greengirl

I need to make a correction to my review below. I was mistaken in stating that there were changes to the shirts from last year. Last year, I ordered the "Midweight Zip T," rather than the "NTS Midweight Zip T" shown here. So, the "changes" I mentioned below are actually comparisons between the NTS and the non-NTS midweight, the non-NTS being the one WITH princess seams (and it still has them, including the standard shoulder seam and thinner borders at the cuffs and bottom edge). Sorry for the confusion! Still great shirts!

Smartwool keeps changing their shirts for better and worse. If you bought a women's shirt from them maybe 4 years ago, you should know that they run much smaller now. Also, the great princess seams that help accentuate the feminine form are now gone. There is now just a side seam. Also, the shoulder seam is different. It used to be just a standard seam; now it's two seams.

A great change is that the shirts are now much longer. The shirt I just bought measures a full 4" longer than the same sized shirt I got last year. Body length is 24" for M and 25" for L. Also, the cuffs and bottom edge of the top now have a wider border.

If you're on the fence between SmartWool and IceBreaker, Smartwool is softer, has more of a "nap," and conforms more to the body. Icebreaker is smoother, with less of a nap, but also rougher on the skin and generally does not conform to curves as well (although their BodyFit is as good at this). If you like your tops to hug your waist, I recommend SmartWool over Icebreaker.

As for size, I'm 36-27-38 and wear both medium and large. Both sizes still show off my figure without making me look like a guy.

Who knew a long puffy coat could be a bit stylish? This one is surprisingly slimming, not at all bulky, and is slightly shaped at the waist. It sports a huge collar that is tall enough to cover my ears to help protect them from the wind! That combined with the deep hood and faux fur gives it a stylish appeal that really performs in frigid temps and wind. The coat is quite long, hitting me at the lower knee, making the tall boots/short skirt look totally wearable even in the middle of winter in Nebraska. The lower edge of the coat can be cinched tighter, making it even more effective in the cold.

The warmth factor is amazing. I tried this on in a store. Of all the long down coats I tried on, this was the only one that made me feel really hot!

For reference, I am 5'7", 125 lbs, am quite busty, and have long arms and slightly wide shoulders. The small fits perfectly even with a bulky sweater, although I wouldn't be able to wear a bulky blazer or anything with a structured, padded shoulder. I normally wear a small in this brand, so the sizing seems to be consistent.

Can you tell I love this top? This is a fantastic snowsports midlayer that also works well on its own. I usually wear this on top of the midweight crewneck and it's enough to keep me toasty and dry under my triclimate ski jacket, even on the coldest, windiest days at Vail and Breck. The princess seams are slimming and accent the female form, and this top is stylish enough to wear in town. It really wicks away moisture, and truly does not ever stink, even after a week of skiing in it every day. My only beef is with the pilling. It pills terribly after several washes. Don't be overzealous with the shaver. I've destroyed 2 smartwools because I unwittingly shaved them too thin and holes appeared after the next wash. I own 6 of these tops and will never wear anything else for cold weather sports.

Okay, I've changed my mind. It's not too "space cadety"! The medium made me look like a Buck Rogers throwback, even when belted. I tried the small, however, and had a completely different experience! It fits me like a glove and looks very "smart." I'm suprised that it made such a difference. I normally wear a small in TNF, so I suggest you order your normal size to ensure you get the intended fit. It is difficult to put on and take off, though, due to the narrowness of the shoulders. The inside of the sleeves also stick to all but the silkiest long-sleeved shirts. Otherwise, it's pretty cool, and is a good midlayer or outerlayer for 45-degree days.

In person, it was too space cadety for me. The location of the shoulder seam also visually narrows the shoulders, which I don't like. As for warmth, I am warmer in my medium weight cashmere sweater. The fleece on the arms is very, very thin. It reminds me of the quality of fleece sold at Target. Regarding fit, if you are in between sizes, you may want to order up. This does have a very slim fit. It fits well under regular outerwear jackets.