Ask Angie: JCrew linen tee / sweaters sizing - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: JCrew linen tee / sweaters sizing

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I would like to order some linen tees and sweaters from JCrew as I need simple tops to layer under jackets for summer. I am thinking of ordering these but not sure about sizing - do I need to order XL or L? I got XL in Tippi merino sweaters and love the fit but I also tried some other JCrew sweaters and XL was way too big even for fluid fit.
Angie, have you seen them in person? Do you know if those sweaters / tees fit similar to merino Tippi so I should order XL or run bigger so L should be fine? JCrew returns are so ridiculously expensive that I would like to avoid them.
Another question: do you think any of those would work with that cream Zara jacket and which colors? I found that I need more tops I can wear with it if I am to keep the jacket (which I am leaning towards...)
Thanks!

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Sveta

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sveta, not Angie, obviously -- but I own these linen tees. I own extra small and they are plenty fluid, which you can see in my photos from my thread this week (wearing navy, neon pink, and white on different days.) I bought them on sale earlier this year and they are a complete staple of my summer wardrobe. I do find that I need a tank or cami underneath for modesty if in public. It is possible I could go without with the darker colours but i just feel more comfortable with one because the linen is sheer. It's weird, because I have another (lighter coloured) J. Crew linen tee that is just as sheer but I don't feel I need a cami with that one due to the pattern on the front, which seems to hide all.

Any of these colours would look great with the Zara jacket. These have really become my replacement t-shirt, since I don't wear regular tees.

The linen sweater is also gorgeous and that colour would be amazing on you. I have the same sweater in a V neck. I am tempted to get this one also in the aqua or mushroom colour (got an opinion which would be better?) I ordered this one in small for an oversized fit, which I wanted here.

I don't own a Tippi sweater. I ordered one in x-small in the merino, and it fit but did not feel fluid enough for my current preference so I sent it back. So I would say that these linen tees and even the linen sweaters fit more fluid than the merino Tippi.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA: I meant the neon lilac sweater would be gorgeous on you. I think the other colour would also be beautiful on you.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Ah Suz, I hoped you will chime it. It is from your posts I got the idea of those sweaters and tees.
Would you say that tee runs more fluid that the sweater? What about the length - are they of the same length?
I am fine to wear cami under them, I need it for A/C in the office anyway.
What would you say is the difference between the sweater and tee? Which one do you like better? White is available in both styles, which one to get? As I have not seen any of them in person it is so hard to decide...

As for the color for you - mushroom would work for you as a shade of taupe, right? As for aqua - do you wear pastel blues well? I don't remember seeing you in any of them so it may be fun to try - I really like pastels with white now. For me it would be a risky color as I look really bad in some pastel blues but I was thinking that even if it is not my best color it may still be a good option with white.

This azalea tee is available in XL only now so based on your sizing can be too big for me. What do you think about this petal color - I hope it is more blush or peach that soul sucking beige...

Linen boatneck tee

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

That's almost a dusty rose colour to my eye -- a little warmer, maybe. Not soul sucking beige. If it works, it will work brilliantly. But it does feel a little risky. I guess it is similar to blush in that respect -- hard to predict. I think XL in this could work for you if you are wearing a cami and don't mind oversized. It drapes terrifically so is easy to size up in without issue.

The tees and sweaters are quite different. Note, my sweater is a V-neck in garment dye -- I'm not sure if the other sweaters are similar. I think the V-neck is the longest of the three -- I'll put it in this post so you can compare.

The sweater is a heavier gauge knit than the tee. Still sheer and light, but a definite "sweater" vs. a "t-shirt." The linen tees are shorter (but not super short...on me they come close to crotch point, I think -- you can see in the pictures).

I don't think the tee runs more fluid than the V sweater. If anything, the sweaters are cut more square and boxy -- the tee is loose, but shaped like the body.

I just wanted an oversized fit in the sweater so ordered up. (Plus, I was a bit hesitant about sweater fit after finding the Tippi in my regular size too fitted for my current taste).

Also, there is "wiggle room" with the tee, because you can wet it and stretch it out a bit on a hanger if you want more fluidity.

I like both the sweaters and the tee. The tee is much easier to wear as a layering piece under a jacket. The sweater feels more like a topper in itself -- but that, again, is the V neck sweater, which is longer in the back -- the boatneck sweater has a different cut and might feel more versatile. The V-neck (oversized as I got it) almost feels like a boyfriend sweater. Whereas the tee feels like an under-jacket layering piece that can also stand very well on its own.

Linen V-neck sweater in garment dye

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Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Suz. I like the V-neck in neon amethyst color you got but unfortunately it is gone in my size (and now completely gone!)
There are a couple more options I am attaching here - I know you have not seen them but maybe Angie did? This blind online ordering without free returns is SOOO painful!
I hope Angie will chime in with her wisdom!

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Inge

(website)

Hi Sveta,

I don't own any linen tees from J.Crew so can't help with that (but love the idea of you getting a few for your warm weather). I do have the same linen V-neck sweater as Suz, in the same colour. It's a gorgeous colour that -- on my computer screen -- looks exactly as it shows up in Suz's recent posts.

I ordered the XL, and it is boxy for sure but I love the fluid fit. It's a high-low hemline and I just checked for you: on me the front hits me right on the hipbone, the back ends at the middle of my bottom.

I've also measured the sweater for you, laying flat, measured the front:
- width right beneath the arms: 66 cm (about 25.9 inches)
- length in the front from top of the shoulder: 62 cm
- length in the back from top of the shoulder: 66 cm (about 24.4 inches)

I hope this helps a bit. And do let me know if you need me to measure anything else.

Inge

(website)

I've also been eyeing that drop shoulder sweater in indigo. No idea about the fit though. To me it looks quite roomy in the photo too, but the sleeves look narrower. The pullover also collapses back onto the body and that too creates structure.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Ah Inge, you are a sweetheart - thank you! I LOVE that color but it is gone! I hope that the crewneck sweater is in the same color (it has the same name anyway) If you compare the length to the Tippi sweater is it about the same or longer? (I hope longer...)

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Just chiming in here, as I was thinking about purchasing one of those linen J. Crew tops myself. Suz (and anyone else), how do they wash up? One of the reviews on the j. Crew website said it stretched all out of shape. I have some linen tees from the Loft last year that did that, so I'm a little worried about these.

Inge

(website)

My pleasure!
I just compared the two sweaters. The Tippi and the linen V-neck are the same length in the front* when laying flat, and the linen V-neck is about 2 inches longer than the Tippi in the back.

* The linen V-neck will be a little longer in the front than the Tippi when you put it on though because the Tippi has a welted hemline, I always "pull that up a little and then let the sweater blouson over itself" (not the correct way to say that in English, I know), so it's shorter than when you would pull the sweater all the way down. The linen sweater doesn't have the welt, so it hangs straight down, which makes it longer, if that makes sense.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sveta, sounds like Suz and Inge have sorted you out. Thanks, wonderful ladies.

I've fitted on the drop shoulder swing top - it runs HUGE. The XXS was still oversized on me. Very fashionable.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Inge! It does make sense. The problem is that that crew neck sweater has a different hemline (not split) so it may lie differently as well.
Hmmm, what a gal to do?!
Karie, I don't have them yet but my understanding is that you need to shape the linen item after washing - the way you do with wool- and do not dry it on high (I would air dry mine if I get it).

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Angie. What about the sleeves on the drop shoulder one? Are they pretty narrow? I feels that I would need L in it rather than XL - do you think the length should work for me?
Angie, have you tried on this one? Both Suz and Inge gave their help for V-neck but it is not available and this one is a different style. Would you recommend this one for me?

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The arm fit is quite narrow on the dropped shoulder style, Sveta. The length should be fine.

And love the high-low hem linen sweater for you. xo

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Karie, I air dry mine and shape them. Like wool. Also, a bit of stretch does not bother me on these since I prefer them to fit fluidly in the first place.

deb

Veteran

Karie, I have the linen pocket tee and throw it in the washer and dryer. I did size up so it is a bit over sized still.

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Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Angie, one more question: have you seen this color in person? I hope it may be my blushy-peach tee for summer to wear with white but colors are so tricky on the screen. Do you think it can work for me or is it too warm?

Linen boatneck tee

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