My Hunt for a Less Expensive Snap Cardigan
The Agnès B. snap cardigan has always been a workhorse of my wardrobe. It’s a truly ingenious piece of clothing: It’s a sweatshirt. It’s a cardigan. It’s a sweatshirt and a cardigan. When I found out I was pregnant six months ago, I knew my relationship with one of my top items of clothing would change. The cardigan has a hearty constitution, but after an unfortunate shrinkage incident, I prefer to get it dry-cleaned. And it’s not the kind of thing I want my baby to throw up on, no offense to him.
I’ve been looking for a good dupe for a few years now, and this season I seemed to be in luck. Snap cardigans have hit the market in many different permutations, so I stuck to some loose criteria in my search: It had to be some sort of cotton blend, preferably cotton fleece, and would ideally have fun telltale snaps, though buttons were okay if the cotton requirement was satisfied. I bought six to try — did any of them compare to the OG?
My top picks
The OG
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It’s perfect! Structured but relaxed on the outside, warm and fleece-y on the inside with a nice straight cut that makes it feel fancy. But at $270, it’s maybe not so economical for the messy job of motherhood.
The ones that didn’t cut it
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I like the way this one hangs; it has a more relaxed silhouette than Ms. B’s, and the snaps are satisfyingly prominent. But it’s jersey instead of cotton fleece, which makes it less snuggly.
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I admit, I was taken in by the fruity embroidered patches on the snaps. It has that nice fleece-y lining, but even though I sized up, the fit is too tight.
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The color contrast is really fun (it also comes in a bright blue with yellow piping). But the French-terry lining is sandpaper rough, and it feels like it would fall apart in a few washes.
The contenders
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This one is probably the most faithful Agnès B. re-creation, down to the mother-of-pearl snaps. I don’t love the drop shoulder, and it’s not fleece. Still, a pretty good dupe for more than $100 less than the original.
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Vintage Agnès B. is readily available on Etsy and other resale sites for good prices (I think I got this one for $60 a few years ago, plus shipping, which usually runs about $30). But buyer beware: The cardigans typically come from Japan and are sold through Malaysia, a supply chain that is not amenable to returns. And when dealing with Japanese sizing, the ability to return is paramount. Still, I can tell this cardigan had been through a lot even before it became mine and would be able to handle some spit-up and a run through the washer.
The winner
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I’m a huge fan of Skims sweatshirts — they have a nice shape and are super-cozy. Here, Kim K. has taken one of them and created not an Agnès B. dupe but something all its own that I love. While you can wear this cardi in its intended crop-top fashion, I sized up to a large from my typical small and found it sufficient to highlight my growing midsection instead of concealing or revealing it. The classic cardigan shape with a tucked waist is both flattering and comfortable. And at $88, it’s okay to get it a little dirty. A winner in all respects.
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