Zady .06 Lightweight Alpaca sweater | size medium, gift for review from Zady
Eileen Fisher pants | wearing size large, petite
Robert Clergerie Nalo wedge loafer | I got mine on sale earlier in the summer
It’s still too hot to REALLY wear this sweater, but I’ve worn it plenty at home, and have created about a dozen outfits with the Zady .06 lightweight alpaca sweater. When I reviewed Zady’s organic cotton button-down (which I also received as a gift) last week, I said a few words about this sweater, including that it’s a bit itchy at first. I promptly heard back from my contact there (Hi Jamie!) who clarified that:
the tiny itch you were feeling with the alpaca sweater the fiber will naturally soften and will go away after one wear. The reason you feel the initial itch is because we refrain from using chemical softener which other companies use so it feels soft on the floor.
Honestly, I wasn’t too concerned about it anyway, because under most circumstances, I’ll wear this sweater over a tank top, or t-shirt, and I love it layered over their organic cotton button-down with the hem hanging out (It’s so cool that way!). But it’s nice to know why, anyway, and I absolutely appreciate that Zady does NOT use chemical softeners. I’ll deal with a brief itch for that.
I am thoroughly impressed with this sweater, and can’t wait to actually be able to wear it. The neckline and raglan sleeves are my favorite details, making it look sort of like a sweatshirt, but much more luxurious. I prefer to wear the sweater with the hem folded under like I have it here, so it looks more cropped, but you could wear it down, and bloused out a bit, or even go up a size and wear it loose.
As I said, I played around with this sweater a lot, in anticipation of being able to wear it (when we get out of the 80’s here in Texas…), and this was another one of my favorite outfits:
Raquel Allegra slip dress | link goes to white version, black sold out
No6 Clog wedges | updated version in elephant suede (mine are a couple years old)
I also wore it under my camel hair Brooks Brothers blazer, with my skinny black jeans, over a long dress, and with my Le Garcon boyfriend jeans and sneakers. Such a versatile style. And I’m becoming a huge fan of alpaca, which is good, because it seems that cashmere isn’t as sustainable as we once thought it was. For more on Zady’s alpaca, please visit their site, but also:
The .06 is made from the wool of Alpacas raised in their natural habitat in the Andes mountains of Peru, where they can roam, hop, and grow their silky fleece in beautiful natural colors, like this heather grey. Soft as cashmere without pilling, as warm as sheep’s wool without the bulk, hypo-allergenic, and one of the strongest fibers, Alpaca is an ideal ingredient for the sweater that will endure in your closet and become a favorite piece. This super fiber is then sorted, washed, combed and spun in nearby Arequipa, Peru, where 80% of the facilities energy needs is provided by solar panels. We receive the best fibers, called baby alpaca (though its not from baby alpaca), which are then sent to New York, where the slightly relaxed fit and menswear inspired chest pocket are crafted, converging timeless style with the ancient wool.
Did anyone else order anything from Zady’s alpaca/wool collection? What did you think?
**edited to add a few pictures I just took to give an idea of the sweater when it’s not tucked under – and a bit of a closer look:
Also, in case you don’t read through the comments, R asked me if I’d choose this new alpaca sweater (.06) over the older wool sweater style (.01) which is back in stock on Zady (here is my review from last year) to which I answered: yes. sort of. I like the way this one fits better (the arms aren’t as long on me) and love that it’s lighter weight, which gets much more wear here in Texas than the wool does. The wool sweater is quite warm and I love the texture of it, but if I HAD to choose one over the other (although really, they’re both really different), I’d probably choose the new alpaca sweater.
Yesssssss, so happy to see a review of this, Grechen! I have this and the .01 in my cart right now (having missed out last fall, and somewhat pining for it), and I’m trying to decide between them. I really love the texture of the .01, but am afraid that it might be too long and restrictive — I’m 5’3, and have a bigger chest — and the size small on the models looks slim/long, so I don’t know how my usual M-L would fit. I love the shape of this .06 sweater, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the pocket — seemed to kind of stick out on a few of the model shots, but it looks SO much better on you — honestly! Because you’ve tucked it in in these photos, the length is hard to determine — can you comment on how long it is untucked? Also, maybe unfair to ask, but how would you compare this to the .01, and which one would you purchase?
I’m also thinking of trying the alpaca cardigan — honestly, when I read “no pilling” in the description, I started thinking about how I could eliminate every other sweater I own and replace them with this collection. I’m so ready for a pill-free life!! (I suppose it would be good to know as well how much pilling you’ve experienced with the .01, if any).
As always, THANKS! Really, really love this sweater on you.
oh man. good question!! before even thinking about it, i thought to recommend this one, the .06, because it’s lighter weight, fits me better, and overall i just like it a little more. they’re different though – the .01 is meant to be heavier, etc., so it will definitely fit differently. that said, the sleeves on the .01 were ridiculously long on me, perhaps i should have sized down in that one, but i wanted it to not be “snug.”
for layering, the .06 is hands down better IMO – the .01 is too warm to layer under a coat, for me anyway, unless it’s REALLY cold! the .06 would do nicely under a coat or even a wool cardigan, and since it’s less bulky, will lay better.
i’m going to edit the post and upload a few pictures i just took with it un-tucked under for you, it comes down to my hips…and i’m also 5’3″. also, my .01 sweater didn’t pill too badly, not as much as my everlane chunky wool sweater or my inhabit felted wool cardigan anyway…hardly noticeable.
hope that helps!! lmk if you have more questions after i add the pictures…
Hi Grechen!
Sorry to put you on the spot! But thank you SO much for your feedback and for going to the extra length 😉 to take and post the untucked photos. I’m pleased too see that it doesn’t look too long on you at all, and that there’s nice versatility to wear tucked or untucked.
I can totally appreciate how the .01 and .06 are different sweaters. I’m surprised that you describe the .01 as so warm — sounds more substantial than I imagined. I might give the .01 try still anyway, just to see, since I’m definitely going to give the .06 a go. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so I never need anything TOO warm — my outer layers more than take care of it, but still do appreciate thicker sweaters for the times when I end up in an office that tends to be a bit chillier.
Thanks again. Looking forward to trying the .06, especially after this thorough review. Again, looks really terrific on you (but that’s only partly the sweater!), fingers crossed it works for me too 🙂
PS. Don’t get me started on the pilling on the Everlane chunky knit (I know you have a separate post going for that). I was like “yes!” when I saw that they will have new styles this year, but then I pulled out my cardis from last winter last week, and started de-pilling them, and it was all sad trombone. Yet, I remain ever hopeful…!
PPS. I was really suprised/saddened about the non-sustainability of cashmere. Very enlightening.
Definitely looks like a nice and cozy sweater to me! And it’s more than cold enough to wear it up here in Indiana 🙂
i guess i put put the .01 in between the alpaca sweater and everlane’s chunky knit, if that helps you visualize it…it’s not as heavy as the chunky knit, but it’s certainly not light weight, like the alpaca is.
i had the same feeling about the new chunky knit at everlane! i was like, oh!! new!! and then remembered how insane the pilling is on my cardigan. i’m not even going to try and de-pill it, i don’t have enough time…
please let me know what you think about the sweater(s) if you order them!! hope you love them 🙂
I hear you on the “no time” to remove pills! However, I’ve been using the Laundress sweater comb over the past year, and it’s fairly efficient, and a bit less effort.
I’ll definitely keep you posted on how the .06/.01 (and maybe .07) work out! I’m going to have them shipped to my US address, and I won’t be there till early-ish November, so I’ll report back then!
Thanks again for your help 🙂
Love this on you Grechen! The cuff detail on the sleeves are beautiful. I ordered the .09 sweater and wanted to love it but it was just comically slouchy 🙁
I love this outfit on you! The skirt and clogs are “perfect” (I feel compelled to put that word in quotes!). But how did you make your back foot turn that way?!? 😉
Great sweater! And are those the cropped 3×1 jeans in the edited pics? Cute!
lol. i have no idea how i made my foot do that! looks weird, doesn’t it??
those are the AG tomboy crop jeans in the picture. thankfully i can get rid of those now (they just never fit like i wanted them to) since i replaced them with the 3×1 (they’re at the tailor getting hemmed right now!)
Hi Grechen,
I finally was able to pick up my Zady sweaters this weekend, and I wanted to report back. I purchased the .06 in both Heather Grey and Charcoal. I decided on a L because I’ve gained weight recently, so I’m more of a robust L as opposed to between M-L. While I hope the gain is temporary, I figured I should purchase for my size at this moment in time. I’m really happy to report that my first impression of the sweaters is terrific. First and foremost, I love the fit, and the style. I was very happy that the L provided enough slouch and room that I feel great in it. I hope it would still fit fine if I lose the weight, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. I don’t mind the pocket at all, and I think it’s much more subtle than the photos. I wore one of them all day yesterday, while shopping and running errands, then to dinner, and a hockey game. I was neither hot nor cold in the sweater, which was wonderful. The alpaca is an interesting fibre — I’m not sure how I feel about the irregularities in the weave and texture, but again, I think they are subtle and work with the variation of the natural colours. As for Zady’s description of alpaca being “as soft as cashmere”, I definitely disagree, but I wasn’t expecting that to be true in the first place. I am very exited to keep wearing the sweaters — I think they will be very versatile for me, and if they truly are pill free, and maintain their shape and size after hand washing, then I will consider them a miracle, and a very very wise investment. How is yours holding up?
I am still considering the .01 and the .09, but am not in desperate need for either. Waiting for your thoughts on the new Everlane chunky wool cardigan (especially a pilling report, but it sound like yo haven’t worn it much), and I have my eye on a few cashmere pieces. I am intrigued by the E1 collection (mockneck and v-neck), but they look like they would probably overwhelm me.
Anyway, thanks again for your review and fit advice. This is the most excited I’ve been about a piece of clothing in a long time!
what a fabulous review!! thank you 🙂
i am very pleased with the everlane chunky knit cardigan so far – i did wear it all weekend, but of course, that isn’t long enough to tell if it will pill terribly. i love the fit (they actually sent me a large, and i like it) – it’s quite oversized, and more boxy than last year’s – cooler, not so much like your grandfather’s sweater.
i don’t think alpaca is as soft as cashmere either. it’s different though, and that’s okay LOL