Please work your magic and help me find the perfect cardigan.

[stealthsquirrelnutkin]

I'm trying to find a cosy cardigan, in a deep, rich shade of green (bottle, forest end of the spectrum, not sage, moss or sea foam) in size 12 or 14.

Not acrylic or polyester, though a bit of nylon to help alpaca keep its shape is OK. Cashmere, mohair, merino, alpaca all preferred. Nothing "wool rich" that turns out to be only 14% wool and 86% plastic.

In summer I tend to wear those lacy cotton cardigans from Seasalt with the three quarter sleeves, but they are useless once there's a bit of a wind.

I've gone from a size 36 to a size 10/12 over the past 55 months, and am now at a stage where I am looking to buy stuff that will "see me out" - as gran used to say.

I was very tempted by this https://www.broraonline.com/en-gb/products/cashmere-cardigan-parsley-wpc2602c7151 but it is only available in size 8/10 and 16/18, I wanted the medium size 12/14 so there'd be plenty of room for extra layers underneath and although there is an option to be notified when the size is back in stock, I strongly suspect that when they do get new stock it will be at the full price of £495.00 rather than the £298.00 current offer.

I wouldn't normally consider paying 300 quid for a cardigan, but it's 6 ply pure Cashmere, and Brora have a good reputation for quality. I am tempted to order the size 8/10, but know myself too well. If I managed to button it up the front without stretching the button holes then I'd probably be seduced by the quality and keep it, even if it would be too tight to go over all the layers required to keep me warm. (Going from 73% body fat to 24% has me sitting here in cashmere wrist warmers and electrically heated slippers, despite the central heating being set at 22 degrees).

Personally I feel that a long cardigan with useful pockets (boyfriend style?) is better value than a neat fitted cardigan like the one linked above, but cropped and boxy cardigans seem to be fashionable at the moment.

Here's a link to the heated slippers, just in case any other Reynaud's sufferers are wondering. I just wish they hadn't sold out of spare battery packs because although the batteries last all day on the lower heat setting they take nearly five hours to fully recharge afterwards and I don't like leaving Chinese batteries unsupervised on the charger overnight.

edited to add the forgotten link. https://www.saviorheat.co.uk/products/sph203g3-smart-heated-slippers

https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-cashmere-crew-neck-button-front-cardigan/p/clp61223596?color=DARKKHAKI

www.marksandspencer.com/pure-merino-wool-v-neck-button-front-cardigan/p/clp23089995?color=GREEN#intid=pid_pg1pip41g2r15c1%7Cprodflag_Online%20Only

Brora cashmere is great quality, I can compare to COS, Eric Bompard, Johnstons of Elgin (they make cashmere knitwear for Brora, to my knowledge) and Uniqlo and it’s light years apart. From these five brands COS is imo the lowest quality.

Brora sizes are not vanity-sized, I need a 6 in most brands and buy 8 or 8/10 from Brora.

@CortieTat , it has a name for being great quality but not all of it is good.

I’m comparing what I actually own so obviously a modest sample of knitwear and accessories.

I honestly would not spend that amount of money on a GREEN one. It is so very limiting and really looks like something you could get at M&S. For that price I would want something gorgeous, neutral and can go with almost everything in my wardrobe. I would pay for a black one that you go from casual to dressy to accessories.
This looks like something you could pick up from Primark sorry.

I'm basing it on one dud. It was shoddy enough to put me off the brand.
I had expected the same sort of quality as John Smedley but it was nowhere near.

Wow, thanks everyone, you've been busy while I've been snoozing, eating breakfast and popping out for a walk before the next deluge arrives. Loads of new cardigan shops to peruse.

In my world bottle green IS a neutral colour! I love cardigans, even the daft short sleeved lacy summer ones are good as a cover up in the evening, but when the temperature starts to drop I need something warmer to keep my lizardy old blood circulating. I already have cardigans in black, grey, navy, purple, lilac, royal blue, lavender, teal, turquoise, sea foam, moss green, yellow, orange, wine red and scarlet, as well as a grey and pink fair isle type thing with tiny sheep hiding in the pattern and a few other mixed colours.

I love colour, and don't understand why, just because I live in a marine temperate zone, under skies that are often cloudy and grey, my clothes ought also be dulled by the addition of a lot of grey to make them more "tasteful" and less "gaudy". When I had my colours done years ago the expert swathed me in RAF grey blue, sage greens and other boring shades that made my face look a wee bit softer, but I found wearing those colours quite depressing, and realised that I don't see my own face under normal circumstances. I look down and see a torso with arms, legs and feet (in bottle green socks and orange birkenstocks today), and so it makes sense to dress in colours that make me smile and lift my spirits, even if other people may think I look like a clown who could do with being dipped in grey paint.

Now I'm going to browse all those other shops, and try to decide what compromises I am prepared to make on colour, quality and price. So far I still haven't seen anything completely irresistible (apart from the orange alpaca cardie at Gudrun Sjoden that is out of stock until early December). I like the colour of the Brora cardie, and would like to feel 6 ply Cashmere to decide if it is worth the premium price when compared to the 2 ply stuff that I already own, and since several people have mentioned that they are still using the original dress sizes from my distant youth I think the size 16/18 might not be as flappy as I feared. I actually think it is a bit daft that I now take size 10 in most shops, when I would probably be a 16 in old money, from back when sizes were still judged by tape measures rather than labels.

I like the bottle green and longer length (warmer and probably less dated than cropped and boxy cardigans will be in a few years time) of the House of Bruar cardigan, but I'd have to start by cutting all those gold buttons off and replacing them with something more subtle.

The pine green Navygrey lambswool cardigan, make in the UK, for £320 but although it looks well made and has definite "see me out" qualities I'm unwilling to part with that much money for a plain lambswool cardie. navygrey.co/products/the-original-cardigan-pine-green?variant=56961539015034

The search engine on the Peruvian Connection is a pain in the arse. If you ask it to show you women's green cardigans it shows you every cardigan on the site. I spotted a long baby alpaca cardie that was an acceptable (not quite saturated enough) shade of medium dark green, but buggered if I can find it again. I found the concept of "baby" alpaca wool as tempting as the 6 ply cashmere, new luxuries to fondle. I love all my pairs of alpaca socks, but haven't felt baby alpaca yet.

The risk of ordering from Peru is that the parcel will probably get stopped at customs and there'd be loads of extra customs duty and VAT to pay before the courier is allowed to bring it to me.

I wonder if we have a trade agreement with Peru? I ordered fingerless gloves from the Tin Shed in New Zealand (merino and possum fibre) and they arrived without extra charges, but we have a trade agreement with New Zealand and customs didn't stop the parcel.

I've given my email address to https://www.aethel.com/ so they can keep me informed about new additions to their range. I could picture myself moving into the assisted living facility in ten years time wearing their English ribbed cardigan but they don't sell it in green. https://www.aethel.com/products/the-english-ribbed-cardigan?

Oh bum, it just struck me that if I do survive long enough to end up in a care home someone will bung my cashmere and baby alpaca cardigans into the 60 degree mixed wash and then they'll dress me in somebody else's acrylic and polyester knits and tell me I'm senile when I demand the return of my own clothes.

Gudrun Sjöden is a big no in my book. Speaking as a native. I also think green is a neutral colour, I have an olive green Brora cardigan :-)

News update!

After warning me that purchases above the £135 threshold will incur "Customs Duty (0% to 12%) Import VAT (20%) and a Courier Handling Fee (£8 to £15), so a £400 cardigan would cost an extra £90 - £150 in additional fees." Google AI asked for the name of the shop and then tells me that:

"The Price is Inclusive: The product prices shown in British Pounds (£) on the Peruvian Connection UK site are fully inclusive of UK Import VAT and Customs Duty. You will not see hefty taxes tacked onto your bill at the final stage of checkout."

So if the search engine doesn't make you rip your hair out by the roots, the Peruvian Connection prices should be the total price with no unexpected extra 150 quid charge before you can get UK customs to release their hold on your parcel. I may have to go back and spend a while checking out all their bright colours.

Could be worse though, https://www.aethel.com/ doesn't seem to have any kind of search option at all.

I would think If I see someone 3 days in a row with the same cardigan on, makes me think they don’t change their clothes very often. I say a darker neutral because you can dress it up with colors and it looks like completely different outfits

https://www.landsend.co.uk/Womens_Merino_Crew_Neck_Cardigan/pp/P_44034.html?dwvar_P__44034_sizeVariation=59&dwvar_P__44034_color=QK7&cgid=11318&pageType=fp
This Lands End one is Merino and available in lots of colours

I am also a cardigan/cashmere lover - and second this recommendation. I have the Aethel crucial cardigan in Barolo www.aethel.com/products/crucial-cardigan?Color=Barolo&Size=M and it is my favourite and most worn cardigan ever, the cashmere is just beautiful and a different level from high end high st ones. I would love to get the spruce and agree it’s a neutral.

I would also try the 16-18 in the Brora one you link OP, sizing really is tiny.

Otherwise &Daughter is on my wish list - their knits are wool but as soft as cashmere.

Men's Lambswool Cardigan - Bottle Green - Community Clothing

No suggestions for a cardi, but just wanted to congratulate you on your astounding weight loss journey. How lovely it must feel to be a healthy weight and enjoy the freedom that brings you.

I still haven't managed to pick an expensive cardigan yet, there are so many lovely ones to choose between, and I only have my old age pension so I can't be making impulse purchases in that price range.

Thanks for the link to the merino cardigan at Lands End, while there I spotted this longer merino cardigan with pockets for £36 and decided it might be just the thing to fill my green cardigan vacancy while I ponder all the other more expensive and luxurious options. Perhaps I can find a 6 ply cashmere or baby alpaca cardigan in cobalt blue instead, cobalt blue is another neutral when I make the rules!

edited to add the link. I begrudge changing the buttons on a cheap cardigan a lot less than if I've paid upwards of three hundred quid for the privilege.
www.landsend.co.uk/Womens_Merino_Diamante_Button_Cardigan/pp/6440826.html

You could try Uniqlo (merino or cashmere in a range of colours) or wool overs.

I don’t know what it’s like now, but Landsend cashmere used to be excellent. I have a navy blue boxy cashmere sweater from there that must be at least 12-15yrs old and is still going strong and still looks good.

Meant to mention in my earlier post that I would avoid ‘gauzy cashmere’ and brushed cashmere, it’s been my experience that neither wash or wear well.

the cardigan is nice but the 'model' looks as though his Chalfonts are throbbing

Community Clothing are brilliant, not only great quality knitwear but their customer service is good too.

I had to google "Chalfonts" and am delighted to learn a new snippet of rhyming slang in my old age. He does too!

Having looked at the link again I now have a hankering for a Piccalilli Yellow cardigan "made in Scotland using exceptional quality lambswool yarn." Not that I have anything to wear it with, and it would probably make me look like a pustule, but it's such a happy colour. Perhaps something to keep in mind for next spring?

Charming! I take it you didn't mean Chalfont St Peter,

Chalfont St Giles (rhymes with piles ...). Can't think of a body part that rhymes with Peter!!

https://www.busbyandfox.com/products/dina-chunky-knit-cardigan-khaki

I have this is cream. It's beautiful.

Btw @stealthsquirrelnutkin - there's a category above baby alpaca called royal alpaca ...

Though no baby alpacas were harmed, or even involved, in the production of either! The terms just relate to the fineness & softness of the fibres, which usually come from the neck/shoulders/back of animals no more than two years old.

Mostly synthetic though, which the OP does not want.