When it's right, it's niiiiice

By CaliAtHeart Ranked #562 - Women's Fleece Jackets January 12, 2011

Review update:
Previously I said this jacket had some serious issues with its cut. Well, considering the inevitable garment-to-garment variations during manufacturing, I exchanged the garment I had for a new one. I've since been living in this jacket for days. Here are my thoughts:

[ Fabric ] The fabric for the Igloo is niiiiice. The outer is smooth, the inside is fleece (merino wool fleece). While the fleece isn't quite as teddy-bear soft as the really nice polyester stuff, over a thin shirt it's not noticeable at all. The fabric is also substantial, so the jacket as a whole is soft and warm. It's the first Icebreaker jacket I've actually liked.

[ Cut ] I am 5'4", measurements 34" - 28" - 38", and ordered a small. Aside from the inconsistencies in cut from garment to garment (Icebreaker, quality control pleeeease), the jacket does look sharp. The cut however seems to be meant for street wear, as the sleeve-to-shoulder section is cut similarly to a pea coat (not raglan sleeves). Therefore, the arm mobility is not stellar. The waist area is smaller than I would have expected, so if you're a bit bulgy in the middle, consider ordering a size up. The arms are nice and long, but not too wide -- I don't think I'd even try to wear anything thick underneath. The hood, once zipped, is tight, but not uncomfortably so. Overall, I'd say this jacket is form-fitting but not skin-tight. It's definitely an outer full-zip sweater-jacket layer.

[ Color ] The color "divine" is a deep purple and more feminine than the Icebreaker color "Java". The "merlot" trim is medium-deep a grape purple. The hood is lined in the "merlot" fabric. The pockets are lined in the "divine" fabric. The zipper itself is "divine", but the unzipped portions have a "merlot" trim. I was surprisingly pleased with this color combination -- Icebreaker is definitely improving its color selection (IMO).

[ Verdict ] This has become my THE full-zip sweater-jacket. I love that this garment is much more robust than a cashmere full-zip, and much more normal-looking than any other sport-zip I've found. I'd definitely recommend giving this jacket a try, and I hope that Icebreaker comes out with many more fleece jackets in the future.

View Details: Icebreaker Igloo Hooded Real Fleece Jacket - Women's

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