The Vine: February 3, 2012
Submitted by Sarah D. Bunting on February 3, 2012 – 12:28 PM50 Comments
Okay, Nation: I need your help. Between claw pulls, tears, and the fullness of fashion time, my black-cardigan fleet is down to one acceptable option, and even that one is kind of a C-plus. I need you to find me black cardigan sweaters.
What is not wanted:
- crochet or other open weave
- three-quarter sleeves
- big, contrast-y, or otherwise showy buttons
- a cropped outline (I have a very long torso; a “boyfriend” cardigan on most of you hits me at the hip)
- aggressive/elastic bracelet cuffs or bottom edge
- vintage (see previous two list items for why)
- wrap or “shawl” cut — no closure + added bulk in front = ixnay
- 100% wool
What is okay/workable:
- cashmere/expensive, within reason
- cheap or cheap-seeming; I ain’t proud
- nipped, shaped, or fitted
- ruffles (little ‘uns, within reason) or other “action,” as long as it’s not too young, because I…am not, anymore
- sequins (ditto)
- a bird on it (’cause I’m that guy)
- any cardi that fits the above specs but isn’t available in black (no pastels please)
Brands you can skip thinking about:
- Lands’ End/Lands’ End Canvas (cute on some; too boxy on me)
- J. Crew (good call, but they got nothin’ right now)
- Target (already own three in other colors)
Nation: This English major is chilly right here. SHOP FOR ME.
Share!
Tags: Ask The Readers retail The Great Cardi Hunt of 2012
Eddie Bauer – http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/Women/Sweaters–Cardigans/index.cat
J. Jill – http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/prodnav/viewall.aspx?pfid=74&h=M&sk=M&BID=152026276
LL Bean – http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/503657/0/Relevance/1
I’m long-torsoed and my, erm, cups runneth over, so I feel you on the “Boyfriend cut? Don’t you mean cropped?” I have recently discovered the joys of Gap/Old Navy Tall. You should be able to find something inexpensive that meets your criteria … they always seem to be sending me “sale” codes.
Check out Eddie Bauer and JC Penney, both have tall sizes online which should help with the long torso issue. Eddie Bauer stuff is pricey but I’ve had my stuff for years, like 10 years or more and it still looks great. JC Penney stuff doesn’t last as long but it’s good value and is machine wash and dry. I will say it’s tough to find black anything at Eddie Bauer but they do have lots of lovely things in dark blue and brown–I’m with you on the no pastels!
Good luck.
Oooh, I am so interested to see what the nation comes up with because I am also on the lookout for similar cardigans (minus the long torso — boyfriend sweaters tend to hit me at the knee) and they are NOT easy to find. Gap Outlet is usually good if you have one nearby. . . sometimes they have more “basic” basics than regular Gap, and a slightly more useful color palette.
I have an awesome plain, medium-weight black cardigan I got at Old Navy back when their work/business clothes were actually of decent quality and their sweaters were not all see-through or covered with ruffles. Now, I can’t find anything anywhere to replace it.
Has anyone actually seen the basic L.L. Bean “fine gauge” cardigan? The one from Land’s End looks fine in the pictures but is very heavy and dated looking in person, so I am reluctant to try the Bean or Bauer unless someone can vouch for their IRL looks/feel.
And I am so down with the no-3/4 length sleeves. What is up with the fashion industry’s fascination with this abomination? I can’t for the life of me find good winter dresses with actual long sleeves, not 3/4 sleeves being passed off as long. (Apologies to those of you who like the 3/4. . . I’m not asking for them to disappear, I’m just asking for companies to make long sleeves TOO.)
Hmm.
I used to have good luck at Brooks Brothers for simple black cashmere cardigans, but their website isn’t giving me anything useful.
Old Navy as well – I have a whole collection there, but their women’s section is largely cropped 3/4-sleeve stuff right now. Unfortunate. However, if you look at the Women’s Plus section, they seem to have some decent choices (http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=71956&vid=8&pid=863507&scid=863507002).
(I know you’re not plus-sized, but depending on what you’re planning on wearing them for and the tall/busty issues, perhaps this could actually work?)
Keep ’em coming, y’all. Links to individual products, and personal experience with same, are especially rad.
LL Bean…they’re great for some stuff, but I tend to go to them for functional sweaters/shirts and just buy the men’s versions (for the “huge woolly crewneck over teeny cord mini” look I often enjoy). The women’s tops in general seem to assume a waist proportion that I just don’t have. Anyone actually own any of these sweaters?
Also, this isn’t a cardi, but did anyone happen to buy that super-cute raglan-sleeve fair-isle sweater from Eddie Bauer? It was SO adorable, I thought it had to be a trick, so I didn’t get one. :)
This one from Neiman Marcus might do.
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/product.jsp?icid=&searchType=MAIN&rte=%252Fsearch.jsp%253FN%253D0%2526Ntt%253Dcashmere%252Bcardigan%2526_requestid%253D15307&eItemId=prod137720065&itemId=prod137720065&parentId=&cmCat=search
It’s on sale, and their cashmere sweaters are well-made and last a long time.
I’e had good luck in the past with Victoria’s Secret sweaters, although I don’t have experience with any of their current offers. here are some that look promising:
http://tinyurl.com/7tudheu
http://tinyurl.com/6vnwrot
http://tinyurl.com/6m2o26e
This one from Ann Taylor Might work:
http://tinyurl.com/7rctzfx
Or this, from White House Black Market; I find a lot of their sweaters are cut long in general, so it’s a good place to go:
http://tinyurl.com/7pwjbkq
Good luck!
Some of the garish button options shouldn’t eliminate an otherwise good choice – since buttons can be replaced so easily. Of course, if the buttons are too big, replacement to something smaller is way too complex.
If you are in New York City I’d send you to Uniqlo (particularly their new “flagship” store on 5th Avenue) as they have all kinds of lovely cardigans in nice solid colors and various types of material. Unfortunately, they don’t sell online and NYC is currently their only US location (they’re primarily Japanese). But if you’re nearby it’s worth checking out. I got two completely different ones for Christmas that I love dearly.
Over Christmas, Brooklyn Industries had a long sleeve version of their Azalia cardigan (of which I have 3 in different colors, I love them so much), but it looks like right now they only have the 3/4 sleeve version. (They do at least sell online, though.)
I was on a similar quest recently! I managed to find a J. Crew one at their warehouse sale a couple weeks ago, but I haven’t got a clue what collection it’s from.
The Nordstrom Collection V-Neck is 50% off, but sizes are limited:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/nordstrom-collection-v-neck-cashmere-cardigan/3200414?origin=category&resultback=6412
If you want really long, there’s always this Olivia Moon cardigan/dress: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/olivia-moon-long-v-neck-cardigan/3247838?origin=category&resultback=4229
Lord & Taylor’s got cashmere cardigans on sale for $60 (limited sizes): http://www.lordandtaylor.com/eng/womensapparel-finalstorewideclearance-_49995999cashmerebasics-Classic_Neutral_Cashmere_Crewneck_Cardigan_Sweater-lordandtaylor/183380
Finally, 6pm (the clearance arm of Zappo’s) has a big clothing clearance sale going on; I don’t love their shipping policies, but I’ve found great deals here on occasion. Here are all their black cardigans, with a few that may suit you: http://www.6pm.com/womens~1b#!/women-black-sweaters/CKvXARDQ1wE6AtoTQgEDwAEB4gIFGAECBwg.zso
If you can get past the 3/4 sleeve thing, the one @Wehaf from Ann Taylor is fantastic. I’ve been wearing the crap out of the black one this winter and it doesn’t pill and washes up great, retaining it’s shape. It’s nice and long and hangs perfect.
This isn’t for the post, but Sars, there’s something wrong with the tomatonation screen for me! For some time, a toolbar with all this social share software option has covered up the left side of the screen–and it won’t go away! I’ve tried clicking various buttons to minimize it, but it’s relentless and covers up most of the text so I can’t really read the screen. Not sure what’s going on here (could be my work comp is just incompatible with some update you’ve done) but I miss TN.
What about this one from the Gap: http://www.gapcanada.ca/browse/product.do?cid=8993&vid=1&pid=783458&scid=783458033
I’m wearing this- http://tinyurl.com/7bf44r8 in black at this very moment. I love it, it’s nice and cozy and keeps me warm on days when they inexiplicably have the air conditioning on at work in the winter. I hate decorations of any kind so it’s perfect for me, I’m also lazy so the zipper is awesome too.
@Flora, there’s a left arrow that you can click to minimize the Sociable toolbar (if it’s covering the main body of the post/page, that’s an issue with your screen sizing somewhere — it’s not doing that for me).
Wintersilks has some nice silk and silk-blend cards that are surprisingly beefy here. Their men’s sweaters are fairly unisex, so if the ladies’ ones don’t suit, try the men’s. Not to pricey, well-made.
I’m completely obsessed with Uniqlo, so I’m seconding that suggestion. They have tons of sweaters in seemingly every conceivable style/color/material. You can’t shop online, but you can take a look at what they have: http://tinyurl.com/7ufrc6b
I can’t link directly to the site, as you can’t buy them online, but I am a huge convert to the Uniqlo cardigans and sweaters. Well-made, lots of options for wool type, and I just bought a longer cardigan from them that I love. I’d avoid the Soho store in favor of the others, myself.
Flora, I was having the same issue, when I increased the screen type size to make the comments more readable for me. (Damn middle-aged eyeballs.) There’s a teeny arrow clicky to the left of the bar, (above the clicky labeled “sociable,” which is also on the left of the bar, partway down.) Click that and the bar goes away.
I’ve been wearing mine a ton and I got it at Target! Another great place is the Loft. I have one in orange that is my favorite.
I love Old Navy’s sweaters. Now, I’m very short-torsoed (short all over, really), so “boyfriend cut” hits me at the knee, but I have two cardigans from them that I love. Neither of mine is black, but I’m sure they sell them in black.
Kohl’s has a bunch, but here’s a pretty basic one: http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/womens/sweaters/cardigans/solid/PRD~812168/SONOMA+life+++style+Essential+Ribbed+Cardigan.jsp
Talbots is cardigan central.
My current favorite store is Madewell. They have a few cardigans that look good, especially this one: http://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/SWEATERS/cardigans/PRDOVR~72586/72586.jsp
I have a long torso too and almost all their stuff hits me at the hip.
I live in Nordstrom’s Halogen cardigans (I think that’s an in-house label), and I’m a long-waisted type.
They have a couple on sale right now, actually:
This one’s only in blue, and not in every size, but under $30: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/halogen-slit-pocket-cardigan/3276461?origin=keywordsearch
This one’s in black, also on sale, and under $50: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/halogen-deep-v-neck-merino-wool-cardigan/3267933?origin=keywordsearch
Good luck with your hunt for the black cardigan! It makes so many outfits so much easier, doesn’t it?
I’ll admit, I’m in the 3/4 sleeve fan club. Otherwise, I ultimately end up pushing up my full-length sleeves, and then the wrists get all stretched out. I’ve had great luck with cardigans from The Limited, but they seem to currently be all 3/4 sleeve length.
How about this one from American Eagle? Most of AE’s stuff is too young for me (I’m 31), but I do have some of their basics in my rotation that I like, including sweaters.
I don’t know what you consider reasonably expensive, but Pure Collection has some very nice cashmere options that are frequently on sale and less expensive than really designery stuff.
I’ve also really liked the cardigans I got at Ann Taylor and the August Silk available at Macy’s etc.
Go to the Loft right now, either in person or on loft.com, and see if you can still grab some Saddle Shoulder Cardigans and/or Double Layer Trim Cardigans. (The website shows them on final clearance, so the pickings are getting pretty slim, but you might get lucky.) I have several of each style in different colors, and I wear one to work almost every day.
What you really need is a friend/gramma/brother who knits.
I like this one from Old Navy: http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=60783&vid=1&pid=898256&scid=898256052
It’s a v-neck instead of a crewneck, which I think makes it more versatile since I wear a lot of boatnecks/cowlnecks/v-neck t-shirts and very few button-ups (but I think it would work well with a button-up, too). Not sure how the tall fits, but might be worth a shot?
Take a look at:
http://www.tee-zone.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=43
They have a few (Majestic, Bailey 44) that might work. It’s the online store for Basic Basic in the Village, so you might consider an in- person visit.
I have a long torso too–few regular tops actually cover the top edge of my pants. I haven’t tried Eddie Bauer’s cardigans, but their “tall” tops are the perfect length.
I’m a big fan of this one by August Silk from Macy’s. I found it in the local store also.
http://tinyurl.com/6twdzqg
Several colors including black.
Check out Ralph Lauren. Their sales are sweet, and they have a bunch with another 20% taken off at checkout. I’ve been very pleased with the wearability of the sweaters I’ve bought from them (on huge sale) in the past.
http://www.ralphlauren.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=1766601&s=D-DollarRank-POLO&cp=2943768&view=99
@John, Gen knits like a house on fire! Alas, she’s embroiled in another project request (adequately high above-the-knee boot socks) and I’m afraid to enter another ticket. Heh.
I know you said no J.Crew, but their classic merino cardigan is one of my all-time faves. Is it because it’s wool? Unless you don’t like wool because of an allergy, I can tell you that this cardi is pretty lightweight. I wear it them comfortably through the spring (and maybe even in the summer, if in the office, because the knit is so fine). http://www.jcrew.com/womens_feature/NewArrivals/sweaters/PRDOVR~65370/65370.jsp They age very well, but you cannot machine wash them (which I learned the hard way).
@Sophie, I think I have this one in purple, actually. I didn’t see it the last time I was on their site, though!
Have you checked J. Crew factory? The website is only up on weekends so it is easy to miss. They have several cardigans right now: http://tinyurl.com/7659hma
@Sarah D. Bunting: I know; they come and go! I actually might stock up while I have the chance….
The V-neck cardigans at Old Navy right now are awesome (and cheap, but so far have held up just fine to my rotating them heavily through my wardrobe AND washing and drying them in the dryer with the rest of my stuff). They are quite plain – long sleeves, buttons up to the bottom of the v-shape, no extraneous stuff and the buttons blend in – they definitely come in black, and they’re flattering and long enough on me and I have a super-long torso, too (ladies who I am three inches taller than will have legs that are 2-4 inches longer than mine; all my height is above the hip).
This is the one I’m talking about – the “Perfect Cardigan” –
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=60783&vid=1&pid=898256&scid=898256032
I fell in love with Next when I was working in the UK awhile back, and their US site has been a little bit of a godsend. They seem to always have basic cuts and styles in addition to the trendy stuff. This cardigan might be an option:
http://tinyurl.com/846b7cs
This is a great time to check the Neiman Marcus online cashmere shop sale. I have several beautiful, understated, long cardigans (low hip to mid-thigh length) that I’ve purchased through the years in the $100- $150 range. A high quality pure cashmere sweater that is properly taken care of will last many seasons and their house brand sweaters tend to be classic, timeless styles.
Banana Republic has two options right now, and I’ve had good luck with their stuff, especially since I have prehistoric ape arms, so getting long sleeves to actually hit my wrist is a regular challenge. Anyway, there’s this one: http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=51420&vid=1&pid=434749
and this one: http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=51420&vid=1&pid=454571&scid=454571002
And they’re both long-sleeved with quite minimal foofaraw.
Sorry I’m coming to this late. I own a couple of the LLBean fine-gauge cotton cardigans and love them. They are lightweight, just a degree heavier than the pima cotton tshirts, so very good for layering and don’t make you too hot when the office heat gets cranked. Also, I am 5’8″ and long-torsoed, and the regular-lengtrh (i.e., not Tall) cardigans fit right over my hips. Recommend them highly.
I am loving/rocking this particular cardi from J. Jill right now. So awesome.
http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/product/itempage.aspx?item=R6091J&PFID=74&BID=119330595&h=M&sk=M
Love the Eddie Bauer Ruched Cable Cardigan! I am 5’11” got the tall size in black and it is my new go to cardi. The ruched and the cable just add a little something. http://tinyurl.com/899qlbo
I agree the Lands End ones all end up boxy on me but I did get their red embroidered one at Christmas and it is a fun party cardi.
My seestah gave me a mustard-colored [I know, right?] “car coat” from Chadwick’s of Boston that is my new Favorite Garment. I would never have chosen that color, because I basically AM yellow with a little blue under the eyes, but I got compliments all day long yesterday when I wore it over a white Eddie Bauer T-shirt. And jeans. [It’s always Casual Friday at my office.] Anyway, the “weave” or knit or whatever is pretty big, but the PXL fit me like no petite XL has fit me in a loooonnnnggg time. [Me: barrel with v. short legs, these days. And running-over-cups since time immemorial, or at least 6th grade.] Comes in black and other colors that look good at least on the screen.
http://www.chadwicks.com/item/40002/402/cable-knit-car-coat
I gave the Gap one a try; when it arrived, I realized it was the black version of a beige one I’d just retired for holeyness after five years of excellent service. So, that one’s in the rotation (thanks, @Erin) and I’m combing various online sales for others.
I tend to get my cardigans from Ann Taylor or Ann Taylor LOFT. I do also get some cool ones from the Gap collective (GAP, Banana Replubic, Old Navy) but sometimes it’s hit or miss with them. The Old Navy ones are great but as they are less expensive they do wear out quicker.