote for J.Crew. I have both Merino and Cashmere. I buy them in great basic colors (Black, Grey, Winter White..) during their after winter sales at deep discounts. Anywhere from $19.99-$99.99 depending on color/style/fabrication.

Also, I bought some tissue thin Cashmere sweaters from The Gap last year..I think I got them for $50...They are so soft and great layering pieces.