Everlane ribbed wool turtleneck | size medium
IRO Jeans | out of stock, I got them on deep sale months ago
Veja sustainable sneakers
Kara small dry bag
Here’s a look at the Everlane ribbed wool turtleneck (medium) on me. I got it when I got the waffle knit tunic, mostly just to try, I didn’t have high hopes for it. And anyway, I don’t wear “fitted” stuff like this with pants much anymore, now that my body has changed so that I have a bit of a pudge at my waistline that I never had before.
It’s a nice, lightweight, not-too-tight turtleneck if you’re looking for a good layering piece, but it’s tough to wear on its own. I’m wearing it over a Vince tank top to provide coverage and hold “stuff” in, I even think a more compressive cami would be in order here, but mostly I think this piece is better suited to wear under a blazer, coat, or cardigan. I wore it in Fort Worth last weekend under a slim down puffer jacket and was comfortable.
And, I don’t know if it’s just me, but it does that weird thing that some turtlenecks do and bunches up a little right under my neck, from shoulder to shoulder. I think it’s because my upper arms are a bit big, and it pulls there. You can see where it bunches at my elbows also, again, because of my upper arms. The length is pretty good, if I pull it down so it’s not bunched up at all, it covers my ass. And I love that the sleeves are easy to push up, and stay there, but the bunching at my elbows when they’re down annoys me.
Ultimately, this is hard for me to wear. Since it’s slim, I thought it would be nice to wear with loose jeans or pants, and it is, sort of, but as with most things, it’s too big around my waist and too long, so it just looks all wrong that way. If it was shorter, and a heavier material, with some drape – not so fitted – it would be much better, but it’s not. I also don’t wear blazers/jackets enough to warrant having a specific piece JUST to wear that way.
Anyway…I do think any of the ribbed wool tops would make great layering pieces and nice additions to a casual office attire wardrobe; they would be beautiful layered under a blue suit even, or with jeans and a black blazer. They’re just not for me.
Did anyone else order this sweater? or one of the other ribbed wool sweaters?
Oh, and what do you think of the new pima tees? I’m impressed by their transparency, as usual, and the information on their factory in Peru. In case you didn’t know: Most pima cotton is grown in Peru (some is grown in Texas) and having it also turned into a final product there is much more environmentally friendly than having it transported all over the place (pretty much any clothing that is made with pima is also “made” in Peru). Vince uses pima cotton for their tees, which are also made in Peru – I’d be willing to bet they’re made in the same factory that Everlane is using (a contact there years ago admitted that their US-made tees were made in the same facility as James Perse’s…).
I’m ordering the black long sleeve tee and the black mid-sleeve. Both in medium – I just don’t think I can wear a size small in t-shirts yet…Will you order a pima tee?
Great review, thanks! I ALMOST ordered their ribbed crew neck in navy but pulled the plug last minute as I was worried it would be too fitted to be comfy. I ended up ordering the waffle knit turtleneck (in grey) instead which looks way more forgiving. (Just hoping the neck won’t be too tight.)
I consistently find myself drawn to pieces like this turtleneck, and they consistently don’t work for me, either. (You look great in the photos, by the way, but I can definitely relate to the concerns you described!) Thanks for reminding me why I shouldn’t order this with my current stash of Everlane credits so I can direct them towards pieces that are more useful to me.
On a completely unrelated note… I notice you’re good about reviews for workout wear for those of us who aren’t of the twiggy-twenty-something variety. Any suggestions for workout tops that cover a sports bra (and by that I mean of the Enell-type variety, not the cute colored ones that look okay when they show)? I’m needing to replace a few of mine, and the ones I’m coming across now are all very scooped in the front, cut out in the back, or both. It just shouldn’t be so complicated.
oh…a project 🙂
do you want tanks that are “fitted”? or loose? you don’t want ANY cut out in the back? i think the back of the enell bra is sort of cool…might be cute peeking out in back.
i’ll get on it and do a post!!
and i’m drawn to pieces like this turtleneck also – i used to wear more fitted tops much more, but my body has changed in the last couple of years and i’m not comfortable wearing those types of pieces anymore…
LOL, I love that you seem to be more enthusiastic about this than I am. I think I’ve worn out. 😉
I have to be somewhat conservative because some of my dance classes are through a community college, so they’re a bit more cautious with the dress code than something like a gym would be. When I first started, money was TIGHT and I wasn’t quite sure what would work, so I hit the Athleta sale rack and Kohl’s athletic department (despite having sworn off Kohl’s and the whole Gap establishment years ago – lack of finances unfortunately means guilt sometimes!). My biggest successes in terms of fit and function were Athleta’s Transcend tee (for a looser fit) and their Fastest Track tee (more fitted, but shirred so I’m not really self-conscious in it) and some Tek Gear tee at Kohl’s that they no longer seem to make. I like when things are light, wick well, don’t smell (Latin and swing dancing tend to mean being very close to someone while sweating profusely), and short/cap sleeves are nice to avoid the feeling of sticking armpits in a partner’s face. I’m not opposed to sleeveless, and I’ve worn them a lot, but a lot of sleeveless active wear has very open armholes which seems almost… I don’t know, rude when dancing close to someone. 😉 The biggest downsides to what I have is that they really weren’t made very well (can’t say I’m shocked) and I’d prefer not to repurchase clothes that are practically made to be disposable.
Maybe that’s why this is so complicated. Sweating just isn’t an activity that’s meant to be shared in such close proximity. (No commentary needed on that last sentence, guys, really!)
Alison – you might want to take a look at men’s workout tanks – they are typically a more standard cut in the body and more coverage in the chest and back over a sports bra. you can still get some interesting colors and patterns without dealing with the straps and cut-outs, and for a reasonable price.
I love that thought, Kara. I recently discovered the joy of men’s sweaters, since I was having the same problem with those being too thin and too scooped in front in the women’s departments. I’ll have to give their workout wear a try, too. (Isn’t that odd, though, and kind of sad? I’m about as stereotypically woman-shaped as they come, and men’s clothes these days tend to be more flattering on me.)
Cool jeans 🙂 I’ve passed on the ribbed items from Everlane because I am tired of the transparency myself. i don’t like wearing something underneath fitted layers. I am as well interested in the Pima items, and may order the short sleeved version in white. It looks like the neckline is high, which I like when layering underneath button downs. I was also going to get the medium, so that they are fitted but not tight tight… i like these pieces to skim over my shape.
On a related Everlane note, be wary of ordering any of the charcoal t’s. I ordered the charcoal v neck and 3 times was sent a box cut t. Everlane said that this issue was in the warehouse and was only for the vneck style. So I tried the charcoal U neck…and received my old friend the box cut. I guess Everlane doesn’t want me to have any charcoal t’s in my life!
I think you look so fit and I think the fitted turtle neck looks fab on you 🙂
Monica.
Hmmmm … If I’d just seen your photos and not read your post, I would have been inspired to order this sweater because I really like the way it looks on you. I have enough sheer sweaters that are difficult to wear though so I don’t need another headache.
I used to love turtlenecks but pretty much banned them from my wardrobe for awhile because I thought they were making me look to thick on top (32 F/DDD boobs, pretty much says it). I recently started missing not having any so I’ve been reconsidering my ban. I sometimes get that same bunching below the neck – I’m not sure your arms are doing it because mine aren’t particularly heavy. I think it’s just a knit-pattern problem.
I’ll probably order a black long sleeve pima tee – because I really need black t-shirts, ya know 😉
come to think of it, all turtlenecks fit sort of funny at the neck – my black everlane cashmere one does the same, it’s just harder to see. and yeah, i am OVER sheer tops – they’re just way too high maintenance for me. i think a lot about my clothes/what i’m wearing, but i don’t want to think THAT much!!
i actually don’t have a basic black long sleeve tee that fits me right now, so i do kinda need one LOL
thank you monica!
Sorry to hear that it’s hard for you to wear – I actually really like it on you! But to each her own, and you know what works on your body 🙂