Out of fast, good and cheap, I only need the last two.

August 27, 2010 2:33 PM

I want a men's cardigan like this one here. But I'd like to pay well south of the listed $168. More parameters follow.

So, I'm not entirely sure how to describe exactly what I want. I want it to be cabled; or to be "coarse" rather than "smooth". No designs, patterns, stripes or zippers. Shawl collar preferred. I have no brand preference, gray or blue are preferred but not mandatory.

This may be a frustratingly nebulous parameter, but I don't want something that looks too "modern". I'm not sure if it's the fit I'm objecting to, but most cardigans I'm seeing in stores are too indie-kid.

I'd rather spend around $80 to $100, but don't let that prevent any suggestions that are more (up to $168) or less.

Is there any internet store, or bricks and mortar store in the Baltimore area that may have what I'm looking for?

Thank you.

posted by spaltavian to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (13 answers total)

I've got no specific recommendations, but you may want to try searching for "Aran sweaters" or "fisherman's sweaters."
posted by theodolite at 2:46 PM on August 27, 2010

Best answer: Not a shawl collar, otherwise meets requirements
Not cabled, otherwise meets requirements
Shawl collar and cabled! But $138.
posted by desjardins at 2:47 PM on August 27, 2010

Land's End (wool blend, $69.50)
Land's End Canvas (cotton, 59.50)
LL Bean Signature (cashmere, $129.50, on sale)

(None of these are cabled, though.)
posted by neroli at 2:50 PM on August 27, 2010

JC Penney has a cheap version without the shawl collar.

Lands' End Canvas line has a shawl-collar cardigan but it's ribbed, not cabled.
posted by mullacc at 2:50 PM on August 27, 2010

Try ebay. I've been buying designer shirts for a small fraction of their retail price.
posted by neuron at 2:56 PM on August 27, 2010

Goodwill, or other equivalent store. You can find some nice stuff there for great prices. Or, you could find nothing that fits and have wasted your time. It's really hit or miss. But, at ~$3 for a pair of jeans, it seems worth my time to check. Maybe it's worth yours.
posted by 47triple2 at 3:09 PM on August 27, 2010

We get something from Sierra Trading Post almost every month.
posted by lobstah at 4:52 PM on August 27, 2010

Best answer: Lands' End stuff is usually pretty good, and I agree Sierra Trading Post is a good source. In general for sweaters, I strongly recommend getting a high quality item either on sale or used over buying a cheap one. Cheap sweaters look like crap very quickly (sometimes immediately). A well made sweater can last for years. It's worth investing a little more in. If you don't need it right away, wait until the spring clothing is coming out and get one on clearance.
posted by sharding at 6:35 PM on August 27, 2010

Best answer: Duluth Trading makes a couple that definitely skew away from indie-kid, both with and without a shawl collar -
posted by fixer at 7:35 PM on August 27, 2010

If you know a knitter, they'd love to make you a custom sweater.
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 9:10 PM on August 27, 2010

Response by poster: If you know a knitter, they'd love to make you a custom sweater.

I do, and she doesn't.

There have been some great suggestions. Thank you!
posted by spaltavian at 7:52 AM on August 28, 2010

Sign up for J. Crew's mailing list. I've purchased cardigans from their end of season sales both of the past two years.
posted by donpardo at 12:22 PM on August 28, 2010

Best answer: Some recent men's-style-blog-love for an Orvis shawl collar.
posted by neroli at 7:59 PM on September 3, 2010