WoolWeenies Club

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You want my weight? That's classified information!

Um. 5'3" and 130 lbs. I have no idea what my bust size is. In general, I'm MP or size 8P in most shirts, but S in Patagonia jackets (and 6P in Ann Taylor's jackets, sometimes 8P at J. Crew).

I'd be wearing it as a midlayer in late fall/winter or as an outer layer in spring through fall, just the way I wear my Conquest Hoodie. I've been known to wear the Conquest over garments as thick as a thin wool (of course!) sweater or even a twinset, and under my winter coat. It's snug and fitted but doesn't look too tight. I think the Carrie is a little thicker than the Conquest (320), being boucle, but am not so sure about the Shak.

ETA: Oh, and forgot to mention, I have an Ibex Cirque and take a small in that.

Well knowing all this I would advise you to order a small AND a medium in both the shak and the Carrie, and send back the ones you don't want.
I'm a little taller and 20 lbs heavier than you, and I take either the med or large in both- depending on if i want to wear them as an outer layer over things. I actually have a medium half zip shak that fits perfectly and I wear a large full zip shak over that, like a sweater set.
The Carrie is soft but is more jacket-like, due to the terrycloth-like wool material and the hood and the cut. The full zip shak can actually look great as either an outer cardigan or under stuff...it's a bit more sleek and form fitting than the Carrie, so it can be worn under things better without any bunching. Carrie has more practical pockets.

[RTW]

Thanks so much for the advice Lisa! Well, it turns out REI is sold out of the Shaks in medium, so I just ordered one in small and will see how it works. I'm still vacillating on the Carrie however — you know, it's just hard to justify spending more to get another cardigan when I've already got one hoodie that I love, and the Shak may meet my needs better anyway. Besides, haven't I sworn off new wool purchases repeatedly over the last year? I've got a deep drawerful of wool (mostly Icebreaker, some Ibex and Patagonia), and there's no way I could wear it all unless global warming gets reversed really soon.

[Grog]

Based on my experience, the Shak is a bit more fitting than the Carrie. Based on your size I wouldn't be surprised if you were a M in Shak and S in Carrie.

I'm a true S in the Shak and I can't find a Carrie that fits me well. (I'm 5'4" and a bit under 120 lbs, with pretty much no bust.) I wear the Shak (or the Boucle...) on top of another layer and I can even fit two form-fitting layers underneat if it's really needed (like a sleeveless top and a tight t-shirt with or without long sleeves).

[GLC1968]

RTW - I would tend to agree with Grog's assesment of your sizing, but if you like things to fit somewhat closer to the body, the small shak might be just right.

I have two full zip shaks and two carrie hoodies. All 4 of them are mediums and they all fit well for what they are. The Carrie is slightly roomier, but it's not exactly a full size bigger. I tend to wear it layered over all kinds of things and often as a outerwear jacket. The shaks are more sleek in style (as Lisa mentioned). I wear those usually over thin baselayers and then will often wear my Pingo jacket over them (where the Pingo doesn't fit as well over my Carrie hoodies).

I do have one other shak in a small (bought it a few years ago when I was smaller) and I can still wear it if my base layer is very thin or sleeveless. For reference, I'm your height - but I outweigh you by a LOT (though, to be fair, most of my weight is in my lower half). Everything I own from Ibex is a medium or a small (way more mediums than smalls).

Oh, and I want to add that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my carrie hoodies. I have another one in my cart at Ibex right now just waiting for my next payday! They are warm, cozy, good looking...they don't shrink with washing and drying and when I throw the hood up when I'm out doing chores in the rain or cold, I am 100% completely comfortable. The boucle fabric does seem to hold dog hair more than the smoother shak material, but I also think it wears extremely well. One of my carrie hoodies gets a ton of use and has been machine washed a bunch of times...and it still looks brand new. My green shak, which has had similiar wear is obviously not as 'crisp' looking as it used to be.

[GLC1968]

Ibex 405 warning!

I don't know if anyone else has the full zip 405 from Ibex...but if you do, don't wash it!!!

I finally washed my red one for the first time last week and it totally shrunk! I washed it in cold in the machine, and then laid (layed?) it flat to dry. When I went to hang it up next to my blue 405, it was at least 2 or 3 sizes smaller. I can't wear it anymore. It sucks, because I really, really liked the red one the best, too.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Ibex 405 warning!
I don't know if anyone else has the full zip 405 from Ibex...but if you do, don't wash it!!!
I finally washed my red one for the first time last week and it totally shrunk! I washed it in cold in the machine, and then laid (layed?) it flat to dry. When I went to hang it up next to my blue 405, it was at least 2 or 3 sizes smaller. I can't wear it anymore. It sucks, because I really, really liked the red one the best, too.

Wow, thanks for that warning!- I have the red full zip 405 as well, and I really love it and wear it a LOT. Haven't washed it yet (doesn't need it) but now I will dry clean it when it finally gets grubby. It fits me perfectly but wouldn't if it shrank at all. so THANKS! I'm bummed for you about yours. It says right on the label machine wash gentle cold, lay flat to dry. So maybe you could get a refund or a credit if you call Ibex?

I too love my Carrie hoodie (in that great intense emerald moss green color that everyone comments on when I wear it)- it's really comfy and casual and practical.

[RTW]

Wow, thanks for all the sizing advice! Yeah, the Shak will probably be too small, but I don't really have a choice, so I'll see how it is when it arrives. Nice having an REI nearby...

One unforeseen consequence: Now you make me want to get the Carrie after all, after I'd gone to so much trouble to talk myself out of it. Not only that, because I can't decide which color is best, I could well wind up ordering two.

Or four, if I go with the suggestion of ordering two sizes to try them on.

You're all evil influences, you know that?

P.S. GLC1968 — you saw the REI sale on Carries, right? Only a few colors, but you can't beat half-price. Still kicking myself about missing the sale Natasha mentioned...

[Triskeliongirl]

RTW, it may not be too small, although it just may depend on how you want to layer it.

All my ibex is small, and I am usually a 4 on the bottom and a 6 on the top. The fit of the shak as others have said is sleek, which is what I like about it. I ordered it in both s and m and returned the m. It is true that the m would layer over more or heavier layers, but then the arms would be too long, and the armpits hang too low, etc. So, I don't really use it as on outer layer, but as a sleek mid layer. It layers nicely over a medium weight base layer. If I want more, I add a patagonia down sweater (small layers over it just fine) and/or my arc-tyrex goretex shell. Mostly I wear it with just the gore tex shell when I go outside.

[OakLeaf]

wow, we should buy suits together, I'm usually a 6 on the bottom and a 4 on top.

I got two Ibex Zepher T's when TE was having the sale, but they're really too long for my 5'3" frame. Are their other things shorter?

[GLC1968]

RTW - I did see the sale. And I'm placing my order today! I totally want the dark cranberry color and they still have it in my size...YAY!!

Lisa - 405 update: it actually shrank in length more than it did in width, oddly enough. I think that once I lose my extra weight, it'll still work for a summer/warmer weather jacket (it's basically cropped now...and it won't layer over the things I used to wear it with...hence the 'summer' thought). I am going to contact Ibex - but since I bought it from backcountry.com, I don't know if they'll do anything to help me out. If they can't, I'll keep it - UGH...I wish I'd washed the blue one first...the red was my favorite!!

Oh, and I had to mention that my x-mas gift from my H finally arrived over the weekend (stupid bad weather) and he bought me a collection of 'woolies'! They are beautiful in the dark cranberry!! I got the bottoms, zip top and a striped crew top...I can't wait to wear them!

[Triskeliongirl]

Cathrine, backcountry.com has a very liberal return policy, even for worn items. I am sure they would take it back if you are not happy.

[Natasha]

Has anyone tried any of the Sugoi wallaroo tops? I've been eyeing the 1/2 zip top, but wondered if any had bought one.

[fatbottomedgurl]

I just started my wool adventure- bought an Icebreaker base layer and loved it, ordered one with a half zip, and waiting for delivery. So now that I am hooked on the wonder of wool I am looking for a bra so I don't have cold and clammy boobs. I am small- an A cup so don't need a ton of support.

I see the Ibex one on TE- How thin is the fabric on the cup? Has anyone tried the I/O Biocompatible? It's only $29 bucks- more in my price range.

[OakLeaf]

I got the Ibex bra during the Thanksgiving sale, just wore it today in fact. The fabric is the same density throughout (cups and straps), but I don't know what to compare it to. Considerably thinner than the Ibex Zepher T's, maybe just a touch heavier than my microweight SmartWool. It's more supportive than I thought it would be, but it wouldn't be enough for anything high impact. Certainly plenty supportive for hiking, cycling on bumpy roads, etc.

[Susan Otcenas]

It's more supportive than I thought it would be, but it wouldn't be enough for anything high impact. Certainly plenty supportive for hiking, cycling on bumpy roads, etc.

For Spring 2009, Ibex is making 2 new versions of the wool bra that are more "constructed" than the existing version (which will also carry forward). The newer versions are for higher impact activities. The samples looked quite nice when we saw them. I think we are expecting delivery in February.

Hope this helps!

Susan