Sweater Of The Week: Everlane
So here I am sitting with ice on my big toe, hoping it’s just a sprain. Last night at bedtime, I turned off the hall light, then remembered I needed to brush my teeth, and with my eyes not yet adjusted to the darkness, spun around and missed the bathroom door by a couple of inches, jamming my toe into the wall. Never a dull moment!
While I generally scoff at those “Ten Items Every Woman Must Have In Her Wardrobe” lists, there is one item that I do find so versatile and useful that I’d go out on a limb to say that it’s an essential, and that’s a v-neck cashmere or merino wool sweater in navy or another neutral color. During cooler months, I find myself reaching for mine frequently, and I’d never travel without it.
I’ve been seeing a lot of buzz about Everlane, the clothing company that offers basic items in natural fibers, and provides transparency about their factories and manufacturing. I ordered the same style as above in Taupe. Shipping was free on the first order. The cashmere was substantial but soft, the sweater was cut nicely (if too long for me) and the sizing seemed true as described in the sizing chart. If not for the length I would have kept it. But for any of you with a bit more height (I’m 5’1″) this would be a lovely addition to any wardrobe, at a not too extravagant price. Everlane Slouchy V-Neck Cashmere Sweater.
Is a cashmere sweater one of your wardrobe essentials?
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I have several sweaters and four of them are cashmere. I love the Lands’ End ones as they have petite sizes. My new grey cardigan is by Lord and Taylor it is a long and lean V neck style. Great with skinny jeans. You might like it yourself. I am 5’1 too.
I have an Everlane tee and really like it. Good to hear the cashmere is substantial – I’ll have to give this one a try as I love a loooong sweater.
It’s been so cold here in the deep South that my husband has been wearing 2 cashmere sweaters topped with a down vest. I am attired similarly. Indoors.
My best cashmere: the sweaters my parents bought at Harrods around 1980.
I love my sweaters. Cashmere and merino and mainly buy from Woolovers, good price and lovely colours. Different styles and fittings so good for us smaller ladies.
How does it wear? I hate less expensive cashmere that pills like crazy…
Spacegeek, I’m not sure as I sent it back. I will say this though, I don’t think pilling always has a inverse relationship to price. I’ve had some more expensive sweaters (cough*EricBompard*cough) that pilled like crazy, and far less expensive versions like my years-old Lands End that hardly pill at all. I haven’t figured out how to determine how much a sweater will pill. J.Crew sells a sweater comb for removing pills which is supposed to be less damaging than those shavers.
I’ve found Brooks Brothers have the best merino and cashmere for minimal pilling. It’s appropriate that J.Crew sells the comb, as I’ve had terrible pilling with their sweaters.
Why did you send it back?
Frugal, it was just too long for me, the proportions were off.
Such a lovely recommendation my dear! I so agree with you on that this type of sweater being a wardrobe staple necessity! I have about worn mine out … it was the perfect Europe traveling companion. Thank you for this recommendation, as I am indeed on the hunt for a new one!
xoxo
Tamera
A cashmere sweater is lovely and warm, so necessary in winter. I’ve got several including two in navy – I guess that’s a sign that I consider it a wardrobe staple!
Mais oui! I’ve gone the cardigan route lately though. I have a little 3/4 sleeved cropped version from Eileen Fisher that is probably five years old now that I seem to wear constantly. I’m still mourning two pullovers with the perfect ballet neckline and high hip length (one black and one dove gray) that have been gone for six or seven years by now. I haven’t had a staple I’ve loved as much since, and I’m always on the lookout.
Would love one of those. I have just bought similar in a lighter brighter blue which I intend to wear into the Spring
Cashmere, oh how I love you. We are in a traveling stage of life, since the nest emptied a few years ago. Cashmere and merino are packing stalwarts. There’s not much better for most seasons and destinations. Had not heard about Everlane, but will investigate. Thanks, a Femme!
I hope your toe feels better soon. I, too, am prone to such things. Last summer I broke my pinky toe just walking by my ottoman and hitting the leg of it full on. (I heard the crack.) I went to Nordstrom the other day when I was in the area and I was initially looking for short sleeve tops as the weather here in northern California is unseasonably warm. As I perused the sale racks I spotted a beautiful cashmere v neck sweater in an aqua color by Halogen. It fit and it was under $50. I tried it on without a top underneath and it felt wonderfully smooth. Somebody told me about Nordstrom Rack so I stopped there as well (my first time), and, as luck would have it, the only top that fit was a taupe and cream stripe v neck cashmere sweater (also by Halogen). This one was under $30. I am pleased, and I know I will wear them.. eventually. At 5’2″, I like news of lengths as well. The two that I purchased fall at the hip and are not too snug.
Sorry to hear about your toe! I hate when I do things like that. V-neck cashmere sweaters are a huge staple in my wardrobe. I also discovered Everlane this winter and am absolutely living in them. I’ve found cashmere of all quality will pill. I swear by my little sweater shaver from Target. After I hand wash them, they all get a little shave and look good as new. Enjoy your Sunday. xoJennifer
I wasn’t familiar with Everlane…the sweater looks beautiful. Based on what I am reading here…I think I will try them out, I noticed Patti said they make tees as well. Thanks for the intro!
I love Macy ‘s Charter Club v-neck cashmeres better than Uniqlo (too much pilling). I have them in several colors – my go to sweater. Never too hot or cold.
I was looking at their shirts earlier this week. Certainly an interesting concept. I have not bought anything from them just yet though. I did, however, just buy a pink cashmere sweater on super-sale this week – a must-have for sure!
I’ve been wondering about the Everlane cashmere — at that price, it’s worth trying. I live in my navy v-neck Bompard cashmere and could do with a second (have the same Bompard in grey also, and a heavier v-neck in choc. brown. Also a v-neck cardi in purple and one in taupe. might be a thing . . . 😉
Sorry to hear about your toe and I hope it heals quickly. I swear by ice . . .
I love cashmere. I need cashmere because my sweaters are in sad shape. But I’m shorter than you are so I find it really challenging to find affordable cashmere sweaters that don’t look like I just stole them from a taller woman with much longer arms than mine 🙁
Alicia
Feel better and heal! Thanks for this resource, looks good for basics. I have at least 16 Bompard sweaters, some over 20 years old. (You need cashmere 8 months of the year here.) A few pill more than others, but most very little. (I find the silk/cashmere blend pills more than the 100% cashmere.) And the colours are so wonderful. Though I admire navy, when Bompard make all those more uncommon blues like “Bird Song” I lose my heart to them.
I’d really like to know about the durability, because I’ve had bad luck with cashmere that price or so, and prefer buying merino, which I find warm and lasting. I’m not a blue person; I’d buy the burgundy and the dark grey. I’d love an interesting green.
I’m scarcely taller than you, but I’m long-torsoed and short-legged. I like pullovers to be long in this horrible cold weather, as they coddle my lower back; “les reins”, as one says in French.
More important, I hope it is just a sprain. I had such a minor household disaster last week (friend staying at my very small place because of a household disaster at his, leaving me a little “obstacle course” as I came home, frozen by our “Arctic Vortex” weather). Fortunately just a sprain, but still hurts.
Malheureusement non! i can’t afford cashmere, with my teacher’s salary; they are super expensive in France, but my best US friend gave me one of hers one time, from J Crew I think, and I loved it!!!
Wow, it’s so Ines de la Fressange. Stylish, chic, perfect.
I had a look at the Everlane site when I was over in New York & was tempted to buy but then it felt like too much of a faff – and I had Manhattan on my doorstep!
Ouch! Take care of that toe. I love the look and feel of cashmere but it’s usually too warm to wear cashmere where I live.
You might want to have a physician take a look at your big toe. I had a similar encounter last Spring and, thinking it was a sprain and would heal by itself, did not do that and ended up having a broken bog toe that did not heal for months and a cascade of problems caused by my altered gait (which neither I nor anyone else had noticed). Best wishes!
Susan I applaud Everlane for their transparency on factories and manufacturing, thank you for that link. I’m very interested in the source of clothing and just beginning to learn more about it.
I purchased the black v neck Everlane sweater (in black) on your recommendation. It arrived yesterday, fit perfectly (I’m almost 5′ 8″) and it isvery nice for the price–. It was not unusually long at all on my body. I am pleased. We’ll see about pilling.