Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Poor Man's Cardigan


Angora Goats
I <3 Target's Mossimo.
Cardigans are articles of clothing that are most assuredly splurge-worthy, up there with leather boots & shoes, coats, and handbags.  Everyone should have one awesome cardi.  I am still working on that part of my wardrobe.  My problem is, I want the J.Crew cardi, made of Tibetan Angora goats wool but only baby Angora goat kids tended and sheared by experienced Sherpas from nice families with cosmetology degrees.  You know, to ensure that the wool is woolier.  Anyway, in these days of, "The economy is doing WHAT NOW?!  IF YOU TELL ME ONE MORE DISTRESSING THING ABOUT THE STOCK MARKET MY EARS WILL BLEED!", a $300 mohair cardi in the sweltering state of Texas is so far out of my sights of important things to do, the cardigan is like Thelma and Louise holding hands careening off my cliff's edge of priorities.  When it comes to clothes, I either want the really sweet luxury Tibetan Baby, degreed Sherpa wool version or a practically free version, and Mossimo offers a great practically free version.  Let's review:


J.Crew but $300

Mossimo and $25

Close up

Style can either be looking at a long list of things you can't have, or being creative while playing the game of Look What I Got and Guess How Much I Paid For It?  I really like this alternative.  Only downside is, the sweater is 5% Angora and my skin is still trying to decide whether or not to be allergic to it, so we'll see how that plays out.  Sidenote: "Angora" refers to Angora rabbit wool, no relation to Angora goats - well, related in that they both originate from Ankara, Turkey.  Angora goats are the source of mohair yarn, one the oldest textiles in the world.  Mohair is known for its luxuriousness, wicking properties, being wrinkle-proof, and flame resistant.  Angora rabbit wool is known for its unbelievably soft fluffiness and being super itchy for people like me.  Hopefully, the allergy chills because I love this baby.  Mossimo, in spite of your cardi not being flame-retardant (lame) I tip my hat to you.

7 comments:

E. Studnicka said...

Lucky rabbits. They get to wear angora without paying a penny!

Meghan McNally said...

And presumably they are not allegic to themselves. I hope not anyway.

Louise said...

Okay, this is so weird. Patty came over yesterday wearing the exact Target cardigan. I freaked and almost pulled it off her.

Meghan McNally said...

Well, it IS a fabulous buy. If Patty was also twitching with itchiness but still insisted on wearing it the similarity would be positively uncanny!

E. Studnicka said...

If they were allergic to themselves, I would feel a lot better about wearing angora...

kristy said...

both cardigans are super cute! i can definitely see why you are lusting after the jcrew one, but you're right, style is about being creative with what you can afford and i think the mossimo cardigan is both cute and an awesome price. assuming it doesn't make you itchy.

i'm not allergic to angora, but sometimes all the synthetic materials that they throw into the mix will make me itch. so, i know how you feel.

Vogue Gone Rogue

Meghan McNally said...

Seriously! I am a textile fanatic. Mohair is moisture-wicking, stretch/wrinkle/flame resistant! I am starting to think I am incredibly backwards NOT owning anything mohair. *sigh*