Although the heyday of angora sweaters has long since passed, women who love soft and fuzzy clothing can still find new items in this plush material, as well as vintage pinup styles that evoke an earlier era. Find the right sweater for you and care for it properly to get the best out of this luxurious clothing item.
Where to Find Angora Sweaters
New angora sweaters have become increasingly difficult to find, as retailers have responded to PETA's videos of how rabbits are harmed in the production of angora by halting production of all the angora products. It's now much more common to find angora blends or mohair sweaters, which mimic the look of angora.
Sam EdelmanClub Monaco: They offer sophisticated work basics for the woman who wants to look professional without sacrificing style or comfort. They typically offer a variety of angora sweaters in the colder months, and also offer vergine knits - a mix of cotton, alpaca, cashmere, and angora that is incredibly soft.
Sam Edelman: The brand recently launched an apparel collection to add on to their immensely popular shoe range, and they offer angora sweaters in a variety of chic styles that go with everything. Their Long Sleeve Angora sweater ($84, sizes XS-L) is an easy, everyday basic.
Scott's Sweaters: They offer a huge range of angora sweater styles, some of which are angora blends. An adorable option is their Princess Kate Angora Shrug ($325, sizes XS-L), similar to the one that the Duchess of Cambridge wore on her wedding day. A beautiful winter wedding option!
Princess Kate ShrugEtsy: This site is a treasure trove of vintage angora sweaters from all different time periods and styles. Since what you'll find here are vintage sweaters, selection varies greatly and changes often. Prices vary based on availability.
eBay: You can never go wrong with looking on eBay for vintage items, including Angora sweaters. On any given day, you may find heaps of angora sweaters for sale in a huge variety of price points and styles.
Caring for Your Sweater
The first thing most people notice about angora sweaters is the fuzziness factor. Angora is an incredibly soft material, which is appealing for a garment worn next to the skin. Angora fiber comes from rabbits and as anyone knows, bunnies are soft, so naturally sweaters made from their fur is just as fuzzy. However, this comes with a drawback - shedding. Anyone who's ever owned an angora sweater has most likely wondered how they can keep their top from leaving fur everywhere they go.
Prevent Shedding
While you won't be able to completely stop an angora sweater from shedding, you can treat it before your first wear to cut back on this annoying problem.
First, carefully fold your sweater and place it into a large Ziploc bag.
Put the bagged sweater into your freezer.
Let it sit in the freezer for about three to four hours.
Remove it and wear (after letting it warm up a bit).
Some people may wonder why anyone would go through the trouble when there are plenty of other garments that can be worn directly from the hanger. Once you've worn angora, you'll understand better. Not only is it incredibly luxurious, it's also even warmer than wool, which is a big plus during the cold months of the year.
To clean your angora top, hand wash in warm water and pure soap suds and then allow it to air dry. If you toss it in the washer, you may as well kiss this beautiful garment goodbye.
Popularity of Angora Sweaters
If you look at pictures of young women in the 1940s and 1950s, you'll see that many of them wore angora sweaters in pinup girl fashion. The sweaters were incredibly popular during this time and were worn with pencil skirts and Capri pants. Most of the sweaters were short-sleeved and featured rounded or boat necks, and they looked great with a set of classic pearls.
The popularity of angora sweaters took a downturn at the same time twin sets became less popular. When polyester as a fabric hit the style scene, many younger women turned to the latest easy-care clothing and angora took a backseat to wash-and-wear garments.
Classic Styling
Just like Chanel's famous little black dress, there are some clothing items that are always in style from season to season and seem to span the ages seamlessly. Angora sweaters are one of those classically styled pieces that every woman should have as a wardrobe staple. Whether you find a vintage angora sweater or you buy one brand new, you'll enjoy the luxurious feeling of softness and warmth every time you slip it on, and you'll look and feel like a million dollars.
