Okay, fine, there is no such thing as “perfect” in this sartorial world we inhabit. And probably not everyone should own this sweater. Link-baity headline? Guilty as charged. BUT. This sweater from L.L. Bean flies under the radar, but it’s actually an awesome piece that I think should be highlighted.
To start, it’s 100% organic cotton, which many people find more comfortable than wools, oftentimes myself included. This also means it’s lighter, and not quite as insulating as wool, which makes it perfect for people that run hot (myself included), or want something better for the cooler days of fall or the warmer days of winter. Meaning, this is the ideal sweater for most days that aren’t absolutely blisteringly cold.
Details? Well, it’s a sweater. But it comes in a variety of great colors, each with an almost marled look to it. The cuffs and torso hem are ribbed, which is a must for me. (For whatever reason sweaters that do not have ribbing at the cuff or bottom hem bother me aesthetically.) The biggest draw of these sweaters, though, is obviously the texture — rich, beautiful, elegant, and quite unique, especially for cotton — and the awesome rollneck. On that note: this is not a turtleneck sweater. This wears like a crewneck, but with a bit more flair, I suppose you could say. Indeed, this is certainly more of a casual piece than anything I would dress up too much. More than that, even, is the fact that this sweater is quite chunky, and wears on the heavier/work-wear side. All good things, of course, but just know what you are getting into.
The fit is traditional, and leans roomy, but I find sizing down puts you in a great place if you’re a slimmer guy like myself. In an ideal world would I have this cut a touch slimmer? Yes. But only a touch, and as a casual piece to throw on with jeans on a lazy Sunday running errands, I can’t think of a more perfect piece for the cooler months. It’s a great piece from a great heritage brand. Check it out!