Help Mr. Millipede get a new sweater
December 26, 2023 6:55 AM Subscribe
My husband has a sweater/sweatshirt thing that needs to be replaced because it is quite literally falling apart. We cannot find a suitable replacement. Can you?
Said article of clothing significantly pre-dates our relationship, which began in 2012. Thus I can only imagine that we can't locate a suitable replacement partially because this item is no longer in style. We don't care! This is what Mr. Millipede needs:
A FULL-ZIP (none of this pullover, partial zip nonsense) very lightweight, very soft, NON FLEECE, sweatshirt-type-thing, without a hood.
The original is from Banana Republic, likely purchased sometime from 2008-2010?
Things it cannot be:
-wool
-fleece
-partial zip/pullover
-sweater material (ie, yarn/knit)
-a hoodie
-a cardigan that buttons
French terry would probably be good, or some sort of more substantial jersey knit. Mr. Millipede does not care how it looks so if you find one that is ugly we will probably buy it, but bonus points from me if it could look nice enough to be worn over a shirt and taken out to a nice restaurant.
I've looked everywhere I can think to look and I keep finding things that are too heavy, hoodies, or that stupid partial-zip situation.
It should be available in men's size small.
Anyone? Store recommendations also accepted!
Said article of clothing significantly pre-dates our relationship, which began in 2012. Thus I can only imagine that we can't locate a suitable replacement partially because this item is no longer in style. We don't care! This is what Mr. Millipede needs:
A FULL-ZIP (none of this pullover, partial zip nonsense) very lightweight, very soft, NON FLEECE, sweatshirt-type-thing, without a hood.
The original is from Banana Republic, likely purchased sometime from 2008-2010?
Things it cannot be:
-wool
-fleece
-partial zip/pullover
-sweater material (ie, yarn/knit)
-a hoodie
-a cardigan that buttons
French terry would probably be good, or some sort of more substantial jersey knit. Mr. Millipede does not care how it looks so if you find one that is ugly we will probably buy it, but bonus points from me if it could look nice enough to be worn over a shirt and taken out to a nice restaurant.
I've looked everywhere I can think to look and I keep finding things that are too heavy, hoodies, or that stupid partial-zip situation.
It should be available in men's size small.
Anyone? Store recommendations also accepted!
Taking a couple shots at this:
Banana Republic
American Giant
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 7:12 AM on December 26, 2023
Banana Republic
American Giant
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 7:12 AM on December 26, 2023
I’m getting some promising leads with this search. How about this Gap jacket?
posted by kitschfrau at 7:20 AM on December 26, 2023
posted by kitschfrau at 7:20 AM on December 26, 2023
Response by poster: Not to threadsit but we have seen all of these and they are all too heavy! We are looking for something much less like a jacket. This is unfortunately a problem that isn’t going to be solved with google as we have been googling—I’m looking for personal recommendations!
posted by millipede at 7:24 AM on December 26, 2023
posted by millipede at 7:24 AM on December 26, 2023
check out the brand tek gear from kohls.com (and probably other places) at a glance, the men's non-fleece full zip stuff tends more towards the hooded, but i wonder if a boys large or a women's medium in the tricot fabric might do the job. also Rapha (a cycling brand) made some go to the office style zip-up things that my gentleman friend wears to formal occasions and is nice and lightweight.
Orvis might be a good place to check as well.
posted by wowenthusiast at 7:40 AM on December 26, 2023
Orvis might be a good place to check as well.
posted by wowenthusiast at 7:40 AM on December 26, 2023
Is this too heavy?
Perhaps if you share a picture of the current shirt it'll help.
posted by phunniemee at 7:42 AM on December 26, 2023 [4 favorites]
Perhaps if you share a picture of the current shirt it'll help.
posted by phunniemee at 7:42 AM on December 26, 2023 [4 favorites]
Sometimes google is only as good as your query. It sounds to me like you’re looking for a zip up shirt jacket which come in a variety of styles and material. I wear these but only the button type so I can’t give you a recommendation but perhaps it will help.
Would you be able to provide a picture of the item that’s falling apart? Even if it’s in tatters we might have a better idea of what you’re looking for.
posted by ashbury at 7:43 AM on December 26, 2023
Would you be able to provide a picture of the item that’s falling apart? Even if it’s in tatters we might have a better idea of what you’re looking for.
posted by ashbury at 7:43 AM on December 26, 2023
If you’re open to a sportier / more technical look, consider something like the Patagonia R1 “techface” jacket. They call it a fleece, but it’s nothing like the thick, fuzzy fabric that most “fleece” garments are made from. It’s thin, the outer surface is smooth, and the inner face has a very short, waffled nap. It’s comfortable in a surprisingly wide range of temperatures.
Otherwise, I agree that more information is needed about the thing you’re trying to replace. Is it cotton, or some synthetic?
posted by jon1270 at 8:02 AM on December 26, 2023
Otherwise, I agree that more information is needed about the thing you’re trying to replace. Is it cotton, or some synthetic?
posted by jon1270 at 8:02 AM on December 26, 2023
This Amazon Essentials sweater seems like the kind of thing you're describing.
posted by Redstart at 8:15 AM on December 26, 2023
posted by Redstart at 8:15 AM on December 26, 2023
Response by poster: The tommy banana one is the most promising so far and I will fwd to Mr millipede. Only issue is it says it’s a big and tall fit and that may be an evening gown in someone who is 5’7” and 140ish.
here is the item in happier days, in 2015. You can’t tell from looking but it’s really lightweight extremely soft French terry material. Not sweater material or fleece sweatshirt material or scuba material! I agree that it is super soft and special and I used to steal it before it entered its current sad condition.
posted by millipede at 8:40 AM on December 26, 2023
here is the item in happier days, in 2015. You can’t tell from looking but it’s really lightweight extremely soft French terry material. Not sweater material or fleece sweatshirt material or scuba material! I agree that it is super soft and special and I used to steal it before it entered its current sad condition.
posted by millipede at 8:40 AM on December 26, 2023
Only issue is it says it’s a big and tall fit
Double check your size guides but I'm pretty sure that's a link to an actually different product in their plus size range, not a descriptor of this exact product. Separate but equal.
posted by phunniemee at 8:47 AM on December 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
Double check your size guides but I'm pretty sure that's a link to an actually different product in their plus size range, not a descriptor of this exact product. Separate but equal.
posted by phunniemee at 8:47 AM on December 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
How about this french terry thing from Pact?
posted by Fish, fish, are you doing your duty? at 9:12 AM on December 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Fish, fish, are you doing your duty? at 9:12 AM on December 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
My first instinct was poshmark to find the original item because that's how I shop. Would this work?
posted by Ms Vegetable at 9:24 AM on December 26, 2023
posted by Ms Vegetable at 9:24 AM on December 26, 2023
It’s more of a “track jacket”…stand up collar, no hood…if that helps your search.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:26 AM on December 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:26 AM on December 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
You may have more luck shopping for this type of thing in spring and summer when lighter fabrics are what retailers are pushing. And if it's a super soft jacket, then I'd add "modal" or "tencel" to your search.
posted by purple_bird at 9:56 AM on December 26, 2023
posted by purple_bird at 9:56 AM on December 26, 2023
Norrona make jackets / tops in this stuff that you are talking about, I think - it’s a thin towelling material. Really soft and nice. It’s unfortunately impossible to tell online what is made of this as opposed to fleece, but definitely worth finding a Norrona dealer and having a look
posted by tardigrade at 10:22 AM on December 26, 2023
posted by tardigrade at 10:22 AM on December 26, 2023
There are some quite nice merino wool options like this or this.
posted by piyushnz at 11:16 AM on December 26, 2023
posted by piyushnz at 11:16 AM on December 26, 2023
Your photo of the shirt in better times tricked me into thinking you were in Canada and I got very excited that this one from The Bay may fit your bill as maybe does this one. I think the first may even fit your semi-classy vibe checkbox because it's quite sharp (I think).
posted by urbanlenny at 12:34 PM on December 26, 2023
posted by urbanlenny at 12:34 PM on December 26, 2023
Google Image search only comes up with this one.. I suspect it is too heavy.
posted by Ferrari328 at 2:28 PM on December 26, 2023
posted by Ferrari328 at 2:28 PM on December 26, 2023
If you have the opportunity to take pictures of the various tags inside, with fabric info and other garment facts, it could help us sleuth even better. (Specifically, I'm hoping to track down some info on the GSM of the original terry to help me figure out which garments are actually lightweight enough! Not that I expect that info is on your tags but it might be possible to Google-triangulate a little more.)
posted by redfoxtail at 4:13 PM on December 26, 2023
posted by redfoxtail at 4:13 PM on December 26, 2023
I think the search terms are sweatshirt, full zip, collar, -hood, -hoodie
LLBean has sold out of some sweatshirts. They have a product called airlight that is poly, not fleece, soft, light, warm.
And a quilted sweatshirt, 80% cotton, 20% polyester.
Shirt-jacs, in cordurory and other fabrics are popular. I sometimes work for LLBean, but will only recommend products I like. Their guarantee is still quite reliable.
posted by theora55 at 6:00 PM on December 26, 2023
LLBean has sold out of some sweatshirts. They have a product called airlight that is poly, not fleece, soft, light, warm.
And a quilted sweatshirt, 80% cotton, 20% polyester.
Shirt-jacs, in cordurory and other fabrics are popular. I sometimes work for LLBean, but will only recommend products I like. Their guarantee is still quite reliable.
posted by theora55 at 6:00 PM on December 26, 2023
Another Tommy Bahama option, and a track jacket that may fit the bill.
posted by current resident at 7:07 PM on December 26, 2023
posted by current resident at 7:07 PM on December 26, 2023
If you want the closest match possible, start with the fabric. Find the fabric that works (at a guess, a heavy weight cotton jersey knit) and find someone who has sewing skills. There are lots of patterns that will get Mr. M the jacket of his dreams. Alternately, a good sewist can deconstruct the original jacket and make a new one using the pieces.
This is a very doable project.
posted by LaBellaStella at 10:02 AM on December 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
This is a very doable project.
posted by LaBellaStella at 10:02 AM on December 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
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posted by trig at 7:02 AM on December 26, 2023