"Thanks!" to J.Crew Guy In Canada who shared a post over at Valet (click here) that briefly discusses Merino sweaters and even features one of J.Crew's Men sweaters– the Merino V-neck sweater (Item 98171; $59.50).In Defense of MerinoI am a big fan of J.Crew's Merino sweaters. They are great for layering as they are light & comfortable, while being warm to wear. And it doesn't hurt that J.Crew offers Merino sweaters (for both Men and Women) in some of the most delicious shades (like Wild Plum & Misty Aqua).
By Cory Ohlendorf
December 3, 2009
Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like cashmere. But those luxurious sweaters, with their silky softness, tend to feel a bit precious. Not to mention that many a cashmere sweater (whether pricey or not) tend to pill. Which is why I'm more of a merino man. You won't find a better workhorse for your winter wardrobe. Lightweight yet still warm, hard-wearing while still extremely soft, a v-neck cut from a classic 12-gauge merino will keep you looking sharp for the next ten winters if you treat it right. And with nary a tear, pill or stretched-out neck in sight, I might add. Perhaps that's why J.Crew sells them in ten colors.
My current favorite Merino sweater is the Merino Ethereal Ruffle Cardigan (Item 19755; $88.00, now $69.99). Love everything about it! Incidentally, there are two versions of this Cardigan on the website right now, the other one is the Merino Ethereal Ruffle Cardigan (Item 25327; $88.00). (Not sure why that is. At first I thought it might be different colors under each type, but some colors like Black, seem to be the same for both. Whatever.)
It's not to say I am not a fan of some of the other types of sweaters J.Crew offers (like Cashmere, oh Cashmere!, dream, wool, etc.) I know a lot of JCAs have mentioned the quality of recent Cashmere offerings not being the same as previous years. Is that the case with Merino sweaters? From what I have noticed, the Merino sweaters seem about the same. I am interested in hearing what other JCAs have experienced. :)
What are your thoughts on J.Crew's Merino sweaters? Do you like the fabric/ material? What are your thoughts on the quality of J.Crew's current Merino sweater offerings? :)
I like Jcrew's merino sweaters as an less-pricey and less-likely-to-pill alternative to the cashmere. I've picked up a few from Jcrew in the past few years, but have had some issues with sizing. Because they were a bit snug, I was unable to layer even a tissue tee underneath to keep slight skin irritation at bay. They seem to be faring better than the dream sweaters of last year in my wardrobe, which are pilling like mad.
ReplyDeleteI love merino, but I'm wondering where the 12 gauge merino is for women. Did I miss it?
ReplyDeleteAs far as I can tell, the only 12 guage wool sweaters have been the cambridge cables.
ReplyDeleteI agree, love the merino wool sweaters, but why have they been so thin this fall and winter? Jenna must spend alot of time in a vacation home in a warm climate.
J.Crew, bring back the WINTER sweaters! In darker and more saturated colors!
Beware of JC's EXTRA FINE merino. It's an oxymoron for EXTRA CHEAP (wool).
ReplyDeleteSorry, but not all JC Merino sweaters are created equal. I have a few older JC cardis in my closet (circa 2004, 2006) and there's not a pill in sight. Last month I snagged the Maya cardigan and after wearing it for just one day, as I raised my arms to take it off, I noticed a lot of what appeared to be the beginning of pilling on the sleeves! I love the style but it's not worth the full price I paid in IMO.
The JC 14 guage merino wool for women is flimsy and too sheer, especially in the lighter colours. I think the mens merino sweaters are a lot better (nmore like extra sturdy). Also compare a 100 percent merino wool item from other luxe brands, you'll be surprised.
And don't get me started on the DREAM sweaters. Hopefully someone at JC HQ will read this thread and do something about this. Otherwise I won't be buying FP in the future
I am still not convinced about this years JC cashmere is any better than previous seasons. The jury is still out on it, it does feel different than before, the v-neck stretched out however in length after 1 wearing. I admit I have not worn it much because I know it is delicate.
ReplyDeleteSE Mom: The cashmere is also 12 gauge.
OT, but has anyone tried the nonno cardigan. It intrigues me but I'm not sure on size and fit or quality. Any help would be appreciated!! TIA
ReplyDeleteI have many of both older and new merino sweaters and have been very happy with them.
ReplyDeleteSeveral of my older sweaters are also 14 gauge, so the finer sweaters are not a new thing with them.
This year, I purchased two of the celocia cardis and two marzipan cardis. As well as some very fine gauge merino from Ann Taylor. All have been fantasic so far. They have been worn a lot and have no pilling or other issues.
As I live in Florida, I am happy that J Crew is offering merchandise that can be worn here. Usually I am left with few choices in clothing during the cooler months as stores here stock most of the same merchandise as they do in cooler climates and I hope they keep the lighter weight sweaters.
I love merino! Most of my sweaters are JC or BR merino. I tend to get too hot in some sweaters, so I like the lighter weight. For some reason they tend to use heavier merino for most half-zip sweaters, so I have a few of those that are best for days when I'll be outside a lot rather than in an overheated building.
ReplyDeleteMy least favorite material for sweaters is probably cotton. Sure it is soft and *looks* lightweight, but it breathes so poorly. I'll never understand why retailers roll out cotton sweaters in late winter right when the humidity is about to skyrocket.
I personally am a fan of the J.Crew merino cardis. I have them in several different colors and I find that they wear very nicely. That being said, I don't have any of the merino from this season, so I can't speak to the current quality of the sweaters, but the ones from 2 years ago are perfect!
ReplyDeleteI love the J. Crew merinos. My scoopneck rose corsage is currently my fav. I have a couple forever cardis too, that I love.
ReplyDeletehttp://jerseygirlinthekitchen.blogspot.com/
One of the things J.Crew does best in the mens line are merino sweaters. I have five of them and they stand up and look great.
ReplyDeleteThe merino Forever cardigan I got this season is atrociously and irreversibly pilled, under the arms and where my cross-body purse rubbed against it. It literally looks like yeti-wear! I have a few older merino sweaters (both 14g) that are still OK. The jackie-like cardigan (with a flower at the neck from last season) was so thin, it has holes now where I belted it at the waist. Bad JCrew!
ReplyDeleteI like them overall and think they're good quality. But they aren't as warm as cashmere (duh, I know, but a consideration when it's really cold out!) and some of the styles are way too see-thru for me (the merino turtleneck comes to mind).
ReplyDeleteJ crew offers Lambswool sweaters for men and they are thick and warm. What's the difference between merino and lambswool?
ReplyDeleteI like merino sweaters, thin enough for work and can wear till early summer. I live in the midwest with lake effect snow, so I wear them like I would wear blouses in the winter
The merino at J.Crew is well constructed, and fits well. It looks good under a jacket without adding bulk. Go wrong with that, I challenge you!
ReplyDeletejcma, I tried the Nonno and returned it as it was just too itchy for me. I found it to fit TTS but wasn't too crazy about the shorter shape - I think for me, the longer "grandpa cardigans" balance out the shawl collar a little more. I also wasn't thrilled with the high acrylic content. Hope this helps somewhat.
ReplyDeleteI love merino! Last year, I bought a merino cardigan from J.Crew (the one with the gold buttons), and I really wish I had bought more! It doesn't itch, is practical and in my budget. I was disappointed this season, because I didn't see anything like it this season.
ReplyDeleteMy merino cardigans from last season are holding up remarkably well, but there are definite issues this season. I bought the Lea cardigan from the outlet bc it is a 12 gauge knit and has long sleeves, but after a few wearings, it looks a little faded and pill ready. Oh well, might be bc it was an outlet item.
ReplyDeleteHow do people think the dream fabric compares this year? I've been pretty happy so far, I'm wearing the Asymmetrical Stripe Chiffon Bow Pullover (eesh, why the mouthful Jcrew?), and I think its a lot less itchy than dream sweaters from last year.
I long ago decided I perfer merino to cashmere. It's cheaper, more durable and wearable three seasons. I have a JC merino sweater from circa 1996 that is still going strong (and it's black). I have some of the thicker ones from around 2001 that are in great shape. I don't mind the thinner ones from recent years as far as warmth goes, but you have to either wear sleeveless or long sleeves under them to avoid the sleeve hem showing through.
ReplyDeleteHi Alexis, I also noticed about the two Merino Ethereal Ruffle Cardigans. And I found out that they have different kind of buttons(After zoom-in really close). The newer ones (item 25327)have the regular white flat buttons.
ReplyDeleteJCMA, I ordered the Nonno cardigan in the gray color...it should arrive in a few days. I'll post about it after I've gotten it. To be honest, when I first saw the pic, I didn't like the look at all..it wasn't until I got the catalog that I decided I really like the Grandpa-style of it. We'll see. I've said it before, I love J crew cashmere...it feels more sunstantial than a lot of other brands and comes in great colors that are vibrant without being garish.
ReplyDeleteRe: Merino Ethereal Ruffle Cardigan (Item 25327)
ReplyDeleteModel is wearing a v neck tee under the cardi in the picture. Did the stylist cut the sleeves off? so it won't show how 14 gauge sweater will be with a sleeved shirt...?
I was looking at a wool tartan stripe (jackie-shape) cardigan from FA07 this morning, and it's thick, warm and still looks new. It's 90% wool and 10% cashmere. I wish J crew still made them in solid colors. And right next to it in my closet was another one from FA07, library toile print cardigan which must be 14 gauge, but looks much better than my recent sweaters, and not see through.
All for the merino. J Crew's are a bit pricey at full retail, but on discount they are essential. They do make some crazy colors though...how many guys are gonna try to pull off a mustard yellow v-neck sweater?
ReplyDeleteI have 4 in my rotation now, with a 5th coming from Santa.
I scored a GAP merino v-neck for 50% off 2weeks ago. Pretty nice.
Ji-great catch. I would have said photoshop but if you look closely you can see they cut the sleeves off that tee. I had that exact cardi and it was totally see-through. Fine with sleeveless but don't like it with a tee.
ReplyDeleteMy merino from J Crew has been great as have my husbands. I do agree that mens are thicker. I do hate the thin sweaters they've been pumping out but I won't be-labor that as I do it too much already!:(
Somewhat related (sweaters but cashmere) someone's post (not mine) about cleaning that I also live by:
ReplyDelete"water isn't the problem for wool, it is the detergent that you use when washing natural fibers. Most detergents strip away the natural oils from wools and cause the fibers to expand, distorting the shape. You have to use a detergent made for wool and a delicate or handwash cycle (sounds strange but Woolite isn't actually very good for cashmere).
I have a degree in fashion design and textile technology. It's been a few years but cashmere as a material and the washing methods haven't really changed.
Use a detergent that does not strip away the natural oils. I once had a silk protein shampoo for sweaters that worked great. Actually you can use a mild natural hair shampoo (not the chemical supermarket or high end Clinique stuff) on your wool and cashmere things. The really important thing is to not go over say 80F i.e. lukewarm to warm and to use tons of water for a thorough rinse. If you have a shower head on a hose (those that you can hold in your hand and move), those work great for giving it a good rinse. Rinse is usually done with colder water. When you wear your sweaters the fibers will rub open/split. The friction then causes pilling. Washing your sweater rather frequently is actually good for it because it closes the fibers and prevents pilling and makes it softer. I think I wash mine after wearing them 10-20 times, depending on the conditions I was wearing them in.
You can lightly squeeze out excess water but don't wring. Then roll in a towel, pull it in shape, then lay flat to dry on a towel(on the floor is better than on a rack where the bars press through). Turn from time to time.
Dry clean? NEVER! and certainly no dryer!!! I am quite the environmentalist and even I would dry clean my sweaters if it were better for them but it isn't. Besides that, hand wash means it's cheaper, better for the environment, faster, better for the sweater, no risk to get stolen. Total win-win situation."
So sorry about the long posts..it's only to help someone save $ and their sweaters:) Again not my words..
ReplyDelete"About pilling: washing your cashmere sweaters will prevent pilling. Before wearing a new cashmere sweater, wash it; for the first three or four wearings, wash after every wearing. After that, wash as needed.
Low-end cashmere is more likely to pill than mid range or expensive cashmere. Those Old Navy cashmere sweaters, the ones that were selling for $40.00? Pass on those; they won't hold up. Look places like Ann Taylor or J. Crew or Banana Republic; the sweaters will be in the $125.00 range, but it's worth it.
For sweaters that are already pilling, try a sweater stone, or a very fine pumice stone (like you would use on your feet). Stroke the stone gently over the pilled sections of the sweater, in one direction; the pumice stone cuts the little balls off. Voila!
Finally, this: wash cashmere (and ALL) sweaters before storing. If you like, you can store them in canvas containers, with cedar balls to prevent moth damage."
my ethereal cardigan has pilled like crazy. The store did exchange it, but still. Annoying. This is the first year I've ever had J.Crew merino do that!
ReplyDeletesweetsy: I used J Crew Cashmere wash on mine in cold water it did not help, J Crew is selling low end cashmere, nothing can help it.
ReplyDeleteSweetsy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the info, laundry is my favorite chore. I respect and take good care of my family's clothing. I never send my sweaters to my cleaner either. I think tumbling in chemical with lots of other stiff garment might hurt my precious sweaters. I use 7-8 different detergent for different fabric/color/skin sensitivity (I wish I could say same thing about cleaning my house... ;-))
Everyone: Thanks for the super insightful comments!
ReplyDeleteIssy: Amazing catch! It is the buttons that are different! I like the first version (with matching buttons) more. But both cardigans are pretty. :)
I like them but they are really thin and tend to stretch out. So I will buy them when they go on final sale for $19.99, but not at any higher price.
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan or merino. It is cheaper than cashmere, but still feels nice and isn't scratchy. I find all other wools to be too scratchy. It's also great for black sweaters, as I find black cashmere pills and collects lint terribly but black merino looks good for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI do with they had some heavier weight merinos, though. I need to be WARM in the winter. Also, the light colors are too see through :(
sweetsy: I just re-read my comment and I found it was a little harsh. Thank-you for posting your tips they will come in handy on most sweaters, I am not so sure on JC cashmere that is all.
ReplyDeleteI love the merino sweaters but my collection is mostly from yesteryear-- I get a few different colors when it's on sale and have crossed to the men's section if there's a color I like. (Different, looser fit though-- I usually wear a L in women's but can do a small in men's.) I have a few sweaters in a cotton/silk blend from 2-3 years back that I wish I'd gotten more of-- soft, doesn't pill, color is great.
ReplyDeleteI bought the Forever Cardigan in a pale purple color this year. Bleeeeh. The seams were all wonky and the material was thin.
Sweetsy- thanks for the dry cleaning tips! I share your environmental concerns and have tried several of the methods you mention, but the one area where I have a hard time avoiding the dry cleaners is for cleaning wool or cashmere jackets that might be lightly soiled. I find that home solutions such as Dryel dont really clean stains. Do you know of any other non-dry cleaning solutions for cases like that?
ReplyDeleteI bought several of the ruffle featherweight merino sweaters from spring/summer 08 or so. They have pilled pretty badly after only a couple of wearings. I am gentle on my clothes too...
ReplyDeleteDo they still include the bottle of stain remover with Dryel? It worked for me but I still have my bottle from many years ago...
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of the merino man model :D
ReplyDeleteI also have a couple merino turtlenecks for myself and think they're wonderful - soft and just the right weight.
I still have several merino sweaters that I bought in 2000. Still holds up well. I seriously think that the quality was so much better a decade ago! J. Crew does not sell that kind of quality anymore. I have so many sweaters from them that I still wear now. It is a shame that the old version of J. Crew is mostly gone.
ReplyDeleteI've tried unsuccessfully to like the lightweight merino wool sweaters. I own several of the 14 gauge merino shawl color sweaters from 2007(?). They're beautiful, but I never actually wear them. I just shuffle them back and forth between closet and storage. Maybe I need to give them another try.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I highly recommend Eucalan Woolwash. It smells nice, protects against moths and doesn't require rinsing. I always keep a couple bottles in stock.
ReplyDeleteI'm very happy with the merino cardigans that I got last year.
ReplyDeleteNow, is it just me, or are the men's merino sweaters cheaper price-wise than the women's are? Do they think women are more willing to pay more (this one's not!)
Himmiefan - No, it's not just you! However, I've noticed that when supersale comes around, the sizes left are all XLs or XXLs. That said, I picked up some men's S (for myself) in the November sale, some less popular colors (a buttercup yellow was one) for about $19.99-- there were no deals like that for women's section.
ReplyDelete