Montecito Cotton Cardigan

I’m a wee bit obsessed with Frank and Eileen. The price of this cardigan is very high and I justify it the same way as if I was buying something from The Row. The quality of the fabric, weave, construction and look is excellent. It’s a chunky cotton knit which will take up some room in your suitcase. I absolutely love the exposed raw seam down the top of the arm, it’s a prominent and unique feature and no one else does this that I’m aware of. F&E’s weavers in Portugal execute it perfectly. I’ve read reviews from some that think it looks cheap, but I respectfully disagree. The cons besides the price is that this cardigan runs large and sometimes inconsistently so. I suggest ordering a size down from your usual unless you prefer an oversized look. I’m petite and 145 lbs and I wear an XS. That size gives me a lovely drape through the body which is roomy but not oversized. The sleeves aren’t crazy long, I can scrunch the arm but I don’t need to roll them. I have found inconsistencies among cardigans of the same size. One I purchased was 3” wider in the torso. It sort of puddled around my middle and looked bulky so I returned it and reordered another; the replacement was perfect. This cardigan will “grow” slightly with wear but once washed they do go back to their original size. I wash mine inside out on the gentle cycle in cold water and lay it flat on a drying rack. It will take two days to dry. A well ventilated bathroom with the fan on will help and do flip it so the underside gets more air exposure. Don’t hang this or any other fine knit (either dry or wet) as it will ruin the shape.