Monday, March 2, 2009

A Long Review of the Merino Crewneck Cardigan!


Yet another review by me pretending it is summer...when (as all of you here on the east coast know) we are in the midst of quite some snow storm. (I really should be grading quizzes, but you know, priorities.) ;)

Here is the merino crewneck cardigan as it appears on the jcrew.com website. I really loved the image in the February 2009 catalog of the model wearing this with the silk tunic (see the review from earlier today), but in real life...these two really shouldn't go anywhere near each other (even if they were different colors--which they really aren't). The shapes of the two are all wrong for each other. So rather than fight it, I just let them be their own lovely selves.

You can get this cardigan in many different colors, including a pretty key lime color, and a nice, rich brown. I chose dusty rose because I have very little pink/peach in this hue and figured I should enrich my closet a bit more with these hues.

You can find this cardigan here (and on somewhat of a sale): http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/sweaters/merino/PRDOVR~12436/12436.jsp


Here it is on my bed all laid out. The color is very similar to what the website presents...a deep, saturated, medium pink color. YAY! Not too light or pale, thank goodness...


It is a LONG cardigan. I am glad I am 5'8" or else this would swamp me. I don't know that I can recommend it for ladies that are petite (and I don't believe this comes in a petite version). The sleeves were long enough, too. I didn't have to pretend the cardigan was made that way (look at my pretty bracelet sleeves...right, Lexieloo?).


I did a close-up of the buttons because they are AWESOME. They are this enamel material and very unusual. I have never seen buttons like this. The color also is a perfect match to the very soft, supple, and medium-weight merino wool.


Here it is on me...ready for summer nights next to the campfire. I am wearing a sequin-crested tee from Winter 2007 as well. You can find more info on the shorts and flip-flops in the review of the silk tunic I did earlier today.
This is a perfect, slouchy, "let's wear this around the house" kind of cardigan. But it can be refined...wait for it!

I thought buttoning it up would make it more refined. Oh, no. OH, NO! Oh, *expletive*, no. I will never, I mean it, wear this buttoned-up. It looks stupid this way. So let's just move on...(PLEASE!)


Ah, much better. I will most likely wear this open more often than not. However, with a pencil skirt, I love the idea of doing this cardigan buttoned-up and with a belt. It breaks up that LOOOOOONG line and makes it a refined (almost sophisticated) sweater. I can see wearing this with a black or grey pencil skirt and some fierce black heels. Definitely the definition of "sexy secretary." Maybe I won't be doing this look, on second thought. I teach middle-school, for crying out loud! ;)

8 comments:

A said...

There's nothing wrong with pretending it's summer. I did that today too with a pair of shell capris that arrived today. :) I have the Michelle V-neck cardi in the same color and love it too - the color and those unique buttons. This looks very pretty on you.

HeidiG said...

Very pretty color! I like it! I just painted my nails a bright coral-orange-red, so yes, I'm pretending it's summer too.

Melissa@AllThingsSimplified said...

This looks great on you, and I love the idea of it with the Pencil skirt, too! :) Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Marilyn Alexis said...

LOL! Oh those "bracelet" sleeves. I really love the sweaters. I love all long sweaters. And this color look great on you!

Emily said...

So glad you did a review of this. I was going to order the dusty rose but decided to pass. I think it will be too long for my 5'2 frame.

I think it looks lovely on you! Crossing my fingers that you get some warm weather soon:)

Jordyn said...

this looks so pretty on you...the color is divine with your coloring!! I love it best with the belt..

dinagideon said...

A Bigger Closet: Ooh...summer dreaming is everywhere! :) Did you pair the shell capris with the dusty rose michelle? I bet that looks very nice together!

HeidiG: I need to try to get my nails polished in that color. Bright and special...maybe I will do it if the 60s that are predicted to come actually make here on Saturday! (By the way, looks like there will be a get-together of DC JCAs soon...I will e-mail and post on your site!)

FFM: I will try the pencil skirt thing soon...I am still a bit body conscious but I think I could manage it for a date night out or something. You have a blessed day too! :)

Lexieloo: Yay for nice long sleeves. This may be one of the few cardigans I have that fulfill this basic need...I think most cardigans are fitted for women about 5'5" to 5'6".

I bet you would look lovely in this color...have you picked anything up in it?

Emily: I am glad it helped you finalize a decision. I feel your pain. My stepmom is 5'3" and she gets very frustrated by how long things are. She says that even the "petites" can be too long sometimes! Ugh.

dinagideon said...

Jordan: THANK YOU! I like it with the belt a lot, too. ;)