Levi’s Wedgie jeans | made with 100% American Cone denim, manufactured in China
Vince Blair sneakers | mine are haircalf, and 4 years old
Everlane Ryan tank top (no longer available, sadly)
Zady Alpaca sweater | gift last year for review from Zady
James Perse jacket
Rag & Bone Nylon Pilot backpack
So, it’s finally “cooler.” And rainy. Ugh. But I’m not complaining 🙂
It’s basically been raining non-stop for two days here, so I live in jeans, sneakers and this JP jacket, which isn’t a rain jacket, but it has a hood, so it provides a little protection. It’s enough for me, since I have to drive everywhere anyway….and I usually carry a large umbrella too. I don’t need a significant rain jacket, except for walking Dagny. Which, incidentally, I did this morning in the POURING RAIN in my super-old Patagonia rain jacket that leaks at the neckline. So now, I do need a new rain jacket. Ugh.
Anyway, I’ve been thinking about alpaca lately, and cashmere, and wool, since now it’s officially sweater weather. I owe a post on this, and it’s coming, I promise, but it’s clear to me based on my research so far, that alpaca is more sustainable in general than cashmere definitely, and wool as well. It’s also become more and more popular amongst independent responsible-minded designers, therfore easier to find.
My experience so far has been mixed, however. This Zady sweater is about a year old and I wear it all the time because it’s a good lightweight layer, working well under jackets, and keeping me warm but not hot. It’s still a little itchy though, even after wearing/washing quite a bit.
I also ordered the alpaca cape by Cuyana last year to try and promptly sent it back. Mostly it looked horrible on me (capes just don’t work well on me), but I also remember it being quite itchy as well.
And of course, I just last week got the Lauren Manoogian alpaca Capote coat which is mostly alpaca with a little polyamide, and found it VERY itchy at the neckline. I did wash it over the weekend, and while it made it INCREDIBLY SHEDDY (ugh), I do think it may have softened up a little as well.
So what gives? Alpaca is supposed to be soft and cuddly, but I haven’t found it so. Give me cashmere any day. Or wool, for that matter. I’ve never had an issue with cashmere or wool being particularly itchy. But I understand that everyone is different, and many people can’t wear either fiber. Also, it may be that I’m more sensitive lately? especially on the back of my neck.
What has your experience been with alpaca? Do you wear it? Love it? Hate it?
My understanding of alpaca — according to my fiber artist friends — is that it’s basically impossible to remove the guard hairs the way you do when you card wool . So even if alpaca feels very silky at first touch, it’s always going to have some prickle when you wear it. I’m pretty tolerant of wool when it comes to itch, but I can’t do alpaca near my neck or face. Alpaca does make fantastic rugs, though!
I had to replace my rain jacket this year too, same leaky shoulder problem. I ended up with a Patagonia City Trench, which I like a lot (they have really fun colors this year!). Originally bought a Small, for layering, but it felt huge all over even with a sweater underneath, so returned it for an XS. The XS is a smidge snug in the shoulders with a lightweight puffy underneath, but otherwise perfect, and pretty roomy over just a tshirt. It has a good amount of room in the hips, which is usually my trouble spot with trench-length shells.
oh, thank so much for the rain jacket recommendation! definitely want to stick with patagonia 🙂
and for the input on alpaca. that is interesting…
As a knitwear designer (alas no longer because of an injury), my favourite yarn was alpaca – soft, kept it’s shape, warm, lasted forever and very VERY expensive. It now seems to have become mass-produced, which has undoubtedly affected the quality whilst pushing the price down. One tip you and your readers may find useful is to hand-wash in a very small amount of hair shampoo, rinse thoroughly and finish with a small amount of hair conditioner in the final rinse. Put your sweater in a pillow case to spin the excess water out and then re-shape flat to dry….should come up much softer. This works well with cashmere also and often works with sweaters that may have shrunk or felted (increase the quantity of hair conditioner if you’re trying to rescue a damaged garment).
I completely agree on alpaca – feels soft to the hand, but terribly itchy on the neck. I do NOT buy it anymore at all – I have found no difference in the itch factor whether it is high quality or lower quality fiber…it just drives me crazy! It’s a shame because it doesn’t pill as readily and high quality alpaca does look wonderful forever. I have no problem at all with nearly any kind of sheep wool whatsoever – I adore wool! But even though I want to love alpaca, I’ve just learned to not go there…
Same here. I’m resisting any further purchases of alpaca because it’s too uncomfortable to wear – and it sheds. I’m right now fondling an alpaca wrap that feels so nice to the touch, but as soon as it’s anywhere near the rest of my body, especially my face and neck, I can’t get it off fast enough. I have read that “baby alpaca” is the way to go for the ultimate softness – this is not yarn harvested from young alpacas, but a term for fibers that are the finest in diameter – but baby alpaca is crazy-expensive. So sad to say, alpaca is off my list.
both my zady sweater and the cuyana cape i tried are “baby alpaca” and the zady sweater is definitely less itchy than lauren manoogian’s, but it’s not that much better…
ugh. i guess it’s a live-and-learn situation, and now, alpaca is on my do-not-buy list too. which is a shame.
thank you roz!! i read about that conditioner tip, but that scares me!! i don’t know why…
Hi Grechen,
Happy Election day, glad this part is over-
Same for me, alpaca is on my can’t buy list as is angora, they both make me itchy. I will try the hair shampoo and conditioner tip. Love your outfit today, so comfy looking. It was 39 in NY this morning and now its 65 , so I wore the everlane silk box top w the EF recycled cashmere sweater and a light wool coat ended up carrying both home. Im going to check out the patagonia rain gear also.
Best,
Gena
yes, i’m glad it’s over, can’t wait to breathe again…
oh, yes, i can’t buy angora either, i learned that years ago after my husband bought me a sweater – he loves the texture of angora 😉
I used to be able to stand wool, but as I get older (past 30), could not wear it against my skin anymore. I’ve discovered the joy of cashmere along the way, which saved me, but as of today, even some cashmere can be itchy (lower quality maybe ?), while I enjoy wearing some fine merino wool without issues. I confirm that alpaca is soft to the touch, but I just can’t stand it on my skin 🙁
This makes me think that an alpaca turtleneck might be a bad idea.
I bought pure alpaca in Peru a few years ago and never had a problem with it…..but I have only bought alpaca blends since it recently became popular up north. I can’t wear mohair or angora. Can manage wool when worn with camisole and scarf, which is pretty well necessary for me “up here” anyway.
And yes, there are different qualities of cashmere and junky cashmere can be EXTREMELY scratchy. I remember reaching for a cashmere sweater in a pricey shop in Italy, of all places, and it felt like ….. I want to say sandpaper, but that would be too extreme. Prickly?
haha. yes, i think so 🙂 there are such lovely ones out there now though, i love the one from cuyana, and the new zady one (although it’s a wool blend, so maybe not so bad??)
I had an Eileen Fisher Alpaca poncho that was beautiful. It was really warm (too warm for Hawaii) and a taupe grey color (one of my favorite neutral colors, my nail polish is on a constant taupe grey mode). I would’ve loved it for the plane but it shed like crazy and since I wear black all the time, it wasn’t practical for me. It would’ve been cute with a white T and jeans but that’s not usually what I’m wearing when I travel. I didn’t find it itchy but I never wore it for an extended period of time, sold it almost new (yikes it was so pricey too, I think I lost my mind when I bought it because it was so pretty). I like cashmere and merino wool the best.
Btw, the North Face Resolve jacket works well. I’ve worn it in both in Hawaii and in Seattle (layered over a warmer midlayer like a puffer cardi or vest) in a downpour or constant Seattle drizzle situation for hours and it’s held up. It’s windproof and waterproof, packs up small. I have the black. Perhaps not as sustainable a company mission as Patagonia however Patagonia jackets never fit my curves right.
Hi Grechen – as a knitter, I can assure you, it works. Don’t be scared….
haha! thanks chris 🙂
I used to work at Patagonia, and if your rain jacket is leaking, they have an awesome iron clad guarantee which covers all garments for their lifetime. You should be able to take this to your local Patagonia or get in touch with customer service and they will replace it with its current equivalent coat 🙂
awesome, thank you so much for letting me know!!
I LOVE the look of your new Lauren Manoogian coat! But “itchy” is a deal-breaker for me. I don’t think I’ve done alpaca before, but they’re cute! 😉
I have a “robelike” Eileen Fisher black wool boucle coat and I adore it. It elevates EVERYTHING I wear it with and it’s surprisingly non-itchy.
Also, I love your JP green coat…I bought a new one from Gap that’s very similar and I’m wearing it to death!