diane it's from Free People - good eye for their look!

I dunno mtn - I would do more than hesitate at that price. I'm going to sound like a Grinch but that's not a message I would want to give to my kids even if I could afford it.

I found this one...might be a letdown from the one you posted. Not sure what's going on with the sleeves. https://www.limelush.com/sweaters/

Or, here's a shorter one.

Mtn, I picked the one below out for you because I think you would look casually glamorous da-link lol. Note: all of the above are priced in the forties so I have no idea of the actual quality.

Was going to say free people.

Almost $700 for a sweater. No definitely not. I like the colors.

For all the times I have been jealous of friends who have daughters to dress, I am now grateful ;-) I would have a very hard time walking the line of where to indulge and where to hold back.

Oversized sweater dress? I get a lot of plain colors with that though, so probably have to use another filter. Heck, just buy it. Looks like Anthro, or similar. They were having a 20% off sale if it still applies.

I swear, my DD also had a sweater similar to that in the 80’s also, lpink. It was some popular brand that escapes me now (maybe Esprit?), but she HAD to have it and I think it was a Christmas gift that year.

ETA: Oh wait! Did you say it was $700? I wasn’t keeping up. Uh, no, I wouldn’t buy it I don’t think. No, not a sweater. Not even one that ‘might be’ a dress.

Yikes, that is expensive. I saw this yarn on Etsy which reminds me of the sweater a bit. Pretty pricey, and I don’t know know how many skeins a sweater like that might require. Your DD has good taste!

I like the sweater and it is something I would have loved when I was young -- but not for that price. The style isn't classic enough for the indulgence. It is really a very simple garter stitch sweater in a bulky yarn with a twist or a combination of two yarns together. And at that price, the fiber and/or unique yarn is probably a fair bit of the cost. It' wouldn't be hard to make for someone who knits. A good bit of the work there is done by the yarn. The sweater is similar to this, just longer and add a cowl if desired (not in Texas -- LOL). I'll let you know if I spot a yarn. I was thinking of on but have not found it.

https://www.weareknitters.com/knitting-kit/knitting-levels/easy-level/nolita-sweater

Hmm, the Etsy lady says: The attached image of the sweater is absolutely gorgeous ! But we are not able to accept this request as it is a different yarn and craft.

I thought the term "craft" was interesting?

Anyway, yes, it is silly expensive. Lascatx put it well. Unlike, say, a navy cashmere blazer I bought DH once, "The style isn't classic enough for the indulgence." Although I do think someone who has presence could really always wear it. Esp. in person it is clearly not run of the mill. I tried it on too and I really liked it. Not, uhh, as a mini. : )

Funny, Free People is having a sale if you D/L their app --- 25% off over $500, until 10pm est (it was 4 hrs). Still too pricey. I will keep an eye on it and think about it. The one thing I will say is she takes very very good care of things. She has no idea I am even considering it.

I will join DLM and be a supergrinch. It;s a very attractive dress and it's your money so you can do whatever you decide to do -obviously.

But I do think that is truly over the top as far as $ and value and everything in that bag.$700 ? No.

Oh that reminds me so much of a sweater my father gave me for Christmas when I was 18. It wasn't that long, but similar knit, colors and style. I loved that sweater and wish I'd kept it-but of course, even if it would still fit, somehow I don't think it would have held up for 40 years!

Free People used to be a good brand 15 years ago. Used to have several favorite things from them(was easier then since I worked in a big high end store-I got my 25% or something off automatically..add some coupon-and within half a year, you've built a nice small quality wardrobe..))-and wore them for quite a few years. Still keeping a couple..sentimentality..

Maybe they still are. But 700$? I'm sorry but they fell off some tree..and hit their head..

It's a pity since I also felt like an enabler..it's a very nice woven dress, adorable, probably cozy as hell..I'm into sweater dresses myself.

but no.

I'm shocked they even have prices like that. Some collaboration, probably..

no, I checked, says "import". pretty vague..

Somebody did amazing job with it-and they don't name even where they're at, and hope to collect that kind of money

I'm waiting to be a mother of the bride if I'm willing to spend 700$ on a dress..

And I'm considered big spender))

Not because it's too unique. I would spend money for something unique,actually. If it's my unique..can work for 15 years too.

But they're just irrational with their pricing here

As somebody who briefly worked in a store..I have an idea how they start with the prices..and how willingly they go down in price if needed. Doesn't hurt them, obviously. Built in the initial price..all the future markdowns

Of course there'll be always exceptions. Items that fly off the shelves full price and all.

In this case though, I'd wait..

If you're truly, utterly in love

And it's easier to spend when it's a gift..I know that feeling

Buy her yarn and knitting lessons. ;-)

Jterri, you are funny, that last sweater is something I would def wear.

Sweaters can indeed last. I had one that my Mom wore just out of college, and I wore it when I went to college, 30 years later. It was chunky and a cardigan, and a combination of murky greens and grays. Kind of flamestitch or missoni like, but very irregular patterning. Wool and mohair.

April, I have bought some things from FP and I like the brand. We were walking after a college tour and I suggest we go in. She said "eh, they are so overpriced." I'd not really noticed before. They have lots of very reasonable stuff, and then a few wild cards!

Exactly that. They weren't cheap. But they weren't overpriced. Good quality, and all. If I still have it..bought when my son was 2..now he's in college..))

And prices reflected it more or less in a true way. Wasn't bewildering..made sense

What happens now? It's not only with them..it gets to me I guess because it's a general trend..

With some lucky exceptions of course

anyway, don't pay attention to me..it's my own personal rant..))

I'm mad because I truly like that dress..

lol

Maybe you can get Annie D to knit one for you. :) It looks like reverse stockinette stitch done in a heavy slubby yarn.

Donna

It would actually be very easy and fast (super thick yarn) to make. The potential issue may be that it will lose its shape quite quickly because of the thick and heavy yarn.

Could be this yarn:

https://knitcollage.com/collections/patterns-cast-away

Could just be purl; when you look closely at the back of the sweater, it looks like it's a bit pulling down between rows. Reverse stockinette looks a bit more even IMO.

All purl would make it even easier.

Agree -- it is either garter (all knit or all purl) or reverse stockingnette (alternates K/P butthe purl side is used as the "right" side. And the think and thin multicolor twist yarn above is the type I would expect it to be.

The sweater info only says "wool", but wool yarns can be anything from basic to luxurious,,,,and a thick, thin variegated twist like that could have different types of wool. It looks very soft, so I would expect merino and possibly some cashmere. If you can get a good sale price coming up, it might not cost much more than it could to make it, but lessons and yarn are never a bad idea for someone who appreciates fiber and texture.

Craftsy, We Are Knitters and Wool and the Gang all have beginner kits with chunky yarns and larger needles. You may even find some for finger or arm knitting (like those super chunky throws). Darn Good Yarn has some silk chiffon tape yarn they sell in kits for a finger/arm knit scarf, a crocheted tote bag and such. Most people find chunkier knitting in a light or colored yarn to be easiest for learning. Dark colors can be harder to see the stitch definition. Heavily textured yarns also.

(gosh, I'm always so cold in this freaking house-sunny SoCal and all but I spent almost all summer nights wearing socks AND flannels And something on the top, and now it's getting colder..and this dress seemed so warm and cozy.and then everybody started sharing about yarns..in short I just went(not too far..online I mean lol) and bought myself all sorts of flannels and socks and sleeping robe..Socks and sleeping robe, I do need..flannels, I could have waited with..

I hope at least some of them are too big or too small or something..

Dangerous thread, this one turned to be..))

Of course I had to look...it's only 26" long. That hardly qualifies as a mini dress or even a "tunic" IMO. In any case, I can't imagine it being worth that price unless some of the threads are platinum.

I love that etsy sweater, mtn. Would you share the artist name?

Ever hug someone and their watch or bracelet clasp catches on the back of whatever you're wearing and pulls a thread or creates a hole? Or the cat doesn't quite sheath its claws? When I see that sweater and think of what it costs, I think of little unexpected sharp things.

SueB, I don't know, she had it on and it was def a mini on her, like it is on the model. And i think she is almost 5'10" now. Maybe 26" is an error.

Here is the Esty source https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/RoseUniqueStyle?campaign_label=convo_notifications&utm_source=transactional&utm_campaign=convo_notifications_010170_10683759063_00amp;utm_medium=email&utm_content=&email_sent=1542414769&euid=wLoEnv7YJfHVTwDMxbQPC1N6eTTb&eaid=77188963&x_eaid=5c728f76b0

As far as other comments, you are all lucky you knit! I am not sure if liking a sweater would have anything to do with an interest in taking up knitting, and like most high schoolers she has no free time. I used to crochet but, like a lot of crafts, I was never interested enough to become truly skilled at it and I didn't want all those mediocre in-training projects around me!

That yarn someone posted above it just lovely. But one thing I notice about that sweater, that i do not see in more modest/normal/less ridiculously priced sweaters, is that there is almost no discernible, repeating pattern. It looks almost random throughout. Very unusual now that I am looking at such things.

For example, here is a quite similar sweater also from Free People. The patterning of the color is far less artful than in the one that cost >3x.

Anyway, I am still nosing around. Not necessarily looking for "that sweater" but a "special sweater." Two things have happened. I am now thinking that $300 is a bargain for a sweater (economists call this anchoring, and it happens to me all the time!). The other, somewhat related thing is that, while looking for a less expensive sweater, I have instead come to like many lovely sweaters for $1000, $1500 and more, that I ordinarily may not have come across (hint; keep the word "missoni" out of any search terms).

I think I am going to drop the whole thing. We tried it on and agreed it was gorgeous but too pricey and it is not like it ever came up in conversation again. Maybe I'm the one who really wanted it!

That's how I felt when looking for a dress. I didn't love anything below $600 or $700. I ended up buying a less pricey one that fit but I don't love. If I didn't really need a dress I would have dropped the whole search.

Mtn, if that dress fits you too and you could share it, then it is perhaps $350 for each of you ;)

Speaking of special sweaters - Mtn - were you able to get that beautiful sweater cleaned? The one you purchased in NM.

Yes, I did take it to a specialty cleaners'. You couldn't see where I spilled the champagne, so it wasn't like it had a stain. I wanted to preserve its unique "smoked" look, and it did. Whew.

I confess I have continued to shop. Anthropologie has some very nice sweaters, a huge selection. Mostly well-priced. (tho I did locate one of their exceptions, shopper that i am ...more on that later). Other places i looked that had nice selections were Toad & Co, Peruvian Connection (a bit older styles), and Garnet Hill. Gorsuch has gorgeous stuff too. Etsy has some nice things under "hand knit sweaters" but almost all of them are shipped from Eastern Europe and frankly that makes me wary --- and they were not cheap either. I also liked Saksoff5th, NMLastCall, NordstromRack and BarneysWarehouse, but learned you have to act very quickly. I lost something i had in my cart.

My new fave,the light blue and metallic one below is from Anthro, but it gets bad reviews and only comes in XS. She would take a M or a S, not an XS. Plus it is $448. But it did lead me to the brand Maiami, which I love. I emailed them about the second striped sweater below to see if they have a stockist in NYC or would send it direct; their direct prices, even w shipping/currency conv., are about 25% lower.

Only in XS and gets bad reviews.

Love this one if I can get it. She wears mostly neutral colors, she is the queen of navy, camel and grey. I think she would like the unexpected hint of olive and violet on this one.

This,from GH, does not have the same handmade artisanal vibe I wanted, but I know she would love the color and the back is so cute! Probably this will be the winner.

Oh I love that last one. Even though it doesn't strike that same artsy note I think the back makes up for it.

Mtn, have you looked at Sundance catalog?

Sheesh, I'd be in trouble if I lived in a cold climate. Sweaters (a good one) are so expensive.

I looked some more for a sweater similar to the original but had no luck. This one is $640 so not a big savings.

Acne Studio

Yeah , i saw that. Frankly, I don't think it looks half as nice. I also find Acne such an odd name. Does it have an alernate meaning? DD has a very nice pair of black slacks from them.

yes, DLM, it is not even the same mood, but i like it a lot and know she would

SueB, I did. Nothing particularly struck my fancy.

Are you on the free people mailing list? Maybe you can get a black friday or cyber monday deal.

for anyone curious --- Up until 1996, the word "acne" wasn't very fashion. Since Acne – which actually stands for Ambition to Create Novel Expressions – began, though, the label otherwise known as a common skin disorder has become distinctly hip. Jonny Johansson, one of the founders and now global creative director, has said he liked the idea of "appropriating a difficult word" and making it cool. Messing with us, basically. Now, though, Johansson, a soft-spoken soul sporting a MA1 flying jacket and Acne jeans, is a little embarrassed. "I wish we hadn't called it that," he says. "People said it was a weird name, and I agree with them." The brand's official title now is Acne Studios.

So, instead of pimple it's pimple rooms. Okay, that settles it!

Anyway, I don't even need a sweater but while looking I found two that would be on my dream list.

I like the second one! Where is it from. It reminds me of this one. When Is saw it, I was like, yes, I will get here that one. Then I saw the price, arggh... $798

I like that a lot Mtn! It's a lifetime style. My dream sweaters are just that...dreams. Both sweaters are Ralph Lauren, #1 is $400 and #2 is $1,550. Yikes!

https://www.ralphlauren.com/women-clothing?prefn1=CategoryCode&prefv1=Sweaters&webcat=women-clothing&viewallproducts=true

Boy howdy once I leave TjMax things get real CrAzY lol.

lol @justerrilynn. My thoughts always. :)

Saw these at Boscov's yesterday. Not nearly as nice as yours above, but similar colors and $29.99.

https://www.boscovs.com/shop/prod/preswick-moore-space-dye-knit-cowl-neck-sweater/62470.htm?utm_source=Google&utm_term=62470&utm_content=Ladies+>+Misses+>+Misses+Tops+%26+Sweaters&utm_campaign=CSE&cid=CSE:Google&scid=scplp30401218&sc_intid=30401218&adpos=1o35&utm_medium=CSE&gclid=CjwKCAiAuMTfBRAcEiwAV4SDkdutLbDQIB6C7xO4JJHfzeKEj3jkecRbRS8ZLb2dq608TYCR62io5hoCeP4QAvD_BwE

Thank, Beagles, for thinking of me! Those are cute.

Jterri, oh, no wonder i liked the second one.

Tartan and Justterri, The fact is, usually one can be perfectly happy spending far more reasonable amounts. I think Free People's pricing is borderline foul play. I don't think it is that common for a place that sells a lot of reasonably placed items to throw in a zinger like that. Even the salesperson remarked on the price. I probably would not have ambled into a store that was called "$700 and up Sweaters." Just like I don't take her shopping at a Chanel boutique.

Here's another idea: I've bought clothes online from Harrods or Harvey Nichols, and also from a boutique in Dublin (didn't pull the trigger when I was there and then couldn't find the dress here), for substantially less than in the US. They express ship for US 20-30.00 and don't charge the VAT. For example, the identical Emporio Armani dress was 543.00 with shipping vs 775.00 in the US. Just make sure to double and triple check the sizing.

Nosoccer, the Maiami brand is sold at Anthro and Madewell. On their site, they sell something for $340 (incl tax and shipping) that is $460 here (before taxes, but shipping is prob free. So yes, it can be a better deal .... but then it doesn't make sense for anything you might want to return. Esp, US vendors now let you return after the holidays, I doubt that intl vendors would.

Maimai no longer makes the striped one. : (

The Garnet Hill one fell in price today, to $133.50, and free shipping. of course now i feel like i "saved" $564.50 and can go spend that!

I really like the back of the Garnet Hill one. I seldom buy tops unless the pattern is continued to the back or there is some sort of detail on it. It's a little hint of surprise for those who are watching you walk away.

I think $133.50 is a far more sensible price for a sweater for a teenager!

Bonnie, yes, it is. But TBH "sensible" prices are for everyday. Sometimes, gifts are splurges.

Anyway...

Funky is my new bestie! She alerted me yesterday to a sale at Free People, and the sweater was 50% off! Someone above mentioned waiting to see if it went on sale, but I thought to myself ... it will never go on sale enough. It is now at the maximum price limit I had set when i was looking for replacements.

I will keep watching to see if it falls further, too. IN the meantime, once I bought it I realized there was really nothing I liked nearly as much.

Way to go Funky!

Gifts are always splurges, that's true

with all my professed sensibility, I already dropped I won't say how much into all this gift thing..and I'm really trying to watch it this year as we had some unforeseen circumstances..

I must say that there's something about sweaters and jackets that makes me want them more than almost any other pieces of clothing..maybe it's just basic need to be warm, I don't know..))

Many gorgeous sweaters out there,( and in this thread too). I got a "plain" cashmere one on sale yesterday..don't know when it'll arrive. And whether will fit well. The thing it's pink..it's awfully hard to resist pink, for me.

Mtn, I hope you get it..the sweater dress I mean. It's easy to understand falling in love with it. Or did you already?

Thanks, April. Yes, I bought it.

Somehow, I knew you would ;)