Monday, October 20, 2008

Love It Or Leave It: Bow Necklace Cardigan

Bow-necklace cardigan
Click here for product page
Item 10175
Regular: $110.00

When it comes to clothes, I am pretty "girly". I usually love it when the description of an item includes one or two of the following terms: ruffles, sparkles, sequins, glitter, bows, (and the like). ;)

However, this time... the bows on the Bow Necklace Cardigan are too much. From a distance, the cardigan looks okay. However, I can't say the same for the up-close image of this cardigan. I feel like someone at J.Crew got carried away applying bows on a normal cardigan. (The bows are all around the neckline- including the back-too!)

To be fair, I have not seen this cardigan in person. I also think this sweater would look adorable on a 6-year old girl. However, I just don't know if a professional woman can carry this look.

What are your thoughts on this cardigan? Do you love it or would you leave it? Do you think I am being overly critical on this cardigan? Do you own this cardigan (or have tried it on)? If so, what are your first-hand impressions (and would you recommend others to purchase it)?

43 comments:

  1. I have to agree that especially when looking at the back of it, this is a whole lot of bows for this look (especially in the heather caramel, where the bows are darker). That said- I think in the navy it's less obvious and could be cute. If it were very on sale and I were able to see it in person first, I might buy it in navy, but overall the look is a bit much! :)

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  2. I agree ... I think the bows are too much for me. :) I think I would like it more if there were fewer bows or if there was one bigger bow, sort of like the French serge coat.

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  3. I actually really like it! I am 21 years old and dig that kind of cutesy stuff :)

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  4. I tried it on in store and I didn't love it but it is growing on me. I took a pic so I could decide after the fact and I think it looks pretty cute on me. But I tend to dress a bit young for my age. I think it would have had a broader appeal with just two bows.
    It's not my ideal bow cardi.
    I wish they had made it in jewel tones with miniature 1/4" ribbon bows two shades lighter than the material scattered around collar.

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  5. For people who have seen the cardi, how easy would it be to remove the bows (for people who think that there may be too many bows). Are they held on with a thread that could taken out with a seam ripper?

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  6. It is a leave for me too many bowes; I love the spearmint color, it goes with many other JC colors honey glaze etc.

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  7. I like the idea, but not the reality, of this season's bows and ruffles... I used to swim and am not sure how these bows would look framing my shoulders/neck. Oddly though, my reaction was the same as the post: I clicked on it from the general picture, but in one of the close-ups, I closed the page. I do like the merino rose cardigan, though, but I get that effect by just sticking a flower at the collar.

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  8. I love bows but this design does not do it for me!!!! Way too many bows...I think my 7 year old daughter MIGHT look cute in it but I still think, even for her, too many bows...

    I did see someone try this on and I do not think it was flattering on her at all. (She must have thought so too b/c she didn't buy it:)

    Honestly, I am a bit disappointed in the Nov. catalog. I love girly clothes with ruffles and bows but things are a bit over the top for even a girly girl like me!

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  9. audrey,

    P.S. I used to swim too! Still do laps for exercise:)

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  10. This is a 'leave' for me. No need to try it on. From a distance it looks like a ruffle, but up close, it says bow-bow-bow-bow. I agree the darker colors are more acceptable since it is harder to see the bow-bow-bow-bow configuration.

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  11. i looks like somewhere in the factory they gave out a bunch of glue guns and told everyone "go for it!" cute but i think with that many bows you would have to have the right personality or be 6.

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  12. This cardigan did not appeal to me enough to try it on...I do however love the Heather Wheat and Heather Caramel colors IRL...it is such a refreshing change to see more neutrals being offered. Congratulations to those who love this cardigan and purchase it! :)

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  13. I like the concept of the bows, but after seeing it in the store yesterday I'm not the biggest fan of this cardi. Even on the display table the bows were already creased/wrinkled. I can't imagine how they would look after being scrunched against a coat all day. And there's no way I'd have enough time to iron all those tiny bows!!

    If you wanted to remove the bows I think you'd be better off just buying a bow-less cardi to begin with.

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  14. My first thought was CUTE!!! I was drawn to this cardi for some reason. However, I'll have to agree with Alexis and others...it will probably not work for someone who is trying to dress professionally. I already have trouble at the school I work at being mistaken for a student! It could work in certain instances, but not on the job, IMO.

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  15. way too many bows. BGD

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  16. I do love the feminine appeal of this cardi, however I do have to agree, that fewer bows would probably have been better. As FFM said, the neutral colors are awesome.

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  17. I love ruffles, bows & flowers but this cardi doesn't really do anything for me. I saw it in my local store yesterday and the bows looked “smushed.” I'm sure that could be fixed by ironing and fluffing but I don't really have time to fluff bows. I think you could probably take the bows off but I would hate to risk damaging the sweater esp. if I had to pay full price for it.

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  18. I think there are too many bows for the size of them. If they were smaller maybe it would work, but this is going to be a leave it for me. Congrats to all it does work for though :)

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  19. I must admit - I thought this cardi was going to be an absolute LOVE for me. I adore bows and ruffles and don't even care if I look like a five year-old, which I undoubtedly do sometimes...:)

    But, when I saw this in person, the love did not materialize as I expected. I saw it in the lighter colors, and as another poster said, that might be part of it, because the bows were really obvious and smooshed looking. Then I tried it on, and the sizing is off. The sleeves are very blousy, so if you do order this, I would recommend sizing down.

    If the navy color goes on sale, I might try it, but otherwise, it's a leave for me DESPITE my overwhelming love for bows...

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  20. It's cute, but I think I would get sick of it after a couple wears, or after one season.

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  21. Hey Alexis, I have a pet peeve that I just can't hold in this time. It's such a common mistake and I think everyone out there should know that those cute little circles with the center hole that make all our favorite items sparkle are called "sequins" (read: sea quinns)not "sequence". I can go on about my day now : ) Thanks!

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  22. Leave. I saw it in store over the weekend, imo it is way too cutesy. Not something I could pull off.

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  23. ilovesequins: Thanks for catching that spelling mistake!!! I actually did not know how to spell it properly- so I do appreciate your comment. I have gone ahead and changed the post too. :)

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  24. This cardi is definitely not for me! I much prefer the Chiffon-florette cardigan, which I think is a bit more understated.

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  25. Erg, the negativity. I actually like the cardigan. It gives off that youthful look. I might actually purchase this for someone.

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  26. Love it in the catalog. Was unimpressed in the store.

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  27. I actually ordered this in the heather wheat not yet having seen it IRL. I love bows etc. and was back and forth on this one. I have a notion that I will feel the same way as others when I actually try it on and it will go back. Especially the fact that I also ordered the chiffon florette cardi in both the heather chalk and heather acorn and the thought was I would keep one of them. I hope the florette version it is what it looks to be-- absolutely lovely.

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  28. Alexis,
    You rock! Sorry, it was the teacher in me that made me comment, I guess. Or perhaps it was my love for sequins ; )

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  29. I Love the hthr Caramel color. But all the bows are over-kill for me. If they had done only one or two bows, I think it would have appealed to a lot more people. Also wish they would have done caramel in other pieces.

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  30. weab-ME TOO!! Love that color but don't see anywhere else:(

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  31. I did see it up close and was not impressed. I'd say:" leave it ".
    I am so eyeing new Simone dream cardigan. Wish my rewards will come sooner.:)

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  32. i love this cardigan! i bought it in heather wheat and i think the bows are darling and understated. they're actually pretty small, and lie flat. it was love at first sight for me.

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  33. Does anyone know whether the JUSTASK code can be used with the student discount?

    Thanks,
    Jen

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  34. slastena: I really like the Simone dream cardigan too. Which color do you like?

    I like how it looks in the catalog with the metallic cami. I wish it had full-length sleeves though.

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  35. Tammylee:
    I am torn, as I like it in both colors. I am thinking about going with black as it would be more versatile and I already own a ton of greys.:)
    What do you think?

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  36. slastena: I can't decide....I really don't NEED either color!

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  37. While I am a lover of bows, this was to much for me in the catalog and seeing it IRL just confirmed my decision.

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  38. I haven't seen it in person, and I do like feminine details like ruffles and bows, but this cardigan looks too precious for someone my age...I'm afraid I'd have to leave it. But I'm sure it will look great on those who are young enough to carry it off.

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  39. I totally agree that both the Heather Wheat and Heather Caramel are gorgeous. I am hoping to see more of the Caramel in other sweaters soon! :)

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  40. I don't think bows and ruffles goes with 'professional', especially in conservative fields like Finance.

    Even at my pretty casual work place I don't think I can carry that off.

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  41. I tried this on in store. The thinness and scratchiness of the wool for the $110 price tag made it a pass. Would have been better in merino wool, cashmere, or just a thicker/softer knit like the crystal button birds-eye cardigans.

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  42. I just bought this cardigan in heather wheat and actually really love it. And I'm not normally a bow person. If you have long hair that you tend to wear down or with just the front pulled back, it looks great -- you just see a hint of bow every now and then. As for the wrinkle factor, I can report that I wore it under the Carrie coat for a day tromping around Paris and it still looks great.

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  43. I adore theHeather Wheat and Heather Caramel! That said, my adoration for this style stops here. It is just too precious; a bit more Gymboree than JCrew for me. It isn't for everyone, and that's fine. I am sure some people can wear this and really wear it well. Just not something I personally can carry.

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