Knit Sweater Fit Quandary

[lazyloki]

Hi guys,

Picked up a PRL cashmere sweater at very deep discount earlier today. They only had two left, one in small and one in medium. I didn't have time to try on in store and since they were so cheap I bought both - I'll return one tomorrow.

The thing is, not having much experience with knitwear, I've no idea which one to keep. Both seem to fit roughly the same and due to the construction, they both have plenty of stretch in the fabric. One of my concerns is that the M will stretch after a few wears and become a little shapeless.

I have a 39" (ish) chest so according to the size chart I should go with the medium (the website claims that S is for 34-36 - do any grown men actually have a 34" chest?!). My instinct is to keep the small - as the patches are suede I doubt I'll be washing the piece much so shrinkage shouldn't be a problem. It's a fairly 'outdoorsy' type sweater though so maybe I'm better off with the more relaxed fit on the M.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, which one do you think?! I'm truly useless when it comes to deciding between two sizes!

Small:





Medium:





As ever, apologies for the crappy pictures - not enough natural light in this damn house!

Cheers!

 

[Digmenow]

Re: fit.

The sleeves on the medium appear to be too long, both at the cuff and at the elbow patch. The medium's shoulders are a bit wide. The waist looks more trim on the small as well. I'd keep the small and take the medium back but I prefer close fitting clothing.

 

[lazyloki]

Thanks for your opinion, I had noted myself that the sleeves on the medium are a touch long. I really have no experience of wool clothing (other than suits of course) but I assume that the garment will stretch out a bit over time?

The pictures aren't great, I know, but the elbow patch on the medium isn't actually all that different from the small. The patches go from the elbow quite far down the forearm.

 

[ballmouse]

The sleeves are sweaters can usually be cuffed (no need to stitch anything. Just rolled them up a bit). The small and medium look pretty similar. The medium is a little more relaxed looking, which is what I'd prefer. The small (to me at least) gives off a bit of a 1970s look since it is a tad tight.

 

[VinnyMac]

....curious to know how you wandered into a clothing store if you didn't even have a few extra minutes to try on the sweater?

To answer your question, I like the picture of the small more. In comparison, the medium is unnecessarily full in the body, and the sleeves are noticeably too long. That's a pretty sweet-looking sweater though.

 

[lazyloki]

....curious to know how you wandered into a clothing store if you didn't even have a few extra minutes to try on the sweater?

To answer your question, I like the picture of the small more. In comparison, the medium is unnecessarily full in the body, and the sleeves are noticeably too long. That's a pretty sweet-looking sweater though.

Thanks for your input on the sizing!

In answer to your curiosity, it was Harrods and I was in there to pick up something specific from a different (non-clothing) department before making a flight out of London. I noticed the sweater as I was battling through the crowds on my way out. Then I noticed the price reduction - RRP of £649 down to £149 (I'd never have paid the RRP). They only had the two left and I figured at that price I might as well pick them both up rather than risk the other not being there when I get back to London.