Affordable sweaters take chill out of fall

I’m a sweater girl.

Get your mind out of the gutter – I’m not talking about Lana Turner here. I’m merely professing my love for cozy turtlenecks, cardigans and V-necks. I’ve never met a sweater I didn’t like. And this fall’s selection is enough to give me the warm fuzzies.

At the top of my list is affordable cashmere. No, that’s not an oxymoron. Everywhere you turn, you can find this fabulous fiber – not blends, but the real deal – for under $100. Heck, T.J. Maxx has gorgeous, simple pullovers and cardigans starting at $39.99. I saw a fluffy little hoodie at Marshall’s for $49.99 (this would go perfectly with your velour yoga pants, sporty girls)! And – hold on to your wallet – I saw two cashmere V-necks, including one from Ann Taylor, at Sylvia’s Resale in Brewer for $18.98. No kidding.

Speaking of luxury, T.J.’s still has a handful of Italian merino wool sweaters, fitted, but not tight, in luscious colors, for $19.99 apiece. I bought a charcoal gray V-neck. I also picked up a pink angora cable-knit crewneck for $19.99. I like it better than higher-priced versions I’ve seen at the mall, and it’s a classic. I plan to go all ladies-who-lunch and wear it with pearls and pointy-toe shoes.

On a decidedly funkier note, I’ve also seen plenty of whimsical stripes and split turtlenecks, which unzip at the side for an asymmetrical neckline. I picked up a burgundy zipper turtleneck at Mardens for $8.88 – if you go, check out the still substantial selection of junior’s sweaters at both the Brewer and Ellsworth locations.

Interesting necklines abound this season, and I’m not just talking turtle. At TJ’s, I found a Nine West sweater with a circle pin attached at the neckline. Very feminine. But so are the ribbons, bows, pearl buttons and fur that are popping up on well-dressed gals everywhere (I adore the fur-trimmed cardigan at Ann Taylor Loft in South Portland, but I’m waiting for it to go on sale).

Cardigans are still big, but not necessarily in a twin set. Renys has a great selection of stand-alone cardigans in sweet colors, and I’m in love with Old Navy’s three-quarter sleeve wool button-down. I wear mine with a tank top for now, but when the weather gets cooler, I’ll pair it with a blouse. Chances are, you have a twin set or six in your closet, and I urge you to break them up (they aren’t conjoined, now, are they?). If you can’t bring yourself to do it, at least jazz the set up a little bit with a scarf or a brooch – very stylish for fall.

On the sweater-girl note, the fit this season is a little more figure-conscious than in years past, and while you won’t see many plunging necklines or revealing cuts, you do need to think about your undergarments. Nothing ruins the look of a nice sweater than lumps and bumps where they shouldn’t be. Check out the fantastic new magazine, Shop Etc., for sweater-bra tips and a buyer’s guide to cashmere. Or go to J.C. Penney and schedule a fitting. It’s well worth the time.

And all of the styles I’ve seen are well worth the money, whether or not you’re a sweater girl.

ShopNotes

. Encouraged by the success of their online storefront, Eric and Mandi Odier-Fink have opened Justice Clothing, a sweatshop-free store, at 48 Main St. in Bangor. The shop sells union-made clothing from the United States and Canada. Of the area, Eric Odier-Fink said, “Bangor is a welcoming community that is home to the Clean Clothes Campaign, with lots of great folks working to end sweatshops. It was just a good fit.”

. Make a stand against domestic violence on Thursday, Oct. 7, during Marshalls’ “Shop Til It Stops Day.” A portion of the day’s proceeds will benefit the Family Violence Prevention Fund, which works to prevent and raise awareness about domestic violence. The event, now in its 11th year, has raised nearly $1 million. For information on the group, visit www.endabuse.org.

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329, or by fax to: 941-9476. Tune in to ShopGirl at 5 p.m. Fridays on WLBZ-2.