2.15.2013

review: Everlane cashmere and silk

Everlane men's cashmere cardigan // j brand jeans // uniqlo tee // A.P.C. boots //
Everlane silk blouse // simple gold necklace // Ferragamo pumps

the cardigan and silk blouse i ordered from Everlane arrived today, and i must say, they are both pretty fantastic. read on for the review!

i'm impressed by the quality and materials of both garments, but the cashmere cardigan especially exceeded my expectations. it's a midweight thickness, very soft, and feels much more luxe than its pricetag. for reference, it definitely feels thicker than j.crew cashmere, and more on the level of Vince. i got the men's size S, which i think i'll be sticking to for any future 'his for hers' knits. it's just slouchy enough without losing too much shape, and the perfect length (it hits me at high hip). i think if Tina Chow were around today, she'd own these in every color. a reader remarked in my last post that this is the perfect grandfatherly cardigan, which is exactly right. quite pleased to finally cross this item off my wardrobe wishlist!

i also ordered the silk blouse in navy in an S M (see update below), which fits like a slimmer version of my equipment signature blouses (i'm an XS in those) and are probably comparable to the equipment brett shirt: slouchy through the body with slimmer sleeves. the silk crepe is pretty much identical to the silk on my equipment shirts. i really like the hidden placket detail – when worn, it helps keep the elegant drape of the silk and prevents gaping. i was disappointed that the sleeves are a bit long on me; i was hoping that they would hit right at my wrist. however, it's not a dealbreaker, as most of the time i wear my shirts with the sleeves rolled up anyway.

hope this review is helpful for those of you who are considering either item. if you've purchased from Everlane, let me know what you think! 

edit: 2/19 - it seems that the navy blouse i received was actually mislabeled as an S and most likely an M, hence the longer sleeves and looser fit overall. sorry for any confusion! will do a new post on the proper S silk blouse soon...

edit: 4/2 - updated review on the size S blouse here.
Posted by miss sophie at 6:19 PM
Labels: ,

38 comments:

  1. JoannaFebruary 15, 2013 at 7:15 PM

    I've been eyeing that men's cashmere cardigan. Glad to know you consider it a good buy, it certainly looks great on you!

    I adore their men's french terry sweaters. They're super comfortable, and I like the his-for-her-ness of them. They've become something of a winter staple for me (I may or may not have worn them days in a row.....they're hard to take off!). I certainly hope Everlane keeps them around for years to come.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. miss sophieFebruary 16, 2013 at 2:19 PM

      haha, i have a couple favorite basics that i have multiples of and i definitely wear them consecutively!

      are the french terry sweaters thick and hold up well to machine wash/dry? i love an easy slouchy pullover/sweatshirt.

      Delete
    2. JoannaFebruary 20, 2013 at 2:29 PM

      The terry cloth sweaters are definitely thick and hold up to a machine wash. I usually air dry my clothes on a drying rack, but I did use a quick and gentle drying cycle in the machine recently because I was packing for a trip and wanted to bring the sweater with me, and it held up just fine.

      Delete
  2. UnknownFebruary 15, 2013 at 8:32 PM

    Oh I'm so glad to see this review. I signed up for Everlane a while back and the selection was a lot more limited. I didn't place an order because it came out around the time when all those silly subscription clothing/shoe/jewelry websites hit like mass popularity and I was afraid the quality of this would not be that great. I just logged back in and I think I'm going to get a silk blouse for work! :D Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. miss sophieFebruary 16, 2013 at 2:19 PM

      cool! glad you find this helpful - let me know how you like yours! :)

      Delete
  3. ChristineFebruary 15, 2013 at 11:28 PM

    AAhh, yes, really glad to see these reviewed by one of my favourite bloggers! The silk blouse is absolutely beautiful. I can't wait for them to start shipping to Canada! They said it would happen soon. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. miss sophieFebruary 16, 2013 at 2:20 PM

      yes i have to apologize for my photo as it doesn't quite do it justice - i just pulled it, folding wrinkles and all, and took a quick pic for the sake of the review. it will feature in more posts with better photos soon :)

      Delete
  4. Nomadic D.February 16, 2013 at 3:35 AM

    So glad you reviewed these! I remember when you stopped by my blog and mentioned you'd placed your order, so I'm really happy to hear you like the items so much. I think the silk shirt fits you amazingly well. Totally confirms it, going to order one as soon as I'm stateside!

    www.nomadicd.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. PaulaFebruary 16, 2013 at 7:48 AM

    I have a weekend bag from them. I am a light packer and can take it for a week. The packing is nice, too. Like a little present.fast shipping.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. miss sophieFebruary 16, 2013 at 2:22 PM

      ooh that's good to hear. i am waiting for the olive color to come back in stock!

      Delete
  6. WallaceFebruary 16, 2013 at 12:59 PM

    I ordered the navy silk blouse (which I love and find comparable to my Equipment blouse) and the crew neck cashmere sweater. Maybe I just got a sweater from a bad batch, but I'm disappointed with the cashmere as it's scratchy and not very soft. I knew that it wouldn't be the highest grade of cashmere (skeins of cashmere alone are very expensive, so a sweater for the awesome price of this one is, of course, not from super high quality) but I really like the way it looks and wanted it to work. Since I plan on wearing it over t-shirt and dresses as well (and not just long sleeves) I need something that won't irritate my arms. Have you felt Equipment's cashmere? I'm looking at their Sloane sweater but am not familiar with their cashmere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. miss sophieFebruary 16, 2013 at 2:13 PM

      oh, sorry to hear that! i'd get in touch with Everlane's customer service if i were you. they seem pretty responsive, and will probably help you try to work something out.

      i haven't seen the equipment knits in person, but honestly if i'm going to splurge on a knit (which i rarely do), i'm a vince girl all the way. there's a TON of super cozy luxe vince sweaters and pullovers on major sale right now, which i noted in my janauary essentials post! :) http://www.lesantimodernes.com/2013/02/january-essentials.html

      let me know if you find anything :)

      Delete
  7. EFebruary 16, 2013 at 1:20 PM

    The silk shirt is gorgeous!A navy silk shirt is on top of my wishlist right now. I think it would be great for a casual but elegant evening look.
    I haven't had much luck in my search for the perfect one so far. Equipment shirts look great but the price tag is a bit scary...Everlane blouses on the contrary are very reasonably priced, but I doubt they ship to Europe.
    I think I'll just buy some navy crepe and ask my neighbour -who's a seamstress- to make one for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. miss sophieFebruary 16, 2013 at 2:16 PM

      chiara, i wish i had a seamstress for a neighbor!! that sounds almost more preferable to a lofty seasonal budget for silk blouses :)

      though i think EL does plan on expanding to global shipping eventually. hopefully soon!

      Delete
  8. miss sophieFebruary 16, 2013 at 2:21 PM

    thanks P!

    ReplyDelete
  9. nanashiFebruary 16, 2013 at 3:32 PM

    thanks for the review! still eyeing the silk shirts but I realized I probably don't have place to wear it to and justify dry cleaning (maybe after I get a real real job . . . ). Looks great on you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. AJFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:30 PM

    Thanks for reviewing! I just got my silk shirt, and I'm happy with the quality. Time to get the cardigan!

    ReplyDelete
  11. jenniferFebruary 16, 2013 at 5:57 PM

    Yay! I'm so glad those pieces work for you! I'm now trying to decide how to clean this shirt when the time comes. I handwash all of my Steven Alan silk dresses and wonder if I could do the same with this shirt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. miss sophieFebruary 18, 2013 at 3:49 PM

      that's really interesting that you handwash your SA shirts. i've never handwashed a silk that didn't say so on the care tag!

      Delete
    2. ericaFebruary 19, 2013 at 10:35 AM

      it's such a gamble with silk. i'm usually ok hand washing a silk top or tunic, but the black dye bled on my ilana kohn top last summer. now i'm a bit more nervous about hand-washing, but i hate pretty much everything about dry cleaning.

      Delete
    3. jenniferFebruary 19, 2013 at 3:49 PM

      Yeah, I agree with Erica that it is a gamble. Some silk (silk crepe in particular) washes really well. I am more hesitant with brushed silk though. I also hate everything about dry cleaning and try to avoid it at all costs.

      Delete
  12. MarzenaFebruary 17, 2013 at 9:44 AM

    Love the silk blouse, the cut is really great. Looks like a perfect buy to me!

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousFebruary 18, 2013 at 2:55 AM

    How do you care for your silk shirts, Ms. Sophie? I tried doing a search, but I don't think I've come across a post of yours on caring for silk shirts (or maybe I gave up too easily?). Because I'd really like to hear your thoughts on it. I've acquired a quite a few silk shirts and tanks, and some are hand-wash-able while some are strictly dry clean only, so I'm confused on what's possible for silk and what isn't. Even online research yielded such mixed advice and often involved using vinegar (which I'm wary of since it is acidic). I've followed all the labels for now, but ideally, I'd want to handwash everything, since over-dry cleaning can shorten the lifespan of clothes. My dry cleaners also caused a stain on one of my silk shirts, which makes me even more reluctant to send anything to delicate to them or any dry cleaner for that matter. So I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. miss sophieFebruary 18, 2013 at 4:04 PM

      i always follow the care tag instructions when it comes to silks, and almost all of my silk tops/dresses are dry clean only. i personally am wary of various 'DIY' instructions for caring for delicates online...i think the care instructions are there on the tag for a reason! IMO the key thing is to find a really good, trustworthy drycleaner. i found my current one when i moved to the neighborhood several years ago, and the couple who own it are exceptionally attentive and also double as my tailor for alterations.

      Delete
    2. miss sophieFebruary 21, 2013 at 10:41 AM

      this is very informative, and i agree that there are definitely instances where care tags aren't properly vetted for other options!

      it seems that one of the main problems people have mentioned in online forums about silk DIY/handwashing is having the dye run. i still prefer sending silk garments to my dry-cleaners (who now offer eco-cleaning options), but it's good to know that there are various options if you're willing to take the time and risk to experiment...

      Delete
    3. AnonymousFebruary 27, 2013 at 12:21 PM

      Thank you both for your responses. And yes, I agree, a lot of manufacturers seem to play it safe with their care instructions. I have cotton pants from J. Crew that are tagged as "dry clean only".

      Alas, I live in a country with not a lot of eco-friendly dry cleaning or detergent options. So I have no chose but to take the DIY route. I've been scared to try the vinegar and water rinse but maybe I will soon. Glad to hear that it works for you.

      Delete
  14. Jamie-Lee BurnsFebruary 18, 2013 at 4:09 PM

    It's always nice when a purchase exceeds above and beyond what you were expecting. I have looked at Everlane before, but am yet to buy anything - the cashmere sounds lovely though!

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2013 at 7:58 AM

    I've been lusting over Everlane's goods for ages but sadly they don't ship internationally. They have the weekender bag that I particularly have my eye on. Well, a girl can dream.

    The blouse and cardigan look magnificent on you and it's always useful to know the garments are good quality wise as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. miss sophieFebruary 27, 2013 at 12:26 PM

      thanks emmikoo :) here's hoping EL rolls out int'l shipping soon!

      Delete
  16. KristineFebruary 21, 2013 at 11:36 PM

    I just got my order today - white silk shirt, two french terry sweatshirts (the women's ones), a men's crewneck cashmere sweater, and a long-sleeved Ryan tee. I love everything!! I'm wearing the french terry sweatshirt right now and I truly don't want to take it off, it's stretchy and wonderful!! I love it when I get something and immediately wear it (instead of putting it in my closet for some future day or event). Definitely will be ordering more. The next thing I want is the navy silk shirt...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. miss sophieFebruary 27, 2013 at 12:26 PM

      hi kristine! that's great to hear. i'm wearing a men's french terry sweatshirt right now - also super cozy and one of my new faves :)

      Delete
  17. mingMarch 21, 2013 at 11:06 AM

    I'm thinking about buying a silk blouse too, but haven't decided on black or if I should hold out for the nude w/ black contrast trim.
    Do any of the labels indicate where the blouse is made?

    Also, is your burgundy men's french terry an XS or S?

    Looking forward to your update on the size exchange :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. miss sophieMarch 21, 2013 at 2:14 PM

      hey ming :) my men's french terry is in the S. the silk blouses are made in China, which is consistent with the EL story on sourcing silks (and also where Equipment blouses are made).

      will do an updated post soon!

      Delete
  18. MeganMarch 30, 2013 at 7:48 PM

    Have you gotten the S size in the silk yet? I'm debating between the XS and S and would love to see someone wearing the S!

    ReplyDelete
  19. The Internet and The UnicornOctober 16, 2013 at 12:06 PM

    I am about to order my first Everland silk blouse. I am not sure if I should order a S or a M. My bust is 36 so that puts me in the larger size, but my waist is a 32 so that puts me in the smaller size. I hate it when silk shirt gaps open in the bust area which makes me think I should order larger...but I also don't want it to look like slouchy pajamas.

    Do you find that the fit is too "boxy"? I am hoping for relaxed feminine fit. Do you think the cut of this shirt accomplishes that?

    Thank you for your advice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. miss sophieOctober 28, 2013 at 4:39 PM

      from what you're describing i would go with the size that fits your bust measurement - but for more specific measurements i'd also recommend emailing EL customer service. they're pretty responsive on these matters. from the blouses i have i do find the fit to be relaxed and feminine - my equipment shirts are much slouchier in the 'boyfriend' sense. i hope this helps! :)

      Delete
  20. animalsoupAugust 27, 2014 at 6:32 PM

    I'm wondering have you tried the seed stitch sweater? If you do, how's their sizing and how are they holding up? I'm considering ordering them for the fall. I'm usually S most Everlane but have to take XS in the short-sleeve sweatshirt. I might splurge the silk blouse for fall but am still waiting for the band collar to come back...

    ReplyDelete

feel free to join in on the conversation! :-) FYI, comment moderation is ON, so it may take a little while before yours appears. house rules: comments that are spam, rude, or otherwise unrelated to the post will be deleted.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)