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| Our Birdseye Sweaters |
Being preppy is not about race, gender, geography, or socio-economic status. It is about an ineffable combination of attributes, beliefs, and aesthetics, hinted at on these pages and others.
But as I have been asked by a few to come up with a quiz "are you preppy," perhaps I can do it in one question:
Look at this picture. Does it:
A) Excite you? (Preppy tendencies)
B) Invoke a gag reflex? (Normal)
As I have been swapping out our summer clothes for fall I noticed that, over the last few decades, I have often leaned towards birdseye sweater purchases. While the default is Navy with White, I also appreciate some of the variations. L.L. Bean has been the single biggest source of course, but I have also bought some favorites from Hanna Andersson.
It is hard to find a good birdseye sweaters lately, a market vaccuum that hopefully will be filled in the next year or so. Until then, I am happy I stocked up, and am enjoying greatly the advent of <a = "bronx accent">sweater weather</a>.
30 comments:
No wonder I can't find my wonderful L.L. Bean sweater on their website anymore. You bought them all.
I jest, of course. I actually went on a rant with L.L. Bean over the phone and email about why they have gotten rid of some traditional sweaters that seem to sell like gangbusters, to no avail.
I might just have to hijack your closet for a couple of sweaters, what size do you wear? Probably smaller than me.
As for the answer to the question. Letter A, definitely A.
I love birdseye sweaters, but why so many?? They last forever, wear and wash well, and look better with age. I don't understand your stash!
O. M. G.
I greatly regret not stocking up! I had the navy Norwegian sweather 20 years ago or so and got rid of it.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that the L.L. Bean Christmas catalog will have what I want. For now, I simply cannot find it.
This reminds me...I didnt see on in their latest catalog. I was thinking I might get a green on this year if it pops up!
Oh and it made me swoon so I fall into category A :O)
A is my answer, as I do admire your stockpile! Had I ever known that clothing wouldn't have been made/sold now as it was then, I probably would've done the very same thing. I'm dismayed at the selection available in the fall catalogs (including LLB) I received this week.
I hope you all are recovering from the hurricane damage. It seems to have hit NE worse than the mid-Atlantic.
I share your love for the traditional Norwegian sweaters, such as in your picture. They are increasingly difficult to find, but if well-made last a long time and are great value.
--TJ
I was practically on the floor laughing! I've known way too many people in my life who fall into the "B" category.
Love. :-) XOXO
That is a fantastic photo. In so many ways.
Just got the Fall L.L. Bean catalog today... I was hoping it would have some stuff that they hadn't put on the website yet, but no. If they have some of the traditional sweaters at all, I think they reserve them for the Christmas catalog. I would also like one of those Swedish sweaters (the L.L. Bean name escapes me now... Muffy is wearing one on the post about turtleneck scrunchiness.) They do have a Fair Isle sweater, but it is only available with a shawl collar.
One thing good I can say about L.L. Bean is that their pima cotton items (turtlenecks, tees, boatneck tops) are some of the nicest cotton items I have ever found. The sizes and finish stay true after many washes.
Today was definitely sweater weather. It didn't top 59 degrees. I love it!
Swooning over your collection! I just bought another birdseye on ebay, but I have my eye on your cardigans!
Madeline
Aka Muffy
i was lucky enough to find an oldish navy/white LLBean cardigan at a thrift last year. i like the looks of the hannas, but they are cotton and i remain a lover of wool.
I'm green with envy! I'm currently looking for a replacement ragg wool sweater, which no one seems have in smaller sizes. I've learned a valuable lesson from you -- when you find what you like, stash!
Cheers,
Bitsy
I'm a little upset with Bean and their getting rid of the classic navy Norwegian. And I think I can answer Anonymous's question: you can never have too many birdseye sweaters!
I'm reminded of the story about Mrs. Malcolm Peabody, the bishop's wife. When her daughter-in-law who was planning a trip to England asked whether she'd like a sweater from England as a gift, she said, "No, thank you, I already have a sweater."
Dear Muffy,
You're sort of the Tea Party of clothing (and thank God for it)! Now LL Bean is almost all icky polyester style clothing, as is Orvis. I don't understand it. No one I know finds those styles appealing and they are trying to appeal to people who traditionally would never, ever have purchased clothing from those outfitters. They are totally alienating their traditional customer base. Other than canvas bags, I haven't bought anything from LL Bean in years. HHH
Yes, those sweaters are not as easy to come by these days. Also, where did you get the striped turtleneck in the previous post? I want one!
well that settles it, I am definitely preppy, lol!
@Maggie - It is this one from L.L. Bean. All they have left in the Navy is the XL, although they have been making so many of their garments for women smaller these days, so the XL probably isn't as large as it used to be.
I've had a LLB navy/white birds eye sweater for 20 years! when my first birds eye shrank in the closet my wife gladly took to wearing that warm classic. I did purchase another, I think it looks great under a Barbour jacket, also with cords and LLB boots! Always will be a Prep must have in my opinion!
I love that picture, everything is so tidily folded. I recently purchased both a green and blue from woolovers.us
My 70's-vintage Bean Norwegian re-emerged from hiding in the nose of our lobster boat when we went to sell her. 10 years or so spent in the fo'c'sle in a mud-encrusted duffle bag mattered not a jot--a quick trip to the cleaners and good as new, ready for another 25 years' faithful service!
"Fleece," (whatever that is), can't compare.
woolovers.com has the Men's Norwegian sweater in stock in all sizes. Navy or forest green.
I was speaking to some friends of mine about my closet and one said, "Wow, that sweater is atrocious." I merely blinked in confusion.
It's still ranging from 95-105 here in Texas. No birds-eye sweater for me yet.
Could you add a third option:
C) Make you itch?
I grew up in these sweaters and do love them, but sometimes they were like a hair shirt.
Time to unpack the wool sweaters, including my very old Bean birdseye cardigan, missing button.
Okay this has taken a while because I had to work it out and wasn't sure who geeky it would sound.
Not only did I do a little squee of joy at the pictures of the sweaters, I have just about 100% sorted how to program one of my knitting machines to copy several of those lovely birdseye patterns.
Greetings from a cotton lover..wool makes me itch! Long ago I had a traditional birdseye cotton sweater, navy/white from some shop in NH.....it did shrink.....looking for another....please help with sources....Linda at ljp58172@verizon.net.....thanks for suggestions
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