Gown it up or down – however does this $32 sweater deserve its star ranking?
Elevate your hand in case you’ve ever tried to emulate Daniel Craig in a shawl-collared cardigan. It’s okay—that is a secure area. In On line casino Royale, Craig (the brand new, grittier, extra dressed-down Bond) wore a black shawl-collared cardigan in two scenes, however Quantum of Solace was maybe extra memorable for menswear followers. You already know the scene: Italian villa, exorbitant Tom Ford cardigan, white shirt, beige pants, and brown chukkas. Though Quantum got here out in 2008, the sweater’s reputation appeared to blow up a few years later as a number of elements like Americana, Steve McQueen, “hashtag menswear,” Tumblr, Reddit, and numerous message boards all mixed to kind the proper storm that was 2012-14 males’s fashion.
Currently I’ve been again on the hunt for a comfortable shawl-collared cardigan that may preserve me heat at my desk but additionally look presentable if I ever do go away the home. Hoodies are nice, after all. However the hood by no means appears to put proper after I’m sitting down, and the metallic zipper will get annoying when unzipped. And I’ve by no means been a fan of the Y-neck cardigan fashion. Full-zip mock necks are nice, however there’s simply one thing concerning the consolation of that beefy scarf collar and the buttons that can help you alter the heat stage good.
And after I started my seek for the proper cardigan, I had Quantum of Solace behind my thoughts: black, substantial collar, thick ribbed materials, patch pockets. However surprisingly, it’s laborious to search out. And something in merino wool or cashmere is dear—typically even eye-watering. I get it; they give the impression of being and possibly really feel wonderful. However it’s nonetheless a sweater. And also you undoubtedly get diminishing returns once you pay outerwear costs for knitwear.
So for me, variations from Drake’s, William Lockie, and even Spier & Mackay (who appear to have a very good merino one for round $200) have been out. I additionally tried and returned the 100% lambswool model from Amazon’s Goodthreads line (which could be hit and miss for me). The material was skinny, insubstantial, misplaced its form simply, and simply felt low cost. Facet notice: it’s straightforward to get misled by an merchandise that’s “100%” one thing or different. You should purchase wool, cashmere, or Supima items which can be nonetheless dangerous as a result of not all materials inside that household are created equal or constructed equally properly. A high quality mix can beat a crappy wool.
Then I stumbled throughout a model from Amazon’s lower-tier Amazon Essentials line. I ended up pulling the set off as a result of the evaluations have been respectable and the cardigan had all the pieces I used to be on the lookout for: good thick collar, substantial ribbed cloth, patch pockets. And it got here in black. I’m proud of it for the value and with a number of caveats.
First, the sizing. I’m a stable medium in Goodthreads and different manufacturers (Hole, Banana, Uniqlo, Polo), however the Amazon Essentials medium was HUGE. The small match completely, with superb sleeve and physique size (I’m about 5’10” and 165 lbs.). Measuring knitwear is hard, however listed here are some tough dimensions for the small:
- Chest (pit to pit): 22”
- Waist (at hem, simply above ribbing): 19”
- Shoulder seam to shoulder seam (in again of sweater): 17” or 18” (tough on account of knit)
- Size (from base of collar in again to hem): 25.5”
- Sleeve (from shoulder seam to cuff): 26”
The flattering match, collar, and button stance lend it that Quantum search for a low value, and that’s its important power.
Second, the material. At this value, clearly, we’re not anticipating wool. And we’re additionally not anticipating 100% Supima cotton. What we find yourself with is a 56/23/18/three mix of cotton/poly/acrylic/elastane. Now, going again to the 2012-14 males’s fashion orthodoxy I discussed above, we’ve all been advised that synthetics are dangerous and blends are used to chop prices, and so on. And that may actually be true. However all the pieces wants context. For knitwear, I’m not a fan of 100% cotton as a result of it baggage out rapidly and doesn’t return to kind till you wash it. In this case, the acrylic helps give this (admittedly low cost) cardigan extra loft, insulation, and form retention. In different phrases, it’s a higher imitation of wool than 100% cotton. It’s completely snug in a chilly home, and nonetheless heat for a temporary journey exterior within the 50s (perhaps higher 40s) when worn over simply a t-shirt. And 0 itch.
Third, the sturdiness. I purchased the sweater principally for working from residence, however there can be no level shopping for one thing new until it’s additionally presentable exterior the home. And for the value, I wasn’t anticipating wonderful high quality. Even cashmere tablets, so I used to be anticipating a good little bit of pilling. And boy, did it capsule—that is the largest downside. The cardigan held up alright to a wash (chilly water, delicate cycle, dried flat) however required fairly a little bit of de-pilling with a sweater shaver.
Is it superb? No. However in case you go in with the correct expectations, the Amazon Essentials scarf cardigan offers you a flattering 007 look that gained’t stretch your price range. Which is, at the least, some solace.
How does the Amazon Essentials cardigan examine to a $150 Banana Republic Supima cardigan?
I’ve owned many-a scarf collar cardigans in my day. For me, it is a excellent sensible informal merchandise, it might probably simply be worn rather than a hoodie like I do within the photographs above with a henley and denims; or it may be dressed up with a button up shirt and trousers like Bond did for a extra enterprise informal vibe. I bought this black Supima cotton cardigan final winter and featured it on this Getup. It is well the costliest sweater I’ve purchased, I wish to say I paid $128 for it, however I might be flawed because it wasn’t on sale and now it is $150.
Supima is a model title for American made Pima cotton and is meant to be a standing indication of high quality. It’s a stable sweater for positive, however I’ve additionally bought scarf collar cardigans from Lands Finish, two from Hole, Abercrombie, American Eagle, and one other from Banana Republic. Most of them I purchased on sale by means of Primer’s deal picks between $40-$80. I might say the Supima cardigan is extra of an $80 sweater than a $150, simply based mostly on what I’ve gotten earlier than, however this one has not been included in any of the gross sales at BR since I purchased it in order that is probably not lifelike. If I have been to pay $150 for a scarf collar cardigan, I might most likely pay a little extra and splurge on one from Buck Mason or one of many three Christopher talked about above.
That will get me again to the Amazon Essentials cardigan: I am a man who has seen the flexibility and long-term usefulness of a high quality scarf collar cardigan so I am nice with paying extra for an improve. However in case you’re new to the fashion or know it is going to be a restricted pull for you in your rotation, it makes excellent sense to start out out with budget-friendly choice.
Subsequent to one another the sweaters are almost an identical wanting. The knits are barely completely different – Amazon’s has extra of a fuzzy texture and the Banana Republic’s being a little extra nice and fewer chunky, most likely giving it a slight edge in having the ability to be extra dressy but it surely’s rather more of a choice than a clear rule. The Amazon Essentials can simply be dressed up too.
Curiously, the Amazon model does have a softer hand really feel, but it surely’s that synthetic softness you get with poly or acrylic. The Supima just isn’t tough by any means, it simply appears like nice cotton. Buttons and pockets are comparable, with the Banana Republic having a chest pocket in addition to the 2 entrance pockets.
In regards to high quality and pilling, Amazon’s sweaters normally have met my expectations for the value, not like ones I’ve had from Outdated Navy, H&M or comparable manufacturers, however I am fairly mild with how I wash them. I have been burned over time with placing even nicer sweaters within the mild cycle so I usually solely launder when obligatory, washing them by hand and air drying them to keep away from pilling and colour loss. (If you will wash a scarf collar sweater within the washer, you may undoubtedly wish to flip it inside out to keep away from colour loss/fading.)
I ordered each the small (which I usually am throughout the board) and an x-small based mostly on Christopher’s overview and I discovered the small to be sufficient so I did not trouble making an attempt on the x-small. I might suggest shopping for each your regular dimension and a dimension down, simply in case your expertise matches Christopher’s.
Hand me each with out labels and I might decide the Banana Republic sweater due to the texture – however is it price an additional $120? When you’re a man simply moving into the look or know you might have restricted put on alternatives, the Amazon Essentials Shawl Collar is a secure purchase at $32(!). Handle it and you must get your cash’s price. However, in case you already consider within the gospel of the scarf collar and plan to put on it for years to return, I might maintain out for a Primer deal decide within the $50-70 vary or leap off of the deep finish with one of many greater priced choices above.