Thursday, March 21, 2013

Adrien: Cardigan Help.


Alright kids, you all were really helpful with the recommendations on our recent sneaker post, so I'm going to ask for help again. My most recent assesment of last year's herd of cotton cardigans has proven dire. They are a faded, pilled, stretched out pile of sadness and need replacing. My absolute favorite cardigan (which I  own in three colors) came from Ann Taylor two years ago, but this spring they haven't stocked anything I like nearly as much. I prefer v-neck, cotton or a blend, but no wool or other itchy animal hair. This is what I'm considering:

This one looks nearly perfect, but the cotton cardigan I bought from the Gap last spring is a pilled, unwearable mess. I'm suspicious but it looks so good:



I always consider J Crew, but then I wuss out and don't buy anything. It just seems slightly too much money and I'm never sure about the fit. I do like this one though (in grey):



I like the color and detail of this one from Banana Republic, but it's crewneck, which I don't wear as much. Too preppy?



I love Boden's quality but I'm not sure if this cardigan is streamlined enough. Good colors, though. (That red!)



And what about this one from Uniglo? I am so curious and have heard some good things about this brand but I've never ordered from them.



Okay, your turn! Have you purchased any of these? What did you think? Also, please tell me about your favorite cardigan so I have more options to obsess over.


23 comments:

  1. I have to tell you that I seriously think the J Crew cardigans are worth the price. I have a jillion cardigans, and the Gap ones always stretch out. Anthro ones are generally nice, but they're not sturdy basics. I bought one wool-blend J. Crew cardigan with crystal-y buttons as a splurge for my rehearsal dinner three years ago, and it is the perfect color of salmony pink and fits amazing, so I wear it ALL the time. It has remained in great shape, despite being worn so many times and thrown into whatever purse I happened to have, and still looks basically new. The buttons are sewn on really well. I dry clean it, so that probably helps, but it has not stretched out or pilled. I bought something similar in a v-neck this year in a mint color, and it has quickly become my favorite. I think they are just better made than, say, the Gap cardis. Just wait for a good coupon code and pounce!

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  2. Urk, I'm turning into your own personal Boden apologist. I love all of the cardigans I've bought from them. High quality, no pilling, and great deals if you buy on clearance.

    Beth

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  3. I have that BR cardigan in that exactly color and it is amazing. Great fabric and I always get compliments on the color.

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  4. My favorite cardigans have come from The Limited and Target. J.Crew outlet cardigans are a definite thumbs-down. They lose their shape and start to look weird.

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  5. I've had good luck finding J Crew cashmere on eBay, maybe you can find decent cotton cardigans? I would not pay full price for anything J. Crew. I think they are doing a sale on orders over $150 right now though.

    I wear cardigans as frequently as you do (all the time) and most of mine are from Anne Taylor/Loft or Talbots. I like them plain, and typically do the crewneck style.

    Antho has some gorgeous cardigans right now, but they are pricy and not always cotton.

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  6. So I have an assortment of the JCrew Jackies that I got at the Factory store for $20(ish) each, and I wear them all the time, and they do hold up pretty well (not perfectly, but I work for nuns, so there's not a ton of judgement about clothing at the office). That said, I need to replace an Ann Taylor black cashmere cardi that I have literally been wearing for an obscene 15 years, but I can never find anything even remotely similar...

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  7. Hi! I am a J.Crew Jackie (or Factory version) convert. They also make a lightweight cotton v-neck version (Featherweight v-neck) and all come in a rainbow of colors. Usually they go on sale (more so on the Factory site, but in my comparisons, they're almost identical) and usually Factory or J.Crew has a 20-30% off coupon, making them a great deal. They don't pill (I've collected a rainbow in the last 18 months) and when washed on gentle/cold and air dried flat, look great wash after wash. I have one of their "mixed tape" cardigans (you're looking for the gray one) and it's a tee shirt knit if you've never seen one in person vs a sweater knit like the Jackies/feather weights. It's very casual, and great for the summer (since it's sooooo thin) or with jeans and another layer. Gap cardigans hurt my feelings too, they last about a season before they look sad and tragic and aren't worth the cost because I can get the J.Crew ones with a coupon/sale for about the same price. IMO, once you go Jackie or featherweight, you never go back. I also love their merino boyfriend cardis in the winter.

    I'm on a serious quest for a true red (not orange, not coral, but a true blue based red). I can't seem to find my beloved Jackie in that color or anywhere else.

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  8. Okay, you guys are seriously the best. Thank you!!

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  9. I've scored great cardigans from Loft this year.

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  10. J. Crew, Boden, and Uniqlo are all solid brands. I've had cardigans from all of them for years and there's no pilling or stretching out. Plus they all have amazing colors that stay true! The Gap's quality has been a huge disappointment in recent years.

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  11. Oh, and agreed that there is a difference between J. Crew and the J. Crew Factory Store/outlet. I have a Jackie cardigan from each, and the Factory one stretched out almost immediately and got loose buttons. Also agreed about looking for these brands on Ebay. And Boden's mailing list sends you sweet discounts from time to time if you can stand hearing from them weekly.

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    1. Thanks! I am on Boden's list, so I'll wait for a code. I'm going to hit J Crew this weekend and try on some stuff. I'm curious.

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  12. I am queen of cardigans. BR is spotty but you can find gems there on the sale rack super cheap but their thinner wool ones definitely pill. Boden, the one cardigan I tried pilled in SECONDS which given boden prices is not acceptable. I am a fan of the J Crew Jackie, comes in awesome colors, holds up well, no pills. JCrew is pricey and honestly quality is not there; I do get them there on super sale but know they won't last---my last few developed random holes. Anthro occasionally has a gem if it can hang around until it goes on sale but generally except for one exceptional one I bought in 2 colors 2 years ago, not worth it.

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  13. I was just at the mall and Penneys had a huge display for their limited Joe Fresh line, so I popped in to have a look. I ended up buying a couple of the cardigans -$16 each. They're v-neck, cotton/nylon blend. If they pill/stretch/whatever, at least they were cheap. Every Boden sweater I've ever gotten has pilled too. I usually go with Halogen at Nordstrom.

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  14. ^^^^THIS

    I am from Canada and have the luxury of buying Joe Fresh while I get my groceries, and these cardigans are fantastic.
    I have two in my closet and they keep their shape so well and do not pill because of the nylon. They are likely crew neck, but it's totally worth giving them a shot. The blend is 65 cotton 35 nylon and they come in so many colours. I actually wish I had bought a few more. If all else fails, I vote the UNIQLO one or even pop in to H&M and check out their basics. The saving grace is not only going to be the quality of the cotton = more $, but more importantly the presence of some synthetic fabric such as nylon, spandex, or polyester.

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  15. Here in the north, we have a brand called jacob that has perfect cardigans. I lurve them.

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  16. My best (don't pile if I wash in cold water and lay flat to dry) cardigans are from Ann Taylor and JCrew. And Ann Taylor always has good sales.

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  17. I have the green GAP one you pictured above as well as a navy one and really like them. I agree with those who have said the quality hasn't been there in past years, but this year's version is quite nice. It runs long...I usually order medium tall and got just regular medium this year, and it's perfect in both the arms and body. I like that there are no pockets near the bottom hem because I think they add bulk or gape open in an odd looking way if you leave it unbuttoned. I've worn both several times and have not had pilling or stretching out. I usually wash on cold and lay flat to dry with a quick ironing and they are ready to go again. There is also a nice assortment of colors this year that rivals J.Crew's variety.

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  18. My favorite cardigan is a sheer black thing that seems to always fall elegantly and works with all textures and styles-don't ask me how. It also keeps me warm, or cool, depending on the season,and weighs about an ounce. I've had it for years, and I wear it about 310 times a year :)

    Perhaps this? But it has snaps. Comes in other colors. Petit Bateau has amazing quality.

    http://www.petit-bateau.us/Womens_essential_cotton_cardigan/pd/np/611/p/4964.html

    I would also suggest Benetton, as they specialize in knits, cotton and wool- but they don't have online in US it appears- but perhaps you're close to a store?


    Also: don't shy away from checking out men's smalls and extra-smalls- or Boys. I often find my basics in men's or boy's at H&M and Zara, Ralph Lauren- whatever. ditto for the Girls' section. (last winter H&M had boys CASHMERE v-neck cardigans for something like 25 euros- then they went on sale for 10! They were perfect, too- black, or navy, or grey, or forest green, or cream, no embellishments...so don't shun that section! And often the quality is much better, for some reason.)

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  19. Thanks for all your suggestions, everyone! Overwhelming, in a good way. Y'all are the best.

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  20. I love this post as I am in search of V neck cardigans in a shorter length. I prefer natural fibers but yes with cotton there is the fading/stretching issue. I have the Banana Republic one you pictured: it has blue square stones around the edges (stones = plastic) and I like the color and the length but obviously it isn't v neck! Pure cotton but heavy knit. Where are all the v necks anyway? Once you start looking, all you can see are crew necks. I like my jewelry and bit of my dress or top to show....and for proportion's sake, I don't want the long cardis (have plenty), more hip length or waist high: J Crew: the Jackies are crew neck and also are a blend I find icky though I am sure it helps with color retention and stretching... I will follow these comments to get more ideas. Ann Taylor does have v necks this season but again with the blend (though I should try!).....

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    1. Ann Taylor does have a couple of good v-neck styles that aren't too long but they're still full-price and I balk at a $68 cotton cardigan no matter how awesome! (But I think they have 30% off everything right now, so that helps.)

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  21. I am a huge JCrew sweater fan - but BUY ON SALE! They always have a promotion coming up, or stuff going on sale, do not pay full price.

    That said, I own a lot of Jackie cardigans (crewnecks, so probably not what you want) and I love them.

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