Thursday, December 20, 2012

Sweater dresses


There is something snuggly and cozy about sweater dresses. They are warm, comfortable, easy to throw on with boots and be ready. But in reality, sweater dresses may also be unflattering, unforgiving, adding bulk everywhere and easily turning into shapeless sacks.

I am a big fan in theory but irl, not so much.


In general, I avoid sweater dressed for reasons mentioned above but sometimes I could not resist. This was the case  with J.Crew cashmere Fiori dress from 2009.  I loved the silver gray shown in the stock picture but since I already owned a gray sweater dress (see below), I decided to go with black.


I was not disappointed when I received it, it was exactly what I was looking for.


It has just the right length and it is not cut too low. The slightly a-line skirt does not get out of shape by the end of the day.  The rosette is subtle and eliminates a need for a necklace but makes the dress more elegant. However, I have worn it with boots to the office without feeling overdressed.  Miraculously, it does not pill.

 

I took a smaller of my sizes (S) and the dress was still roomy at first, but after I washed it couple of times, it shrunk a little and become more fitted but not too small. Btw, I hate dry cleaning and I wash all my cashmere with regular detergent on gentle cycle and air dry. It shrinks a little but other than that, I did not have any problems. I actually think it pills less after washing. You just have to be careful, so you don't throw it in the dryer with the rest of the load. I learned that the hard way. However, putting it in the dryer for 5 minutes to fluff works well.

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I am wearing the dress with my Nottingham boots and Boulevard coat in sandstone. I love this coat and I hope J.Crew will come back with the classic Boulevard silhouette next year. I don't like the cut of the one they did this year, although some of the colors are beautiful.

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My other sweater dress is even older (2007?) and I bought it from Boden. I used to buy much more from them in those years.


This is 100% thick, ribbed merino wool with not a single pill in sight. It is not itchy and merino can bother me. I got it in size 10 but it is still roomy in hips. The length is good but the neck is rather exposed, which is a slight problem in the winter when I want to be covered up. What I like about it (besides the color and 100% merino) is that it reads quite casual.  I am not DaniBP (I wish) but I can wear this dress around the house and feel comfortable.  


Also wearing Ryder boots and Tillary purse (review HERE).

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That's all folks!


Do you like/wear sweater dresses?
Do you own J.Crew Fiori dress?

Do you wash your cashmere and merino?


Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!

19 comments:

  1. I'd love a sweater dress, I've not had one since my teens, I always hand wash cashmere.

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    1. Maybe you can get one from Brora when they have their January sale?

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  2. Great dresses! I wore sweater dresses a lot in my 20s but I have too many lumps and bumps right now to look good in them. Those look good with boots, I like how it makes the dresses more casual.

    So I read today in Marie Claire (?) a Tim Gunn advice column and he recommends that after washing your cashmere, you put it in a salad spinner to get the excess water out (then lay flat to dry further on a towel)! I thought that was a genius idea. Anyone tried it?

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    1. Why not just put it through a spin cycle in your washing machine? I wash mine on the machine's handwash cycle but after it's finished I run it through a regular, more aggressive spin to take out more water.

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    2. You will have to ask Tim Gunn! I haven't tried to wash cashmere at all. My only guess is that the spin cycle could stretch it out. Also, I don't know if my front loader lets me do just a spin cycle, I will have to take a look.

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    3. I don;t have a salad spinner but what I do is after I wash it, I roll it up in a towel and sit on a towel for a few seconds. It seems to work pretty well to get the excess moisture out.

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  3. I really like the shape of the Fiori dress, it's gorgeous. Of course I love knit dresses and that includes sweater dresses. Unfortunately I cannot wear any wool, even cashmere next to my skin during these dry winter months so mine are silk, cotton or a blend of the two, which are not as warm as wool. They all have some spandex as well to help hold their shape or I'm sure they would look like a sack before lunchtime. I like them best with tall boots, I can't pull off short, slouchy boots with a dress or skirt like you can. The proportions are somehow always off.

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    1. Could you wear a long sleeve tissue t-shirt underneath? As for the boots, I never liked short boots for the same reason as you but somehow these Ryder boots work, not sure why. I really like them but I only wear them with skirts and dresses because with skinny pants they look too 'biker chic' for me.

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  4. I love sweater dresses - there's something really easy about them, but I don't wear them as often because I have this fear of stretch butt, hehe!

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    1. You are right, the butt stretch is always the biggest problem with sweater dresses. That's why I find that the fuller skirts works better than a shift shape.

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  5. ajc what do you mean "I wish", the grass is always greener I wish I were you! Love these dresses on you. I'm wearing my new Brora dress today and I love it. We were doing some fancy shopping today but these can be dressed up or down as you know. I'll wear it through dinner and clean-up as well (apron of course).
    Tell your daughter she's doing a great job with the pictures and I bought my young daughter a camera for Christmas!

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    1. I will pass it on to A, she will be thrilled to hear it. Camera is a great idea, she will have a blast with it! I did not mean to say that I think you have it easy. But you are definitely an inspiration for many when it comes to dressing elegantly for everyday chores!
      Oh, I love those Brora dresses but I reconciled myself with the fact that they usually are the wrong shape for me. Like Boden, they have too much room in the hips.

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  6. sweater dresses can be so fun! i love how you styled it with boots - really makes it look fun but still polished. you look fantastic in both dresses! xox P

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    1. I think you are right, the Fiori dress looks quite elegant with black heels and clutch but with brown boots I wear it to work without feeling overdressed. Well, of course I usually err on the side of being overdressed, so I suppose everybody is used to it...

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  7. I love the idea of sweater dresses, IRL maybe not so much. Every time I buy one - and I do keep trying - I love how the dress and I look in store, but by the time it gets home with me, it's grown mysteriously tighter in places that I like to pretend don't exist, it's gotten mysteriously shorter thus showing other lumps and bumps... I'm always thinking of travel wear, but if a dress can change like that on a 10-minute bus ride in a shopping bag, I tremble to think what I'd look like after the dress had spent 4 or 5 hours in a suitcase.

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    1. I hear you fred, sweater dresses are definitely in the wear-with-caution category, but I find that the worst ones are the form fitting, long t-shirt shaped cable ones, almost nobody can pull them off I think.
      lol, ikwym about how clothes can transform between the fitting room door and your front door. I am afraid there will never be a sisterhood of traveling sweater dress...

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  8. So do you wash your J. Crew Tippi cardigans?
    I so hate to have them cleaned, but have never attempted to wash them. I thought I read where you do?

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    1. Yes, I do. I think merino is more tricky than cashmere to wash. I wash in baby shampoo like J&J and dry flat but at the end throw in the dryer for 5 min on low heat to fluff.

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  9. Thank you for your great post! Collection's Wholesale Sweater Dresses with a sweet lolita coord, showing off the versatility of this style! This dress comes with a side part with 'skin' and is pre-styled with lush waves and short bangs for a natural, beautiful overall look.

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