WoolWeenies Club

I really liked the Kate, too, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend $90.00 on what is essentially a LS T shirt. I will look for some merino shirts, but probably Smart wool or other brand that are a bit cheaper.
It's going to be in the low 40's today, so I will probably wear my new Shak full zip as a jacket today.
Lisa, Steve could out buy any woman, I am quite sure! Of course, he gets excited about buying things like special bags to pick up leaves and snow blowers, but he likes buying clothes, especially clothes for all of the outdoor activities we do. I mean, you couldn't possibly wear your cycling clothes for hiking??? (actually I wear my heavy cycling jerseys for everything).

Well, I also got my Kates at 50% off..... The neckline isn't that low. I also think they look a lot dressier than a T-shirt, and aren't see through even though they are light weight. I like them a lot layered under my shak. If its cold I can zip up the shak but I find they keep me from overheating. I also like that they don't look like long underwear, but I wouldn't have paid more than I did for them either.

Thanks for the pictures and reports! Sounds like you guys had a nice day!

I'm on hold with high country outfitters. I have canceled the mollie jacket and the carrie hoody. I'm going to go ahead and try the vest.

Be sure to tell them we love their prices and their free shipping and their no-tax!

Damn you, Woolweenies! :p

Thanks to this thread, I just HAD to check out HighCountry and I just HAD to get another Carrie hoody! But, to be fair, I also found the rain jacket I just tried on at REI yesterday for $30 off and no tax. I bought one for both myself and my DH. So it was worth the visit even though it did set me back another $220. :mad::D

I still covet a black full zip shak...but I can't afford it just yet. Ugh! I'm afraid they'll sell out everywhere before I can spare the cash to buy one!

Oh, and for anyone looking at both, the full zip shak is definitely heavier than the half zip one. I have last years full zip (in orange) and it's more jacket-like than my half-zip...which I would consider more of a knit shirt. And the full zip has a heavier weight zipper to go with the heavier fabric. Love them both, though!!

Gulp. Ok. I did it.

Since I canceled the other order, I just ordered the Full Zip Shak in Thistle Heather size L from Uncle Dan's. $105. Free shipping.

I would have ordered Black, but I have the Ibex Cirque jacket in black and most all of my bottoms are black. Thistle heather will give me some contrast. The brown was tempting. I love brown.

Finally. I hope the Large fits.

Now, please tell me again how much I'm going to love it.

Sandra - you are going to love it! And the thistle heather is a GREAT and useful color!

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

I still covet a black full zip shak...but I can't afford it just yet. Ugh! I'm afraid they'll sell out everywhere before I can spare the cash to buy one!

Oh, and for anyone looking at both, the full zip shak is definitely heavier than the half zip one. I have last years full zip (in orange) and it's more jacket-like than my half-zip...which I would consider more of a knit shirt. And the full zip has a heavier weight zipper to go with the heavier fabric. Love them both, though!!

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Don't worry about the black shak selling out before you get one. Shaks are Ibex's top selling item and they will continue to make them- especially in black. That's also why they go on sale less often- because they are never something that has to be phased out and sold off, unless it's some odd color.

I must disagree with you about the fullzip shak being heavier than the halfzip shak though. I have both a full and half in brown, and also in black. The material is identical in the full zips and the half zips. Perhaps the heavier zipper in the full zip makes it seem heavier- also the front left chest pocket (great for keeping your cell phone from freezing in the cold) which has a pocket liner adds a bit of an extra layer on one side in front. I tried the shak hoody on once too and that was again the same weight material. The full zip has additional curved "style" seams in lower front too, which almost make it seem like they are lined jackets...but they're not, it's just a style feature.

Sandra- i think the Mollie jacket would have been to heavy for you in your area. But the Carrie might have worked- it's like a fine terrycloth-textured hooded sweatshirt but more stylin' and wool of course.

The Kate definitely looks more elegant than my Smartwool LS crew pullovers...but I like them both. I could wear the Kate over a skirt and look very nice for going out to dinner, etc. I got the Kate to wear in less cold weather when I don't need to warm my neck. If anyone sees a Kate in that lavender in size Large anywhere- let me know. :)

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Sandra- i think the Mollie jacket would have been to heavy for you in your area. But the Carrie might have worked- it's like a fine terrycloth-textured hooded sweatshirt but more stylin' and wool of course.

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It probably would work, but I feel sure the size I ordered (M, because that was all they had) would NOT have worked. I'm hoping this Large shak will fit and I don't need the XL.

Oh yeah, a medium Carrie would probably have been snug. The large shak might fit just fine (mine is a bit roomy), plus it is incredibly versatile.

Robyn- tell Steve I really get my money's worth from all my wool, because I wear many of the same items whether I'm out at a party, supermarket shopping, hiking, sleeping, snowshoeing, rollerskating, or biking! For biking i just add a chamois, gloves, helmet, and maybe a hi-res vest. I don't even put on special biking shoes. :D :rolleyes: Thus, I can use somewhat the same wardobe for each activity. :p Saves a lot of time on changing clothes!

Well, in just a little over a month we will be going to the mountains for our son's wedding. It snowed there last week. See how I justified my shak? I'm worried that the L will be too small, but if yours is a little loose, maybe it will be fine.

Did I just hear Trisk wondering if it was okay to have 3 sweaters?
PUHLEASE!

I have millions of sweaters! i don't know if I could count them!

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

I must disagree with you about the fullzip shak being heavier than the halfzip shak though. I have both a full and half in brown, and also in black. The material is identical in the full zips and the half zips. Perhaps the heavier zipper in the full zip makes it seem heavier- also the front left chest pocket (great for keeping your cell phone from freezing in the cold) which has a pocket liner adds a bit of an extra layer on one side in front. I tried the shak hoody on once too and that was again the same weight material. The full zip has additional curved "style" seams in lower front too, which almost make it seem like they are lined jackets...but they're not, it's just a style feature.

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I wonder if it's because my full zip shak is from last year (or older) - it's the persimmon color - that it's different? My half-zip is this year's model. There is definitely a weight difference in mine...weird. It's so noticeable that I didn't even think that my half-zip was a shak at all until I saw the receipt from when my husband bought it for me!


Oh, and I scored a Nolita jacket off ebay for $70 last week. :D It just came on Friday and I LOVE it - such a flattering shape! (but it's a wool coat - almost too heavy for NC except on the coldest days - hopefully it'll be more usefull in the PNW).

High country outfitters cancelled my order for a medium carrie hoody, saying they are out. If anybody has a medium they do not want please let me know.
Thank you.

They should have one...the one that I canceled this morning. Call them on the phone and check.

They told me that the mollie jacket was really heavy, like a pea jacket.

I checked by e-mail and they say they are out of all mediums. Oh well.

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Originally Posted by Natasha

I checked by e-mail and they say they are out of all mediums. Oh well.

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Damn! When did you order? I just ordered a medium this morning but I cannot check my personal email from work to see if mine was also cancelled. I hope not! :(

I ordered Saturday, but they did not let me know until today.

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

I wonder if it's because my full zip shak is from last year (or older) - it's the persimmon color - that it's different? My half-zip is this year's model. There is definitely a weight difference in mine...weird. It's so noticeable that I didn't even think that my half-zip was a shak at all until I saw the receipt from when my husband bought it for me!

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Hey maybe your older full zip "shak" is actually a full zip Switchback- which they did make last year in the Persimmon color. I don't think they had persimmon shaks. The switchback is definitely a thicker wool than the shaks. Is this what your full zip looks like?- this is a switchback persimmon full zip:
http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/Product...hback-Full-Zip

Natasha- If sandra cancelled her order this morning, her medium might not show up in their inventory until tomorrow or so- changes take a day or two to process sometimes.

We interrupt this program to bring you important breaking news....

Hello Woolweenies,

We've just marked down a whole bunch of Smartwool sock styles and colors that are not going forward in 2008. Prices reduced 23%-33%. Sale is limited to stock on hand. Stock levels/sizes available are quite good in some styles, a bit spotty in others, so get 'em while they last. :)

http://www.teamestrogen.com/brands.asp?brandID=24 Scroll down towards the bottom of the page for the sale items.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled programming....

Susan

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

Hey maybe your older full zip "shak" is actually a full zip Switchback- which they did make last year in the Persimmon color. I don't think they had persimmon shaks. The switchback is definitely a thicker wool than the shaks. Is this what your full zip looks like?- this is a switchback persimmon full zip:
http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/Product...hback-Full-Zip

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Nope, definitely a shak. This is the one I got - listed as the same season as the light blue one that udans.com still has in L.
http://www.zappos.com/images/731/731...4-405555-d.jpg

Does anyone else have both a persimmon or light blue one and a black, brown or thistle one? Are they the same thickness?


Edited to add: I just compared the half-zip, full-zip and hooded shak descriptions on the ibex site - and they are all identical material. Perhaps they updated the full-zip from a previous year? Mine is definitely heavier - Weird!

Just received a call from High Country Outfitters. They said they had bad news. They do NOT have the carrie hoody they thought they might have in a large and the don't have the vest either. So, my entire order is canceled. If you placed an order with the, don't hold your breath!

Just as well. I'm looking forward to the shak.

I just got an email and my order for the small black starto sweater was also cancelled, out of stock.....

Oh well, better for my pocket book. Where I live it may have been too warm and my 2 shaks really are enough (and there is always fleece..........).

Sandra, I have the thistle full zip shak and you are going to just love it! So, no worries. I'm not that disappointed. Like you, I just got caught up in the excitement of the sale plus hearing about everyones purchases yesterday. I am also sure from what you say about your size that the large shak will be perfect for you. I am also busty, and at first I worried the small was a tad too tight in my bust, but it loosened up in no time, and is very flattering. Also, since you are actively losing weight you want to err on the smaller end of things so you don't have to do this all again next year!

Bring all of your wool, Trisk. It's going to be fairly warm when you arrive, but then the temperature will be plummeting to about 20 by Sat.

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Originally Posted by Robyn Maislin

Bring all of your wool, Trisk. It's going to be fairly warm when you arrive, but then the temperature will be plummeting to about 20 by Sat.

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Oh no, this is what I feared. Maybe I should have ordered that down parka, but my plan is if I am cold after breakfast on saturday to check out the EMS sale in Harvard Square. I am bringing all my wool, and my PI gavia jacket to layover. I also saw something called a down sweater that I could layer over my wool, but we'll see.... And then there are always my sons jackets......

Everyone who lives over there will be able to lend you all kinds of warm stuff. ;)

I'll just put on everything I bring at one time. I did that when we toured in chiapis. It was colder at night than I thought, so any clothes I wasn't washing out I wore!

Got email from High Country confirming they shipped my Carrie Hoody today. (Large Thistle)

If it doesn't fit or if the fabric is too lightweight for our weather, I will offer it to Sandra first (she has dibs) and then put it up on Woolweenies, rather than send it back.

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Originally Posted by Triskeliongirl

Oh no, this is what I feared. Maybe I should have ordered that down parka, but my plan is if I am cold after breakfast on saturday to check out the EMS sale in Harvard Square. I am bringing all my wool, and my PI gavia jacket to layover. I also saw something called a down sweater that I could layer over my wool, but we'll see.... And then there are always my sons jackets......

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You will need a little excuse to shop while you are there.

You may be like us the last time we went to the beach. We got there and it was way cooler and windier than we expected. We decided we MUST have jackets, so we spent an afternoon at the outlet mall shopping for a jacket we both liked and would get additional wear out of. (Ended up buying way more stuff too.)

We were so busy, we never got around to wearing the jackets. :D

Lisa - when you mentioned your wool hats with ear flaps, it made me think of this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=titOp7rcTEQ&feature=related

"Pretty cunning, don't you think?"

(ignore the body in the box, I'm just talking about the hat)

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Lisa - when you mentioned your wool hats with ear flaps, it made me think of this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=titOp7rcTEQ&feature=related

"Pretty cunning, don't you think?"

(ignore the body in the box, I'm just talking about the hat)

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Oh that's funny! I didn't know such hats were "stylin'" now!
Here is my favorite hat....it was knit for me by a singer friend in NC up in the mountains in her cabin. It has 4 long braids that hang down the front. I love it and wear it most of all....
Attachment 5300

I bought one of those hats with ear flaps when I was in Lake Placid and it was -10 F (with no snow). It's so warm, I didn't even wear it up in Vermont last month, when it was 15 out. Too sweaty!
Trisk, I honestly don't know anyone who has a down coat. You will be fine. Just put on another layer of wool under your coat if you feel cold. Like I said before, get really good gloves and a hat and you will be fine. And wool socks. Also, I just realized that I really don't go out and walk around in my "regular" clothes when it's really cold out. The things I have for outdoor sports keep me warm up to many degrees below zero. So, be like the natives and plan some indoor activities that don't require a lot of outdoor time if the cold is bothering you.

I wonder how far of a walk it is to Zoe's from the T in HS..... you might see me arrive in quite an outfit!!!

Thanks Robin. I was just thinking I would walk there from my son's dorm. The dorm is on mass ave. next to the MIT athletic fields, and I think it will be just as far to walk to the Kendall T and then walk from the Harvard Square T stop. It sounds like if I just head down mass ave. from from the dorm I'll find it between central and harvard square. This part of town I know well, since I lived in the apt. complex right across from the Orson Wells Theater when I was a post-doc at MIT 22 years ago. I know there is a bus that runs down mass ave, but I'll probably be colder waiting for the bus than moving.

p.s. My son just bought a down jacket! But I agree, I prefer items that can be layered. I am off tomorrow, not sure about internet access but you have my cell phone if there is any change of plans. I am looking forward to meeting you. At least I know what you look like from your recent post, and I do have a pic of my here somewhere.

Trisk, the last weather forecast I saw shows 40 for Saturday, but it will be cold in the AM.
I might have had a haircut by Sat. Usually, I have very short hair, but I've let it grow for 3-4 months. And, I hope I don't look as bad as my pictures in person... I've never photographed well and now they show all the wrinkles!

Robyn, you look totally cute- with your short hair, freckles, and yes even with wrinkles! I'm having to deal with wrinkles now too, and the "gee, whose neck IS that??!" syndrome. But our cuteness and goodness shines right through from the inside, there's no stopping it!! :p :p

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

Dianyla- did you decide about the pale blue shak yet?

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Nah, still hemming and hawing. I may just go ahead and order the Thistle shak and see them both in person to compare. Maybe I just need to keep both of them! :D

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

Did I just hear Trisk wondering if it was okay to have 3 sweaters?
PUHLEASE!

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Fine wool sweaters are like boyfriends... you can never have too many! :rolleyes:

Dianyla - what size did you get in the light blue? If it happens to be a M and you decide that you don't want it, I might be willing to take it off your hands. :)

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

Dianyla - what size did you get in the light blue? If it happens to be a M and you decide that you don't want it, I might be willing to take it off your hands. :)

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It's a size L, actually. I got it on backcountryoutlet.com so it's fully returnable.

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Originally Posted by Dianyla

It's a size L, actually. I got it on backcountryoutlet.com so it's fully returnable.

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Yeah...and they still have larges... but no M! Wah! ;) That's ok, I don't NEED it.


Edited to add: I actually think they don't have them, but Uncle Dan's does...someone has just L...I forget who!