Comments on: Shopping Guide: J Crew Mens Fall 2008

By: ben

ben — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:28:20 +0000

Does anyone know where to get a sweater sold last season in Jcrew stores? The item was a men’s shawl collar sweater in navy and 3 buttons and a military style pocket? Item number is 98555? Thanks for any help!

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:58:02 +0000

ecially for sweaters, it is almost always better to stick with your “true” size. I think otherwise you tend to end up with odd fits.

Just my 2.5 cents plus S&H worth!

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:56:52 +0000

Ooh, no, don’t shrink! Actually, I’ve since gone back to the medium and also bought another one in another color in a Large. I actually now prefer the large. Here’s the reason: I think I was so “programmed” to think all cardigans have to be close-fitting that I could not see the real value in a normal-sized shawl collar cardigan. Yes, the L cardi is big, but it is meant to be big. When you go down a size from your normal size, I think you also lose some of the intended draping and such. This has been a lesson learned for me, brought home especially by the pricey-ness of all that back and forth shipping for exchanges and such. The lesson is that in general, I think esp

By: Filipe

Filipe — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:17:15 +0000

I really wish I’d read this before I bought the shawl neck cardigan. I too got the medium and it looks like a grandpa sweater on me! I’m going to see if I can shrink it somehow but it seems a bit risky

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:37:26 +0000

I agree, Trisha. The “average” fit in any cardigan–shawl collar or otherwise–looks too “grandfatherly,” to me. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but I really like how designers have updated this classic look with sleeker proportions.

You’ve got a great site going on here. I enjoy reading it almost every day, but I wish you had more men’s style info.

Still… looks (and reads) great!

By: Trisha

Trisha — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:48:02 +0000

Thanks for the update, Gary. The beauty of the shawl neck sweater is the closer-than-average fit - so I’m happy to hear that you exchanged your medium for a small

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:06:00 +0000

Update: I exchanged my Medium (shawl neck) for a Small! Wow, these things are big. My advice to anyone considering this: The Small is almost a one-size-fits-all size. If you want a fit that looks anything like the model pix, go with the Small. If you want something that looks more like a jacket, go Medium and up.

I’m 6.1, 185 pounds. I am slim, but by no means “small.” This is the first Small in anything I’ve purchased for my wardrobe ever.

By: Trisha

Trisha — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:39:13 +0000

Excellent, glad that your Medium sweater fits perfectly. Really appreciate the fit advice, Gary!

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:13:14 +0000

Medium arrived and fits perfectly! This IS meant to be a slightly bulky sweater. To look like the model, I’d have to go with a Small, but I’d feel like I was wearing my kid brother’s sweater at that point.

So my advice: If you’re a medium or large normally with j. crew, definitely size down one size with this one.

By: Trisha

Trisha — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:38:35 +0000

Odd that they chose to oversize this cardigan. Thanks for the heads up about the sizing, Gary!