Advice for a warm top to live in during mild winters
I was hoping could help me figure out what should I look for.
I want a something that I could throw on by default when I wake up on lazy days when I stay at home and only take it off before going to bed. Maybe throw and extra jacket on if I need to go to the supermarket and it’s cold. I have an old poly-cotton blend hoodie that I have been using so far that is… fine. But I’m looking to invest into something that feels nicer, don’t have to wash often and that will lasts years without having to be very careful with it.
It feels my only option is a thick wool. Something like cashmere is fragile and expensive, merino pills easily (but not as fragile as cashmere?) but the shirts I have do not feel very comfy (maybe a higher quantity/with a thick knit will feel better?). That leaves something like lambswool, but everything I’ve tried feels itchy, so I’m scared of ordering something without touching it first.
Another thing I’m worried about is that a thick knit, from the likes of North Sea Clothing, is that it will be too warm. My home doesn’t have insulation nor central heating, so when I’m lazing at home, it feels even colder that when I step outside.
My target temperatures are 10-18C, and I was looking to spend around 200€, but could stretch it a couple hundred more if it’s worth it. What material should I look for? Thickness? Some examples?
Thanks in advance.
28 Replies
Cashmere merino and lambswool are just materials, there's lots of variety. The same way cotton can be jeans, a dress shirt, thick, thin, etc.
You could try a fleece jacket or a down jacket, both are plenty warm and are easier to care for than wool. Outdoors brands like North face will have these
wool sweater with a layer under if it makes you itchy.
personally anything >10c is wear a flannel shirt or hoodie territory
I have a couple of hoodies, but my problem with them is they stink after a while
From what I’ve read, with wool it should be able to last till the end of season without too much stink, which is preferable for me vs cotton/poly
But with thinner stuff I dont know how I will handle at around 10C with them, and viceversa with the thicker stuff
https://northseastore.myshopify.com/collections/wool-knitwear/products/the-new-expedition-shawl-ecru And something like that doesnt look very thick, but from online reviews Im unsure if I will survive in them at ~18C
North Sea Clothing
THE NEW EXPEDITION SHAWL - ECRU
Description Fit Guide Care The New Expedition Shawl collar revisits a style we made some time ago. One of our orig
Wool can go a very long time without stinking, I have 8 year old wool socks that still don't smell
Poly gets stinky, pure cotton shouldn't
I think you just gotta try things for yourself, everyone has different needs and what's too warm for you might not be for someone else
My brother in Christ wash your clothes when they smell
Thats the point, the less they smell the less I have to wash them
the only good answer I can give there is that natural fabrics are your friend then
For 20C you don't need thick wool unless you run cold. Do you run cold?
Not cold enough for thick wool, but I was looking to have a single piece for the whole range
Like wear a tshirt at home, and if Im cold put on the a sweater or something and be fine until ~10C and not be in a limbo where Im too cold for just the tshirt but not too warm for the sweater, without having to have 2 pieces
Feel like a nice chunky cardigan fits the bill here and just throw on a thin layer underneath to combat any itchiness
this is too scientific/prescriptive of an approach, realistically it's not going to be that seamless
Yeah, keeping a cardigan open at the upper range seems smarter than a sweater. I’ll try it, thanks!
This is what I was expecting, but wanted to ask anyways
My answer to this is an overshirt. For that temperature range I would recommend thick cotton if you run cold, or linen if you run warm. Wear it open when it's warm, close all the buttons when cold.
I really like my sashiko cotton field jacket. Eg https://epauletbrand.com/products/doyle-jacket-in-rope-dyed-indigo-sashiko or https://epauletbrand.com/products/field-jacket-in-rope-dyed-indigo-sashiko-pumice-washed
Epaulet Brand
Doyle Jacket in Rope Dyed Indigo Sashiko Sz 38
PLEASE NOTE: All markdown items are FINAL SALE. No returns and exchanges can be accepted for these items. Milled in Japan, our 13oz Rope Dyed Indigo Sashiko is a comfortable year-round cotton that's designed to fade beautifully with use. Considered the best method for Indigo treatments, our rope dyed yarns are twiste
Epaulet Brand
Field Jacket in Rope Dyed Indigo Sashiko Pumice Washed
PLEASE NOTE: All markdown items are FINAL SALE. No returns and exchanges can be accepted for these items. This Pumice Washed garment goes through a three stage process for aging. It's washed with coarse stones, bathed in an enzyme soak, and then treated with silicone. The result is an authentic light blue patina and g
My wool field jacket is a little warm for 20C if outdoors in sunlight but fine if it's dark or indoors. Eg https://www.spierandmackay.com/product/green-guncheck---field-jacket-8178-fld2 (mine is a herringbone not gunclub)
Di Pray - Green Guncheck - Field Jacket | SPIER & MACKAY
Spier & Mackay
You basically just commit to opening it when warm and buttoning when cold.
Do you happen to know something like that for europe? $40 for shipping is kinda pricey
Particularly the cloth + color
I actually do not but I can promise there are tons making overshirts of various sorts in europe. I mean, the chore coat is french, right? I just don't know their names off-hand .......
https://www.unionclothing.co.uk/collections/le-laboureur/products/le-laboureur-wool-work-jacket-ecru la Laboureur make their chore jacket in wool
Union Clothing
Le Laboureur Wool Work Jacket - Ecru
The Le Laboureur Wool Work Jacket is a timeless classic. Made in France by a family ran company and still using traditional methods, these jackets get better with age. Made with 100% Wool. Colour - Beige
Ayyyy that was the exact one I was racking my brain to remember!
They're good, I have one in moleskin and love it
I meant something similar to the fabric (I think I mean weave) of the blue overshirt
Like this close shot is beautiful, I think this is what they mean by shashiko?
Or is this pattern actually common in cotton overshirts? The ones I’ve seen locally are either zipped hoodies or denim jackets, so I’m unsure
That's a sashiko fabric
Yep that's sashiko. I don't know who makes jackets with it in europe.
Thank you both!