Everlane Alpaca Sweater Review

I doubt I was the only one who was intrigued when Everlane announced that they’d be launching a sweater made from alpaca wool. And the lead up created a bit of hype (in my eyes at least…); dreamy, cuddly and soft, it sounded too good to resist. Winter may be over, but the type A personality in me is already mapping out my A/W ’19 wardrobe, and the Everlane alpaca sweater looked like an upgrade on the H&M one I bought earlier this year.

Wearing c/o Everlane alpaca sweater, ASOS denim skirt (similar), c/o Everlane cocoon coat, Isabel Marant belt, Vaneli two tone pumps (also here), Linjer crossbody purse (review here), Madewell earrings, Linjer petite watch, Mejuri necklace

And surprisingly, I’ve already found more than a few excuses to wear it. My wardrobe has been doing backflips throughout what has been an unseasonably mild spring, despite summer being literally around the corner. Suffice to say, my transitional wardrobe has been ‘doing the most’, and it only made sense to throw this sweater into regular rotation too.

QUICK FACTS

Price: $95USD
Available in six colours: Heather Black, Cool Pink, Heather Charcoal, Heather Grey, Tang, and Heather Blue
Made in: Fujian, China
Fabric: 60% alpaca, 30% nylon, 10% wool
Care: Dry clean

SIZE & FIT

SIZE: Generally speaking, I find that Everlane tends to run slightly large across the board, and while it’s also true of their knitwear (for that boxy, loose silhouette), I prefer to stick to my usual size in most other brands: a size small. And, that’s exactly how I decided to play it with the Everlane alpaca sweater. Though, at some point I must have missed the memo that it’s already an oversized style. It’s designed to be loose through the body with billowy blouson style sleeves. For a bit of sizing reference, I am usually an AU6 or AU8 in most items, and consistently wear a size 25 jean.
FIT: As I mentioned, the Everlane alpaca sweater is an oversized fit, so if you’re after something that is cut a little closer to your body, then you’ll want to size down. The sweater nips in at the wrist and the hips, which work to create a bit of volume – or in the case of the sleeves, drama. The hemline falls across the hip (or halfway down the bum), which I personally find is most flattering when worn tucked into a mid or high rise trouser or skirt. It can be a little tricky to tuck in as there is quite a bit of material, so what I’ve found best is just tucking the bottom 1-2 inches on the sweater into the waistband of my jeans or skirts, leaving the rest to billow out in a very relaxed way.

QUALITY

FABRIC COMPOSITION: The Everlane alpaca sweater is composed of 60% alpaca, 30% nylon and 10% wool. To be honest, I was a little surprised when reading the fabric content as I’d assumed it would be 100% alpaca. The fabric is very lightweight and airy (it literally feels like it doesn’t weigh a thing), it has a lovely drape to it, and a lot of give. There’s a fluffy, textured look to the yarn, and it feels quite soft to the touch (though a little more on this later). However, I’m not sure if it’s due to the wool content or combination with the addition of nylon fibres throughout the weave, but I did find that the fabric did feel a little itchy when worn against my bare skin. If your skin is quite sensitive, this may be a deal breaker for you.

DETAILS: Perhaps my favourite details of the sweater are the subtle rib design throughout, and the plush trim at the neckline. Aside from that, it’s a pretty up and down design – it’s an elevated basic that does feel quite luxurious, and unlike anything else I own.

STYLING TIPS

01 | with a denim mini

This is my go-to styling combination for pretty much e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g, and I really loved how the Everlane alpaca sweater looks when worn against washed denim. There’s a bit of contrast there between the luxe looking weave of the knit, and the ‘worn’ nature of the denim. I tend to like a denim skirt that’s a little more fitted, as opposed to an a-line style, as I think that it helps to dress up the silhouette a little.

02 | with tailored trousers
I like to have a bit of juxtaposition in my outfits; it helps to keep things interesting. A sweater like this worn with tailored trousers and heels is the very definition of this. The sweater screams ‘relaxed’, while the trouser and heel combo are refined, making the two the perfect pairing if you wanted to incorporate a sweater like this into a workwear setting.

03 | with slip dresses
The final styling tip I thought I’d share with this sweater, is to pair it with a silky slip dress. Thrown over the top, left loose or belted at the waist, it creates a bit of intrigue. Plus I love the mix of textures.

FINAL VERDICT

I’ve really put the brakes on ‘switching up my wardrobe’, and reverted back to a basic, minimal style in the last few months. And what I’ve really loved about this sweater is that it’s been the perfect addition to complement what’s currently in my closet. It’s a more high end and high quality alternative to a H&M sweater I already own (minus the mock neck detail), and I really like the no frills design. Its simplicity is what has me anticipating that it’ll get a lot of wear come A/W 2019.

The fabric is super lightweight but I’ve found on days when I have worn it, I’ve felt warm and cosy. The airy feel of the fabric is almost like wearing a big hug.

And then there are those sleeves. As basic as the design is, the blouson sleeves are something special, and I really like how they bunch up when I push the sleeves up to my elbows. It creates volume but feels really well balanced against the silhouette of the body.

But is the Everlane alpaca sweater softer than Everlane’s cashmere? Well, I have to say, no. It’s a little tough to judge as the textures and the weight of the fabrics are quite different, but ultimately I do feel that the cashmere is softer than the alpaca. What the alpaca sweater has over the cashmere is the weight. It feels almost like wearing a cloud; virtually non-existent, whereas the cashmere tends to be a little thicker and heavier throughout.

I think a bit of this has to do with the fibre mix in the yarn. The alpaca sweater has nylon and wool fibres running throughout, the latter of which I think gives it a slightly rough, scratchy texture despite its underlying softness. I have quite sensitive skin; I’m prone to eczema and dermatitis, so I find I’ll get irritated by materials more so than others might. The alpaca sweater did itch me on all occasions I wore it, regardless of whether I wore a light layer underneath (this tee), or wore it bare against my skin. I can’t say that this is quite a deal breaker for me. Come winter time, I’ll be wearing this with long sleeved tops underneath, so I can’t see my skin getting quite so irritated, but it probably will make me think twice about wearing it a lot throughout the transitional season where I’m layering a lot less. As much as I love the Everlane brand, I will admit I was a little disappointed by this as I was expecting something that felt a very comfortable against my skin after the sweater was introduced on social media.

Also, I just want to mention that the tag says dry-clean only. While I will hand wash my cashmere, I’m not too familiar with how alpaca fibres fare in cold water. The way I plan to tack this is by hanging it on the line to air it out in between wears, and get it dry-cleaned a couple of times throughout the A/W season to keep it fresh.

All in all, I think it’s a really lovely sweater, and a great basic for the colder months. I like that the silhouette isn’t as boxy as some of Everlane’s other sweater styles, and the balloon-like sleeves are a major winner with me. The lightweight fabric does feel dreamy, and even though it’s not quite as soft as cashmere, it’s pretty up there. It’s great to see that Everlane are making strides to source alternative fabrics to cashmere, which has put a strain on the industry (and in my opinion, seen quality decline across the board). Cashmere is prone to pilling, whereas alpaca is resistant to it, which means that this sweater is going to continue to look new even with repeated wears. And despite the fact that I found the fabric a little itchy, I can definitely see myself investing in the heather black – when I find a style I like, I’m inclined to pick it up in a second neutral colour (though I’d probably size down next time, as the small is very oversized on me).

Have you tried the Everlane alpaca sweater? What did you think? x