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December 17, 2024 8:59 AM Subscribe
I need an office cardigan that meets my specific requirements. Can you help me find it?
None of the items on this list are negotiable -- I can find plenty of sweaters that meet most of these, but finding one that meets all of them is where I am having trouble:
* Made of mostly natural fibers. A little spandex or polyester is okay but at least 80% of it should be wool, cotton, bamboo, silk, etc.
*Tunic length, rather than waist length or duster length.
*Closes at the front, buttons better than waist belt better than zipper.
*Has pockets that are actually usable and will hold a large phone.
*Lightweight / fine knit -- nothing chunky, bulky, cabled, etc. If It looks like it could have been hand-knit, it is probably too heavy.
*Available in extended plus sizes -- probably a 4x or 5x.
These are negotiable:
* Available in Canada: Can work with shipping from outside Canada but a US-based website that won't ship to Canada is of no help to me.
* Colours, in order of preference: Teal, Charcoal, Black, Blue, Green, any non-hideous neutral, purple/pink, red, orange/yellow/brown.
* Price : I mean, obviously somewhat cheaper is somewhat better, at least to a point, but I expect to pay at least $100 for this.
None of the items on this list are negotiable -- I can find plenty of sweaters that meet most of these, but finding one that meets all of them is where I am having trouble:
* Made of mostly natural fibers. A little spandex or polyester is okay but at least 80% of it should be wool, cotton, bamboo, silk, etc.
*Tunic length, rather than waist length or duster length.
*Closes at the front, buttons better than waist belt better than zipper.
*Has pockets that are actually usable and will hold a large phone.
*Lightweight / fine knit -- nothing chunky, bulky, cabled, etc. If It looks like it could have been hand-knit, it is probably too heavy.
*Available in extended plus sizes -- probably a 4x or 5x.
These are negotiable:
* Available in Canada: Can work with shipping from outside Canada but a US-based website that won't ship to Canada is of no help to me.
* Colours, in order of preference: Teal, Charcoal, Black, Blue, Green, any non-hideous neutral, purple/pink, red, orange/yellow/brown.
* Price : I mean, obviously somewhat cheaper is somewhat better, at least to a point, but I expect to pay at least $100 for this.
Response by poster: I wear a sweater in the office to be warm and have pockets, so it is the second most important thing after the sweater existing at all.
It is fine if the sweater looks a bit dumb while they are in use. Like, something like this would probably be fine, except a) not in my size and b) polyester. I just need to be able to shove my phone and my badge in my pockets while I go to the bathroom or to a meeting.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:16 AM on December 17
It is fine if the sweater looks a bit dumb while they are in use. Like, something like this would probably be fine, except a) not in my size and b) polyester. I just need to be able to shove my phone and my badge in my pockets while I go to the bathroom or to a meeting.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:16 AM on December 17
Best answer: This one from Woman Within may fit the bill. Tunic length, 100% cotton, front pockets, buttons up, etc.
posted by jenny76 at 9:38 AM on December 17 [7 favorites]
posted by jenny76 at 9:38 AM on December 17 [7 favorites]
Response by poster: OMG jenny76, that is it exactly! The ideal thing. I have looked at Woman Within and its associated brands so many times and never found this!
posted by jacquilynne at 9:45 AM on December 17 [4 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 9:45 AM on December 17 [4 favorites]
If you can find what you need from a retailer, awesome! If not, let me just share that I have a similarly specific and difficult-to-find list of clothing requirements. After literal years of fruitlessly searching for what I needed, I was finally driven to learn to sew my own clothing. I have never been happier with my wardrobe -- the fit, fiber content, style, color, and pockets are exactly as I want them. If the idea of sewing your own doesn't appeal to you, I guarantee there are talented tailors and seamstresses in your area that you could hire to sew clothes for you.
A quick look at the Fold Line and Threadloop pattern databases turns up several patterns that look like they'd be a good starting place and come in a good size range. Again, you could try these yourself or take them to a tailor/seamstress and ask them to make one up for you.
- True Bias Marlo Sweater
- Jalie Karine Raglan Cardigan (note that there are multiple length/button/pocket options)
- Cashmerette Fuller Cardigan (again, note multiple length options -- and know that adding pockets is a simple modification that any tailor/seamstress/sewist could make fairly easily)
- Style Arc Sabel Boyfriend Knit Cardi
- Simplicity S9827
posted by ourobouros at 10:21 AM on December 17 [2 favorites]
A quick look at the Fold Line and Threadloop pattern databases turns up several patterns that look like they'd be a good starting place and come in a good size range. Again, you could try these yourself or take them to a tailor/seamstress and ask them to make one up for you.
- True Bias Marlo Sweater
- Jalie Karine Raglan Cardigan (note that there are multiple length/button/pocket options)
- Cashmerette Fuller Cardigan (again, note multiple length options -- and know that adding pockets is a simple modification that any tailor/seamstress/sewist could make fairly easily)
- Style Arc Sabel Boyfriend Knit Cardi
- Simplicity S9827
posted by ourobouros at 10:21 AM on December 17 [2 favorites]
In the future, Anthropologie and little mountain are good for this too
posted by St. Peepsburg at 10:23 AM on December 17
posted by St. Peepsburg at 10:23 AM on December 17
Ellos also has a pretty similar one to the Woman Within that might work also -- just slightly different details than the Woman Within one.
posted by brainmouse at 11:10 AM on December 17 [1 favorite]
posted by brainmouse at 11:10 AM on December 17 [1 favorite]
I just want to say that I totally agree with you that pockets and front closure are both non-negotiable and almost impossible to find in a good fabric. The Woman Within one caught my eye, and there is this one at Land's End Business Outfitters that also looked good: Women's Cotton Modal Long Sleeve V-neck Cardigan Sweater
posted by drossdragon at 11:13 AM on December 17
posted by drossdragon at 11:13 AM on December 17
Amazon.ca has this Women's Cardigan 100% Cotton Button-Down Long Sleeve Oversized Knit
posted by plant or animal at 11:56 AM on December 17
posted by plant or animal at 11:56 AM on December 17
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posted by praemunire at 9:07 AM on December 17 [5 favorites]