Smartwool dilemma

[pooks]

I'm not sure anybody can give me an "answer," but I thought if I voiced my problem your responses might help me figure out what to do.

Because I love smartwool socks, I decided I wanted a smartwool sweater. It came and I love the color (plum heather) and it feels oh-so-divine! Yum!

The problem is -- it looks AWFUL on me. It's an XL and sometimes they fit me and sometimes they don't, and in this case it's too tight. But worse than that, it looks like I'd need to lose a ton of weight for it to look good. It just molds to my weird shape in ways that even the jerseys don't seem to.

But I love the color and the way it feels. So part of me thinks, "Oh keep it, maybe you'll lose enough weight to wear it in public and in the meantime you can wear it as a bottom layer," and the other part of me says, "This cost too much to not to be able to wear unless it's cold enough to wear two layers."

I tend to care more about how things feel than how they look, so I could probably convince myself to wear it anyway, but do I really want to convince myself I dont care if I look bad?

I think in general this shirt is too clingy to look okay on me unless I lose a lot more weight than I will lose this winter, even if I read a whole lot and manage to lose weight.

So, give me advice or talk about your own issues. I just want some misery in my company, maybe!

[DeniseGoldberg]

I have no patience for stores, so I do the bulk of my clothes shopping (cycling and otherwise) online. And I learned a long time ago that if something doesn't fit - I send it back immediately.

If you keep this non-fitting item, remember that losing weight is no guarantee that it will fit properly. It's possible that it is just not the right shape or proportion for your body.

[Bad JuJu]

Gotta second what Denise said. I've ended up with some real closet spaceholders with that "It'll fit me when I lose weight" line. Send it back!

[mimitabby]

this is kind of funny, my DH just got a smartwool undershirt. It shows EVERYTHING including his tiny nipples. I can imagine what it would look like on a woman. Fortunately it is an UNDERSHIRT so no one outside my house is going to see it except for the collar!

[emily_in_nc]

Send it back and get something that makes you feel attractive. :)

Anything that makes any of us feel worse about our looks, weight, or whatever, does not deserve to be worn. Who needs that?

Just my two cents....

Emily

[snapdragen]

Agree with everyone - send it back. If you don't feel good wearing it, whats the point. Do they have something else in the same color you could get instead?

[Dianyla]

It shows EVERYTHING including his tiny nipples.
You mean, mipples? :p

[pooks]

Yep. This molds to me like nothing else I own. It FEELS great, the color is gorgeous, but y'all are right. Sigh.

It appears TE is about to get an XL plum heather Zip-T back, and it appears they don't have any others, so if anybody wants one, this is your lucky week!

[chickwhorips]

this is kind of funny, my DH just got a smartwool undershirt. It shows EVERYTHING including his tiny nipples.

kind of funny?! its "good thing i wasn't drinking anything" funny.

i agree send it back. i have bought clothes under the catagory of "when i lose weight this will fit". guess what... still haven't worn it.

[Pax]

Gotta second what Denise said. I've ended up with some real closet spaceholders with that "It'll fit me when I lose weight" line. Send it back!

Third that, until recently I had a closet full of those "someday" clothes. Now when something isn't right I send it back immediately for something that is right.

[KnottedYet]

Ummm, most of my "someday" clothes are too big now. But I knew from the shape of them whether they would fit me later or not. They helped motivate me.

If the shirt looks odd now, it may still be odd someday. I'd send it back, too.

[Susan Otcenas]

Hey Pooks, Send it back! One of my core philosophies is that if we feel good about what we're wearing (and how we look in it), then we are more likely to continue the activity (in this case cycling, or hiking, or whatever.) But if we DON'T feel good, or feel self-conscious, then we're more likely to shy away from the activity. And that would be the worst of all outcomes. We feel bad AND we quit the activity that makes us feel better about ourselves in the first place! :eek:

Besides, I'm sure some other lucky lady is just waiting for that beautiful plum top to come back into stock again. :)

Best,

Susan

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Pooks, send it back, you'll never want to wear it. I have the Smartwool zipT, and it is formfitting.

Hey, try some of Ibex's merino tops in XL. Here are some with slightly more relaxed fit than the zipT, and two of the items are on sale right now:
http://www.ibexwear.com/F06/View_Product.php?GarmentID=318&thePhoto=../Photos/S05/148_4411.jpg&Category=&CategoryLine=
http://www.ibexwear.com/F06/View_Product.php?GarmentID=415&thePhoto=../Photos/F05/230_2069.jpg&Category=&CategoryLine=
http://www.ibexwear.com/F06/View_Product.php?GarmentID=588&thePhoto=../Photos/F06/614_7377.jpg&Category=1049&CategoryLine=

I have their Ibex Zephyr top in persimmon, and it's a wee bit looser shape than the SWzipT.

[Bikingmomof3]

If it was not SmartWool, I would suggest blocking it.

It sounds like it just is not a cut for your body shape. Send it back and buy something that will look fabulous on you and make you feel good. :)

[Grog]

http://www.ibexwear.com/F06/View_Product.php?GarmentID=415&thePhoto=../Photos/F05/230_2069.jpg&Category=&CategoryLine=


I have the Ultimate Guide Sweater. I've had it for a week. I haven't worn any other top last week I think!!! I really LOVE that sweater and it's perfect for the season. Not really form fitting indeed, very relaxed cut.

Now dear partner wants one too. They're quite expensive but I think they're worth it. Too bad the men's is not on sale..... :(

[pooks]

Hey Pooks, Send it back! One of my core philosophies is that if we feel good about what we're wearing (and how we look in it), then we are more likely to continue the activity (in this case cycling, or hiking, or whatever.)

Thanks, Susan. Usually I don't mind returning something, but this one was just so nice!

Lisa and Grog -- thanks for the links and info. I'm trying to decide between the very nicely priced t-neck and the regularly priced zip-neck plum!

[pooks]

Update. I bought one of the Ibex midweights -- very nice, very pretty. However it was way heavier than the midweight Smartwool. It was warm and fuzzy on the inside and a little nubbier on the outside, and it fit, and it was simply heavier than I anticipated. More of a wear-alone sweater for my use than an underlayer.

And I'm sending it back, and keeping the Smartwool. It's warm, soft, pretty and as an underlayer, perfectly presentable. And if I decide to strip off the jersey, it's not any worse looking than a couple of my jerseys, so what the heck! I'm happy with it, after all.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Pooks, just curious- which of the Ibex midweights did you buy?

The Ibex "base layer" weight stuff would have been more matched to the SmartWool zip-T.

[pooks]

You know, now that I look at the description again, maybe it was meant to be worn alone. It's the Ultimate Guide Sweater:

http://www.ibexwear.com/F06/View_Product.php?GarmentID=415&thePhoto=../Photos/F05/230_2069.jpg&Category=&CategoryLine=

No matter now. I'm very happy with the Smartwool!

[Grog]

You know, now that I look at the description again, maybe it was meant to be worn alone. It's the Ultimate Guide Sweater:

http://www.ibexwear.com/F06/View_Product.php?GarmentID=415&thePhoto=../Photos/F05/230_2069.jpg&Category=&CategoryLine=

No matter now. I'm very happy with the Smartwool!

It is a heavy sweater indeed. I LOVE it. I wear it with a very light wicking top usually so I can take it off if I get too warm.

It's the nicest sweater I've ever had... The only problem now: dear partner is jealous.

[Bad JuJu]

Oh, that is one gorgeous sweater--the Ultimate Guide Sweater, I mean. Is it really really heavy? Believe it or not, I do wear wool occasionally, even though I live in the south--in fact, I could've worn wool today. I'm a little quirky in my clothing habits, admittedly, but wool is such an adaptable fabric--I wear Smartwool socks all year round. So I'd love to have that sweater, but not if it's a very heavy one. Comments? Advice? Thanks!

[Grog]

Oh, that is one gorgeous sweater--the Ultimate Guide Sweater, I mean. Is it really really heavy? Believe it or not, I do wear wool occasionally, even though I live in the south--in fact, I could've worn wool today. I'm a little quirky in my clothing habits, admittedly, but wool is such an adaptable fabric--I wear Smartwool socks all year round. So I'd love to have that sweater, but not if it's a very heavy one. Comments? Advice? Thanks!

Hummm... It's pretty heavy. Definitely heavier than, say, your average polar fleece sweater. I wear it with a light top underneath. I could imagine wearing it for a walk by the ocean in Florida in January. It's pretty good at breaking wind too.

At the price the women's version is right now, I would order it if I was you.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I could imagine wearing it for a walk by the ocean in Florida in January. It's pretty good at breaking wind too.


Hmmm...you might want to stay upwind of it in that case..... :eek: :rolleyes:

[SouthernBelle]

Drat, Lisa. You beat me to it. :p

[pooks]

We all have the same inner 10-year-old boy, huh?

[alforfun]

You ladies are quick. Took me two reads to catch the joke. Must be time for me to toddle off to bed!

[Bad JuJu]

Guess that's one way to avoid the crowds on the beach, eh? :D

Well, even with its bad digestive habits, I ordered the sweater anyway--in that delicious blue. I'll post a report when I get it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Guess that's one way to avoid the crowds on the beach, eh? :D

Well, even with its bad digestive habits, I ordered the sweater anyway--in that delicious blue. I'll post a report when I get it.

Maybe it has a high fiber content, contributing to it's "airiness".

Let us know how you like it! I'm tempted by the Ibex turtlenecks on sale myself....

[jobob]

I bought myself a black Smartwool Microweight long sleeve crew (from TE of course!) and it's now my most favorite article of clothing. It's silky-soft and cozy, but not heavy. It folds up tiny and weighs next-to-nothing so it's easy to travel with, and it doesn't wrinkle. It washes easily, dries quickly, it didn't shrink when I washed it (maybe a tiny bit but that was OK), and it looks really good on me (if I may say so myself). The sizing is pretty much perfect for me, I'm a run-of-the mill medium with no chest to speak of, and it's not loose, not tight. And there seems to be more room in the chest area for those better endowed than I. :D

I took it with me on our trip to Solvang and Big Sur. It was nice enough to wear out to dinner in Solvang, and it was a perfect base layer for camping in Big Sur.

While in Big Sur we took our bikes out on a fairly warm day on Highway 1 and then down to Pfeiffer State Beach, and then back up, up and up some more to the restaurant at the Ventana Inn which is on an overlook with a lovely view of the Pacific. While we were having lunch on the terrace the fog rolled in, so I changed from my sleeveless jersey to my Smartwool crew which I had very wisely taken along with me, even though Lee said it was going to be too warm. I was so glad I had it because for the descent back to camp I wore my sleeveless jersey over the crew and my bolero on top of that. My teeth were still chattering on the descent down Highway 1 back to the campground but thanks to my trusty Smartwool at least I didn't get hypothermia :p

Amazingly, I've worn it off and on for the last 6 days, almost continously for the last 3, and it doesn't stink. OK, that might be TMI ...

[KnottedYet]

I love that wool can be worn multiple times without stinking.

Won't give any details of my Ibex wool boxers, but to say that I luuuuuuuv them! (who'da thunk wool would make great underwear?)

[pooks]

Well, yeah! I've worn this smartwool zip-t several times all day and am doing laundry and looking at it and it LOOKS okay and I sniffed the underarms and it smells faintly of deodorant -- fresh, not stinky. And I know it should be washed, but I'm hesitating because I've never laundered it before and does it really need it.... Haven't decided yet!

The other thing I figured out (doh!) is that one reason it looked so bad when I tried it on the first time is I was wearing a bra that gives no support. Yesterday with my sports bra on, I caught a glimpse of myself and it didn't look as bad. Not that it looked GREAT but I'm not gonna look great in anything that clingy. But it looked MUCH better. Which I should have realized when I first tried it on -- try it on with the foundation garment you'll be wearing under it!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hey Pooks, my DH and I both have several of those thin merino layering tops that we use not only for cycling but also as a base layer in cold weather just everyday. I often wear the SW crew long sleeve underneath their Zip-T and it's so toasty and nice feeling.
It amazing how I don't get any underarm odors at all wearing merino several times! I only wash mine after maybe 4 wearings, and like you, only because it will take on my deoderant odor, not because it smells "bad". (maybe I should use less deoderant now!) I actually wind up doing far fewer laundry loads since wearing merino base layers.
We save up quite a few merino/wool tops and socks and longjohns, and then do a small machine wash of them on GENTLE with Woolite and cold water. I fluff them a little bit in the dryer on LOW for only about 15 minutes (gets the cat hairs off for one thing!), then I just lay them or hang them out to dry.
Woolite is easier on the wool fibers than a harsh detergent like Tide. We tried Ivory Snow liquid, which was recommended by the Woolistic brand merino manufacturers, but we hated the smell of that stuff and went back to Woolite.
If I take good care of my real wool stuff I hope it will last almost forever. (it sure ain't cheap!)

[KnottedYet]

Cheap wool warning:

I've gotten a couple Duofold woolies (2 shirts, 2 pr long underwear bottoms) from Sierra Trading Post. Cheap price. Crappy quality.

I'm constantly sewing holes, rips, poor seams, and spontaneous discombobulations on those things.

My Ibex stuff is much much better quality. As is my Icebreaker.

For the price difference, I would go for the expensive stuff.

BTW: I've never had a problem with Duofold two-layer stuff. The cotton/wool double layer that they are known for is great. It's their 100% wool single layer that is just not up to par.

[jobob]

I use Ivory Snow powder for woolens. It doesn't seem to have a smell to it, I don't notice one anyhow.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

JoBob- check out the smell of the liquid Ivory Snow next time you pass by it in the supermarket aisle....YUCKO! My DH first complained about it and I thought he was just exaggerating- how bad could it be?- until I washed my things and found he was dead right. And worse, the smell stayed in the wool through days of wearing it afterwards. I could smell it on a base layer right through my other layers! Sort of a sickeningly sweet artificial soapy smell. I bet you're right about the Ivory powder not smelling bad though. But DH and I are happy with the Woolite now, so we'll stick with that. I also find that it doesn't take much soap of any kind to get the merino woolens clean and fresh- less is best.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Knotted- thanks for the warning about the Duofold 100% wool items. I'll steer clear! My DH loves their two-layer wool/cotton blend longjohns and henleys. He recently got some all merino tights and chamois shorts from Woolistic that he loves- they look really well made.

[jobob]

I was in REI yesterday and I saw they had the Smartwool midweight zip-T in stock, so I tried it on im my usual size M, and ... yikes ! :eek:

That fit of that top is so much different than the fit of the microweight crew neck (which I happened to be wearing at the time).

The midweight top is a much snugger fit, and I looked like a purple sausage in it. :p I didn't bother trying on the size L, but maybe I will next time I wander thru an REI.

But it looks like I'll be sticking with my beloved microweight Smartwool.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The SW zip-T's are much more form fitting than the simple crew neck longsleeves. They are tailored in at the waist. I have largish hips but a small waist, so they fit me fine. I still like the crews though- comfy!

[Surlygirl]

I wash my smartwool stuff in and all my biking clothes in cold water on gentle and I use the new Johnsons Lavender scented baby shampoo. It smells wonderful. I try to air dry everything.

[jobob]

Doh, I just remembered, it was the midweight LS crewneck that I tried on, not the zip-T. (REI had both the midweight crewneck and the midweight zip-T in stock).

Gah, I'm getting senile. :o

So allow me to rephrase ... in my experience, I found that the smartwool LS crewneck in the midweight wool is much more form fitting (as in, purple sausage casing) than the smartwool LS crewneck in the microweight wool.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

And...to further clarify and confuse:

The Smartwool midweight Zip-T (like the one Pooks got) is more tapered in at the waist than the Ibex "Zephyr" zip turtleneck. The Zephyr is straighter shaped in the body and a tiny bit more loose fit. I have both of these in medium so I am able to compare the size and fit of the two brands against each other.
Other than the fit, these two zip turtlenecks are quite similar in weight and feel. They are both nice. I like my zephyr in Persimmon color because it's pretty visible in traffic and is a warm happy kind of color for autumn.