WOW, all I can say is that if yesterdays ibex package was a letdown, today’s FAR EXCEEDED expectations. This is what arrived and this is what I think about it (all pieces on sale in outlet section of ibex site):

1. Mulberry Ribbies Crew: http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/Product...t=Ribbies-Crew

This piece looks more casual in the picture than it really is. Its weight is substantial, can easily wear it alone as a rather elegant sweater top. The color is very rich and it goes beautifully with my charcoal grey wool suit and it’s a keeper for my DC professional meeting. The color also goes well with my thistle and black shaks. It looks nothing like long underwear.

I can see wearing it in san antonio layered under my shak inside my underheated house on a cold day, and alone in my well heated office on a cold day.

Small fit well, just like the shak and kate.

2. Knee warmers:
http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/Product...t=Knee-Warmers

I simply cannot believe these are the quality they are for $20. I bought and returned so many leg warmers cuz the thigh band was too loose and/or they were too long (in unisex small). These fit better than anything else I’ve tried (unisex small), and are so well made, they have a mix of lycra and wool, substantial weight. While called knee warmers they fit long enough on me that with tall sox I could cover my entire leg if I wanted to. They are a tiny bit loose (perhaps an xsmall would have fit even better but that wasn’t an option) but hopefully they’ll stay in place when I ride. I can really see packing these on a tour when one is trying to keep pieces to a minimum.

3. Arm warmers:
http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/Product...t=Knee-Warmers

Another impeccable product. I almost didn’t order them cuz I do have PI arm warmers but they were on sale for a great price and they match the leg warmers so I thought I’d give them a try. My only hesitation is that the PI armwarmers are XS and these only S, so while the band feels OK, its not super snug so I hope they don’t fall down. Unlike my PI arm warmers, they really gave me the impression of adding sleeves to a short sleeve jersey. By that I mean rather than being skin tight to my wrist, some air (but just a little) can get in at the wrist, so I expect they’ll ventilate better. They are also quite long, they go all the way to my armpit, but that’s OK as long as they don’t end up falling down. If they do, you’ll see them for sale here after Ibex has sold out of their on sale ones!

So for me, these are all keepers along my shaks and kates.

Tomorrow, the icebreaker order comes, and the LL bean order is due on Monday, but I may end up sending the rest back just cuz I am starting to have enough stuff. I am also realizing that the mid weight bases may simply be too substantial for where I live, but I can see possibly keeping one more top if I really it, and possibly a set of icebreaker long janes/zip T for skiing, at least I’ll get to size myself in these other brands and inspect quality firsthand. My inclination is to stick with ibex though, since no one has yet reported pilling except of the switchback which they admitted had a defective weave. I’ve heard a lot of reports of pilling now on the icebreaker.

Last night I picked up some Express lycra tights w a coupon I had to add another bottom layer, as my daughter thinks I’ll overheat indoors with midweight long underwear on under my lined wool pants.