J Crew Fall Sweaters - A Hit aaaaand a Miss

I mentioned in my earlier post today that when out shopping before the JCA brunch I fell in love with a new J Crew sweater. And I fell hard. And went back to get it later in the week because I just couldn't get it out of my head. Is that sad? Maybe it's good in a way because I am really trying to be smarter about my purchases. I don't *need* any more sweaters. So if I'm buying one, it needs to be so fab and perfect that my wardrobe will feel incomplete with out it.

J Crew Striped Merino Sweater. Per the receipt, its official name is CSHFL (no idea what that means) James Stripe Henley. (#19905, $98) This sweater is not online, but the tag indicates it is a Holiday item (HO 09), so here's hoping that it ends up online so I can grab it for Polyvore. Oh come on, Polyvore addicts, you know what I mean - you just don't wear the things that aren't on PV, do you? Yeah, me too. Anyway, I also hope it ends up online so you all can order it. Color code is BWH. Black + WHite? That's my guess.


First of all, it's 100% merino, nice weight too it - not too heavy or too light. Very soft - but not so soft or thin that the sweater is flimsy. The neck is sits up ever so slightly at the shoulders. I love the stripes (which are more cream than white). I think the combo of the weight of the sweater and the stripes help camouflage any lumpiness in the middle, even without a tank or cami underneath (if you don't know what I'm talking about...well, you don't need to worry about it). This sweater runs on the long side - well, you can see by the stripes in the picture - but I got the M and it fits close to the body, not boxy at all.

But the most fab part of this sweater is in the back. (pardon the full rear view in the pic - can't believe I am showing it - but you have to see the detail) There are 3 buttons going up the back on the neck and 6 buttons on the back of each sleeve. Love love love the detail. So chic. And with a pair of black Minnies...well, I almost feel like I'm channeling Audrey Hepburn. From the instant I put it on, it was perfect. And *that's* when you know you have to have it.

On the other hand, we have the J Crew Argyle V-neck sweater (#17850, $79.50, curr $49.50 in store promo). Ok, so I remember seeing this sweater briefly on Gigi's blog. And when I was shopping with Dina last week, I picked it up in black (which is no longer showing online) to try on since they were on promo in store for $49.50. (Um, I had gotten the striped sweater and black Minnies at Montgomery Mall earlier in the day and then met her at Tysons. Do I have issues? Yeah.....) I was wearing my khaki cafe capris and with those pants they looked fab. It is a long sweater, but I liked the length, figured I could just throw a tank underneath, and that I could wear it with my khaki pants, black pants, gray pants.

And then yesterday, I was trying it on again to get pics to post, and honestly, I just don't think I love it. I really don't like it so much with the black Minnies. In spite of the original online pic, I'm probably not going to wear it with jeans. So that leaves me with khakis, and I don't have a good pair of winter khakis right now (that's what I should be spending my money on). And I don't love it so much with the tank underneath. So I think it's going back.

Don't get me wrong. It's a really cute sweater. But going back to the point I made above, it's not so special that I think I need to keep it. I do love argyle and would love an argyle sweater, but I have enough sweaters as is. And I really do need to clean out my closet.

Maybe if it's on sale again later or something. Or maybe in another color. Or maybe if I worked in an office full time - I can totally see this layered under a black suit. But not right now, not for me.

Now this...this is what I'd like to see in womens' sizes in argyle. (currently crewcuts only) How fun would that be?


Or maybe that's just me.