Houdini Transition Fleece Jacket - Women's - 2011 BCS

Unlike the other reviewer, I love this jacket. Neck is a bit higher than other brands, but that makes it very functional in cool weather. I love the pistachio color, it's very unique and like a breath of fresh air, it's also very feminine. Personal preference I guess.

It's not cheap, but it's made in the EU (European Union), and the quality really shows. The shape is straight, with a bit of room at the chest level, but not much. It definitely won't fit a curvy shape, and as it tapers a bit at the bottom, you've got to have a reasonably small hip for it to fit. This fleece is lightweight, thinner than the Patagonia R1, or other polartec power stretch. The outside is smooth for layering, and inside has a gridded pattern, which will help trap warm air. Given the fleece weight, I expect this to be a 3-season fleece, if used with additional layers. Unlike the other Scandinavian brand (Norrona), Houdini's sizing is true European, so order up a size.

Sure it's not made of merino (I love Icebreaker), but this particular jacket is made of recycled polyester.

It was instant love for me!! Gorgeous color, pretty true to the online pic, and I was also won over by the fit and styling. I am 5'10", 135 lbs, so I appreciate the styling and cut, and the fact that the sleeves and torso are plenty long. The neck is high, but this is great protection when out in the cold and wind, and it can always be unzipped if you are uncomfortable. The fabric is soft and light. All in all, this is a gorgeous jacket, practical in function and plenty stylish.

I like this brand, but this one was a miss for me. The neck was just a little too high when zipped up. The color pistagio was kind of like wearing an ice cream cone. Not really my statement. I also order the icebreaker "real fleece" hoody and that was a keeper. The fit is amazing and I love that it is wool and not synthetic.