Sweater dress or sweater?

Anonymous

What is your experience with sweater dresses?

I ask because I found a sweater dress that I really like! See photo 1.

The problem is that I've never worn one before and am worried about:

-a. how it will wear. Will it bag out or get pilly on the bottom?
-b. Proportions. I have short legs. Will this make them look shorter?

They have a similar item in sweater format (see photos 2 and 3) but it doesn't have the yellow sleeves, which I really like. But for wear and proportions, maybe the sweater is better?

This is a 100% wool item, and I'm fairly sure it's Woolmark merino, if that makes a difference.

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7 years ago

Shopping

30 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa Rayes

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have two - and it's ALL about the right boots and coat. If I didn't have tall dressy boots, or knee-length coats, I wouldn't wear the sweater dresses. You also have to be okay with hose.

Karen Millen

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7 years ago

Word Lily

Veteran

FWIW, I think if it is in fact 100% merino, that tells me a lot: Merino is a very bouncy wool. Most wool is bouncy, but merino is particularly bouncy. By bouncy in this instance, I mean that it tends to hold its shape, when you pull it down (or sit down), it will spring back up (as in, when you stand back up, for example. This is a very good thing for the dress's prospects and success in terms of not bagging out.

In terms of pilling ... merino isn't known as a durable wool, generally. It depends how it was handled, spun, and knit, how pilly it will be.

7 years ago

Zibbets

Veteran

I have two wool sweater dresses I have had for 6 and 8 years and love to wear. They have held up very well and haven't pilled or bagged. I think one is merino and the other one perhaps a different wool or wool blend. I wear a thin t-shirt under one because it can be a little itchy without it. One is from Gap and one from Loft. As Angie mentioned, I like to wear mine with tall boots and tights. They're WARM, so depending on your climate, they may work for you or not. You'll look taller if your tights and boots blend visually. They don't have to match, but you don't want high contrast.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Angie: I'm totally ok with hose AND I have the long boots for it AND the coat.

word lily. I'm glad you're back. I had no idea about merino being Bouncy, but now that I think about it, my thicker merino tops (where you'd experience bounce) DO actually retain their shape very well.

7 years ago

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I think you could absolutely pull off the dress.

7 years ago

Brooklyn

Veteran

I love them and would wear them more often if I had the climate for it. I have wool versions that have lasted for years. Be careful if you wear a cross body bag. The rubbing against your hip can cause pilling. I really like the sweater dress you have chosen. And it would look fab on you.

7 years ago

Diana

Veteran

I don't find that my sweater dresses pill any more than regular sweaters. (So, yes they will pill where your bag hits same as any other sweater but not in the seat or anything. I also don't find that they stretch out any more than regular sweaters, but I tend to wear mine on the loose (not body con) side.

I wear mine with leggings and tall/midcalf boots. although I'm not personally worried about leg shortening looks, I do think sweater dresses are actually leg lengthening most of the time, especially if you keep it on the shorter side (which is fine in terms of modesty because you'll be wearing hosiery and boots anyway).

7 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

I have four sweater dresses of various wool, cashmere and mixed materials. The pilling if it happens occurs where the dress rubs against another surface. Since I sit at work, if the chair is covered with fabric instead of leather or vinyl, the sweater dress will rub on my entire back side. This does cause some pills. I have a pill comb that brushes them off and the dress looks like new.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Thanks for your replies! I ended up ordering the dress and the matching scarf. Fingers crossed it works out.

7 years ago

Cee

Veteran

Yeah, go for it

7 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

Oh, I would be torn too! I love both. But the dress is way more unique. Go for it! I find sweater dresses very versatile if you have a long winter to deal with. Good with tights/hose, but can go casual with leggings too. Btw, do you have links for these? I basically can't resist a rugby stripe dress in any form...

7 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You will look great in this. The dress is gorgeous!!

7 years ago

Anonymous

Thanks Cee and Suz!
LaP: the brand is Lacoste. I would provide a link but it'll take you to the Canadian site.

They are having a 40% off sale which is why I'm buying winter things right now.

7 years ago

Joy

Veteran

I love my sweater dresses as cozy and warm. The only real pilling problem has been with acrylic in the fabric. I have merino, alpaca and a mix. The merino is one I got at a thrift store and after my years of wear it still looks pristine and no pilling or bagging.

7 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I like this for you Smittie, I have no experience myself although maybe I could do with one. I do have a sleeveless tunic dress that I have worn for two seasons (merino mostly) and it has worn well, with no pilling on the legs or bottom area. I would prefer it with sleeves to be honest - to remove the need to layer underneath!!

7 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

ORDER THE DRESS.

7 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I'm excited for you. I love the colors and style of both pieces. I have one wool sweater dress that is my winter Little Black Dress. It is warm, and it works for most occasions that I need a dress in winter. Mine hasn't stretched out at all. I wear it only maybe once or twice a year, though.

7 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

This dress is gorgeous. I love the yellow sleeves and so much prefer the dress to the sweater format. In addition, you probably have lots of sweaters, so this makes for a nice change. I have a wool sweater dress and love wearing it because it is so comfortable. I checked the label and it just said 100% wool (so not sure if it is merino or not), my dress washes well too.

7 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

The dress looks fab and also modern classic, so should have some longevity to be worn for several years. That's important to me for items that are quite seasonal but give me a particular look I love. Even sweater dresses all fit differently so I'd be picky, but if this one fits well, right length, it will be a great winter look.

7 years ago

viva

Veteran

I do not have a sweater dress but am tempted to order this one! (Although I am strictly limited from buying more dresses right now, so I will have to enjoy this one vicariously.) I love those yellow sleeves!!! I tend to think of sweater dresses with opaque tights and same-tone booties or tall boots; either way, streamlined and leg-lengthening. Can't wait to see this on you, smittie!

7 years ago

viva

Veteran

Just adding that I love the explanation of "bouncy" wool. So fun and so helpful.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Thank you Joy, Sally, Firecracker, Bijou, unfrumped and viva.

Angie: I ORDERED THE DRESS AND SCARF

In theory, with my very cold winters, this dress wouldn't be worn much except fall/spring. But I've been tracking our weather, and it is not the bitter cold/insane humidity binary weather I always think of. The reality is, there are many warm days in Dec, Jan, Feb, where this dress would be suitable.

7 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*happy dance*

7 years ago

Anonymous

I'm late to commenting.

I owned one. It was 100 percent cotton. I never had an issue with either pilling or stretching out. I adored how it fit and how it made me feel. The only problem is that it had buttons across one shoulder. The buttons were purely decorative. They clashed with all my jewelry and eventually I stopped wearing the dress. I think they are a great option and well worth considering.

7 years ago

Cee

Veteran

I actually thought the scarf was an oversized polo/turtleneck at first

7 years ago

Jennib12

Active Member

What a great dress! I haven't had one in my closet for a while, but I'm re-thinking that now! The last time I had one I found I needed "slippery-ish" (technical term) leggings or a slip to prevent it from creeping up when I walked. No biggie, though!

7 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

It's a beautiful dress and I am eager to know how you like it when you receive it.

7 years ago

April

Veteran

Love sweater dresses, especially now that retailers seem to have realized that they make the most sense when offered with long sleeves. Post some pics when you make an outift with yours!

I have several from Ann Taylor, which I love but which suffer from Ann Taylor Sizing Syndrome: the arms are TINY (hello, AT -- American women are not generally built like first-graders) and it pays to size up unless you're looking for a very body con fit. (I wasn't.) I had to exchange them all to get the sizing right. Also, they mix in a fair amount of acrylic, which ups that pilling factor.

7 years ago

Anonymous

Cee-Yes, I think the scarf looks good with the dress. A nice pair.
Jennib12: thanks for tip on the slip. I'll keep that in mind.
Sterling, Krish: thanks for commenting. We'll see how it turns out!
April: that's a shame about Ann taylor. I have short arms so it's never been a problem (lucky me, I guess?). Maybe they put 3/4 length sleeves on the sweater dresses on purpose? In that case, they are very seasonally confused!

This brand that I bought, Lacoste, is horrifyingly inconsistent. I've been a 32, 34, and 38. So when I say "fingers crossed it works out" I really do mean it.

7 years ago

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