This jumper breaks three - no make that four (!!!!) of my jumper rules.
- Rule 1. It must not be made entirely of acrylic. It can have some acrylic in it but on the whole, it should be made of lovely natural materials like linen, cotton, cashmere and silk (dream on). This one is 100% acrylic. Can I reconcile myself with the fact that this jumper is likely to pill or worse - go up in flames?
- Rule 2. No stupidly long sleeves to make me look like I've bought a jumper which doesn't fit. The sleeves are meant to be long - look at the model! But can I reconcile myself with the fact that they are going to flop in my food?
- Rule 3. No chunky monkey knits to make me look a chunky money. Can I reconcile myself to the fact that this jumper might make me look chunkier than normal though I've not had the pleasure of stuffing myself with delicious food to warrant looking chunky? Hmm - seems a little wrong doesn't it?
- Rule 4. No loose knit weave jumpers which you can catch on a door handle as you pass by. This jumper is practically shouting at the door handle to do it's worse. Is it wise to have a jumper which will cost you £25.99 for a single wear because you caught it on your way out of the house and you can never wear it again?
Hmm food for thought indeed. Four strikes against already and here's come's another one ... the sleeves are really bulky inside my coat.
So what made me bring it home? I was really drawn to the jumper because it was black and navy which in fact is one of my favourite shouldn't be mixed colour combos. The fact that it goes with the Opening Ceremony loafers is not lost on me either :o). And lastly, it's not too long in the body which counts for a lot in a short person's world.
Zara Jumper, H&M Jeans, Opening Ceremony Loafers
So what's a girl to do? Put your votes in now. Keep or return?
I LOVE it!! Just stay away from door handles and naked flames, and don't wear it when eating or under a coat. Love the shoes:) x
ReplyDeleteYup. You're right - why didn't I think of that? if I do all that, it will be just fine and I can keep the jumper ;o)
DeleteI love the look of it, but the acrylic bit bothers me a bit. It's one of my rules too, but feel free to ignore it as I also recently bought a bloody acrylic jumper just because I liked the look of it. I'm shallow. :D
ReplyDeleteI'm obviously just as shallow - I did bring it home with me after all. But glad to hear that you fall prey to such whims too.
DeleteOh, yes. I think we all do. After all we all also blog about fashion etc... It's to be expected. :D ;)
DeleteI like it - but its one of those that you change out of as soon as you get in the house, you cant wash up in those sleeves! I say keep :)
ReplyDeleteYou're right - I do that with a lot of my nicer jumpers or tops - I go home and stick something slobby on so I can get on with life. Sounds like you do too. Life's too short to worry about the nice things once you're behind closed doors.
DeleteI love it, but like you I have a strict no acrylics rule. As beautiful as it is, my vote is for return :)
ReplyDeleteAh - a woman with principles! Do you ever bend them for something you really like?
DeleteAll the time. I broke my "no new nail polish" just this week ;)
DeleteHave you seen the new Chanel one called Elixir? My description of it is raspberry sorbet. It's divine and I don't often succumb to those shades. I tried it the other day and I've been hankering after it since.
DeleteI haven't, no! I'm more of a dark burgundy kind of girl, though. I'll have to try Rouge Noir one of these days..
DeleteHi Sue, it's a keeper, rules are meant to be broken, right ? I kind of try to respect the rule of no acrylic myself because I end up regretting it (acrylic sweaters don't last long). But this one is really nice, perfect colour, fit and style (plus it looks great with those divine loafers), and a girl cannot only have cashmere sweaters in her wardrobe :) xx
ReplyDeleteYou're very right about not just having cashmere jumpers - that would be a very expensive habit wouldn't it? And sometimes it's nice to have a one season wonder. I like clothes with longevity but sometimes even the expensive natural fibre garments don't do what you expect them to do (I have had many de-pilling sessions with some of my cashmere). Besides, the jumper does go well with the loafers :o)
DeleteI don't do acrylic either, having said that it looks great on you so I vote keep in this instance (but still no to other acrylics!) x
ReplyDeleteOkay - so it's acceptable just this once. Thank you!
DeleteKeep it and wear when you don't need a coat, it looks fab x
ReplyDeleteAnd before it pills too much?
DeleteWhat the what?! Did I miss those Opening Ceremony loafers?! How did this happen?! Cause those are amazing on you! Love them love them love them. And now back to the actual topic. I love the sweater. I know, it's going to pill, it's going to snag, and the sleeves will drive you crazy. But I think it will be worth it. The color is beautiful and the coziness of it is totally irresistible. And I actually think it managed to magically be big and cozy without making you look big and bulky. Which, when you find that balance, you have to go for. I whole-heartedly approve. Just don't get too attached, cause by next year that baby will be ready to go.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nomadicd.com/
Aww - I love you. You just summed it up wonderfully about this jumper. Heart vs head and you're going with the heart - sometimes life throws you a curve ball like that doesn't it. Maybe I'll do another post a couple of months on, a kind of review on how well it's holding up.
DeleteAnd the loafers? You like? I love the colours. Totally irresistable colours, black, silver, navy and tealy green. Divine colour combination. I was powerless to resist. And I'd been looking for loafers since forever but hadn't expected them to turn up in this guise. I was thinking more a bordeaux coloured pair of Bass Weejuns but truth be told - these make me happier.
Glad I could be just the enabler you need, Sue! Grin...
DeleteAnd yes, those are the funnest loafers ever. I've been seeing a major influx of loafers lately and they're starting to seep into my subconscious as something I'm going to want to covet, but there's a high prep factor that I just don't know if I can integrate into my sense of self. These, on the other hand, avoid that issue completely. Super fun!
Oh, also, and again totally unrelated to your post (sorry!), I saw this and thought of you:
ReplyDeletehttp://honestlywtf.com/collections/jack-wills-fall-2013/
I feel like you've mentioned them before, am I right? And it looks like they're stateside now!
http://www.nomadicd.com/
I love the blog - so many interesting sections and crafty bits too (and tweaks) - just my cup of tea! And yup - it looks like they are stateside and making an impact. Don't you think they have shades of Madewell all over the campaign?
DeleteThe ladies at Honestly WTF churn out some of the best content out there, it's one of my absolute favorites, so I'm glad you liked it. And yes, JW does have a kind of madewellian vibe to it, in that shaggy mussed styling and the way they manage to make your average looking crewneck sweater totally covetable and necessary. Looking forward to seeing their stuff in person one day...
DeleteKeep for sure - purely based on the colour mix. I LOVE it! Just don't use fabric conditioner when washing to help it to hold its shape. It's not that expensive, yet it looks way more so on you. You have that knack about you Sue - you make things look much more expensive than they are. I envy you that! LOVE those loafers....and now want a pair. Ax
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the fabric conditioner but when you think about it I guess the point of fabric conditioner is to make clothes soft and that would make it extra floppy.
DeleteAnd the thing about picking clothes - just make sure they look well made. That covers a lot of bases.
Hi Sue!! Definitely a keeper, it looks amazing on and it does look expensive looking too-a great stylish find for Autumn and Winter xxx
ReplyDeleteWell I saw it the other week and it looked great on and I resisted it because of the acrylic factor. I tried it on again this week but could resist no more. I took about 4 different jumpers in and this one came out the best for fit and comfort (ignoring the design detail long sleeves). But why oh why do they use so much acrylic? This jumper could have been done just as well with cotton and I would have happily paid more.
DeleteTotally side tracked by the shoes sorry sue..... Love them.
ReplyDeleteThey're a little bit different aren't they? I love them too.
DeleteI have no rules about acrylic etc (should I?) I like it - both the colour and the laid back vibe! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's just that acrylic tends to bobble/pill really easily. Cotton and linen and silk is much better. But wool and cashmere - they get excused on the grounds that they are lovely to wear but still will bobble/pill. But let me correct myself there - wool is sometimes lovely to wear though lambswool tends to still have a bit of an itch factor about it in which case - head for merino wool - much smoother and softer.
DeleteI like my fabrics.
love it! the colour is great, really really suits you :) and wow the shoes! delicious!
ReplyDeleteI have the same rules about acrylic/wool - I've broken them only twice and funnily enough both times at Zara. I still have both jumpers in my possession but one has lasted much better than the other. both have bobbled but for the price have lasted fairly well and I'm pleased I bought them. I vote keep! x
Well I picked up the jumper first and as soon as I had it on in the changing room, the next thing was to check the fabric content. Boy that was a hard thing to get over. But I did it and let's hope it goes the distance or at least till Christmas! I have to say that even some of the cheaper manmade items I have in my wardrobe have washed quite well. Those which haven't have been banished!
DeleteSo firstly ... LOVE the shoes ... no really! I mean, I truly love, love, love them! As for the jumper? Well as a fellow smallie, I'm sold on the fact that it's not too long on the body. Big issue I find, when trying on slouchy, comfy, cosy jumpers. And that jumper definitely ticks all those boxes. Keep it, enjoy it, and when you're sick of it/bored with it, you'll be happy in the knowledge that when you broke the rules, it actually worked :)
ReplyDeleteWell I know you speak your mind Helen so you must approve of this jumper then. And like you I so often find jumpers which are just that touch too long for me to be comfortable with. However, I sometimes find jumpers which are way too short and I think if I'm complaining, what's the rest of the tall world thinking?
DeleteDefinitely keep - it really suits you :-)
ReplyDeleteI think I might just do that :o)
Delete!!! I have those loafers too Sue! Haha great minds ;) I've only worn them a couple times though so hoping that they will stretch width ways, or at least have my fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteCannot believe how many jumper rules you broke, but sometimes, you just can't help liking what you like.
Sometimes you really can't but it's one of those things that rankles a little. Like I said above to Sharon S, I would have happily paid more for it to be in cotton - it's one of those knits which lends well to being cotton. Infact I picked it up because it looked like it was cotton.
DeleteAnd the loafers - the colours are gorgeous aren't they?
Keep it for sure! I love your shoes too
ReplyDeleteFiona
x
Thank you. The labels are still on. The weather is still warm. I still have time to think!
DeleteI agree with Maja. It's lovely but I would return it too.
ReplyDeleteI caved once too many times and in the end, it just satisfied an immediate craving but on the long run they often end up in the Red Cross recycling bin after a few wear.
What amazes me is how Zara makes these gorgeous scarves that seem to be made of cashmere and/or mohair which are actually all acrylic... I really wanted to get one but it's against my "limit non-natural fabric" personal statute.
I've resisted many a scarf because they are polyester - H&M make a lot of them which are but they do have a few natural fibre ones too which I've snaffled on the odd occasion.
DeleteI will have to weigh it up carefully and see. I do really like it though. Sigh.
Love the colour , but it is still August and in the 70's here every day so I can't even think jumpers yet! You look ready for winter!!
ReplyDeleteI am ready for winter. I've stockpiled a lot of what I need ... before it sells out.
DeleteYou will be glad to know that I am in a little top and a denim skirt - no jumpers on me today.
Ooh, this is lovely on you, especially with the loafers!
ReplyDeleteThank you Louise. I've kept it simple but it's probably the way I'd wear it anyway. Jeans, jeans and more jeans.
DeleteI'm with you on the rules. My number one is on the chunky knit = chunky monkey. I can never get away with thick sweaters. This one looks great on you, but breaking that many jumper rules could haunt you later and it will turn into the sweater that never gets worn.
ReplyDeleteI could slap myself about the rules sometimes but the rules are there for a reason - to stop me making mistakes.
DeleteBut I wouldn't be human if I didn't make mistakes would I?
Looks great and what fantastic loafers, the whole look suits, keep, just watch out for flames and no soup :)
ReplyDeleteFab advice which I shall indeed heed. No flames = no cooking. No soup = no cooking. No wet sleeves = no washing up. Basically stay out of the kitchen when wearing this jumper :o) Fab.
DeleteJust love this sweater...it's gorgeous!! It's a great colour, fantastic style and it wouldn't bother me in the slightest that it's acrylic especially not for £25.99!! I bought a Zara acrylic sweater last Autumn and it''s still going strong!! You look after your clothes Sue, it will be just fine....bet you will be still wearing it in years to come!! I am now off to source me some loafers....I don't have any!! Therefore have discovered a gaping whole in my wardrobe!! Thanking you kindly for the inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteI do look after my clothes, you're right. Or maybe I have so many, they never get worn out. Let's go for the first argument - sounds better. And some of the man made stuff is good sometimes. Pains me to say it but polyester has it's purposes and you can't beat it for non-creasability (is that even a word).
DeleteAnd you don't have loafers? I thought you'd have a pair stashed away somewhere. But if not - you must fill the hole right away!
The Jumper looks great on you. Whoever it was said that Navy and Black should not be mixed was an idiot ( I have always put them together ) And the loafers are sublime. I think it should stay in your wardrobe, it would be mean to send it back, it fits in so well. There are worse things in life than Acrylics. Heck if it snags or pills it will just look more like this seasons "punk vibe" The surefire test is this:- when you put it on do you smile and have a pleasant raised eyebrow or do you pull a face?
ReplyDeleteH xx
Well I certainly smiled when I put it on. Now I don't know if this happens to you or not but depending on how much you've eaten, what day of the week it is, which way the wind is blowing - this jumper looks good on some days and bad on others. I can't put my finger on it but I'm not 100% certain and that's why I've put it out there.
DeleteBut you're right about navy and black - it's a gorgeous combination.
oh those shoes are divine sue! and the jumper - well everyone needs one chunky jumper at least, i really like the textures with this one and.. hmm, i need to look up this acrylic thing since people who've commented seem divided on this topic. it's never crossed my mind before, i probably have a few - i guess that's one way to keep the prices low ;)
ReplyDeletesteph / absolutely-fuzzy.com
Acrylic is one way to keep prices low as cotton prices go up and up. The one thing is I keep looking at the jumper and to look at and feel, you'd never guess it was acrylic. Some acrylics have a slight "fuzz" over the surface and that fuzz is the bit which starts to rub up and pill. This one doesn't have that at all. And I'm really surprised - you've never looked in to the acrylic thing before?
DeleteI have a couple of chunky jumpers that are for days when it's chilly enough to need an extra layer but not for a coat as well. So the jumper is enough and I really like this one on you, long sleeves and all.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, acrylic was nasty, to be avoided at all costs. In recent years because my eldest is allergic to wool and I've since changed that way, I've been pleasantly surprised to find acrylic (and mix) clothes to feel a whole lot nicer than in the old days. You still have to be a bit choosy but I wouldn't pass on it automatically.
Wise words - you shouldn't pass automatically. This one is one of the best I've seen using manmade materials. I've now talked myself around the acrylic element. I've got to get over the sleeves bit - that one is now starting to bug me. Hmmm.....
Delete