The Boyfriend Cardigan: J. Crew Factory vs. Target

The two places I shop at the most would probably be J. Crew Factory and Target. Why? Because they both have so many cute, yet affordable things! I recently picked up an oh so versatile boyfriend cardigan from each of my favorite places and for fun, wanted to style and compare the two for you!

So let’s get into this:

Fabric – The J. Crew Factory Cardigan is a blend of cotton, wool and nylon while the Target cardigan is 100% cotton. Because of the wool, the J. Crew Factory cardigan is a little bit heavier, but is also a little less soft.

Wash & Wear – Because of the wool, the factory cardigan calls for hand washing, but the Target cardigan can be machined washed. I’ve washed both several times, according to their care tags and will say I am more impressed with the Target sweater’s wash and wear. The factory cardigan has become a little fuzzy and lint ridden and let’s be honest, smells kind of funny after you wash it. I actually questioned whether or not it should be dry cleaned because of the wool, but the tag said hand wash, so hand wash I did! The Target cardigan has not succumb to fuzz and pills and holds it’s shape well after a wash.

Fit – J. Crew Factory wins for me on fit because it comes in petite! I feel like it has a better fit for me based on the shoulders and the length. However, one issue I’ve been having with a lot of sweaters from factory this season is tightness in the armpit area. So, I would definitely size up if you go for the factory cardigan. The Target cardigan is pretty true to size. I would love if it came in a petite size, but the xs fits fairly well on me.

Price – The Target cardigan is typically $19.99, but can often be purchased on sale! The factory cardigan also often goes on sale, but it ranges from $45.00 – $30.00. I grabbed mine on sale for around $34.00.

Range of Colors – The J. Crew Factory cardigan at the moment comes in about three different colors, while the Target cardigan comes in eight!

Versatility – A cardigan is just about the most versatile piece of clothing you can own, but the wear you will get through seasons will depend a lot on the weight! The bonus of the Target cardigan, is it is just the right weight to wear almost anytime of year, while the J. Crew factory cardigan is mostly for the cooler season.

THE VERDICT – I love both sweaters for different reasons, it’s almost hard to compare. But, based on price, wear and the possibility of wear through the seasons; I would probably purchase the Target cardigan in a few more colors, before going for another J. Crew Factory one.

Do you own either of these cardigans? What do you think?

– Brooke