There’s a note on my phone. It’s been open, closed, reopened, and abandoned for six weeks now. The title is genuinely just “the cardigan thing,” all lowercase, because past-me couldn’t be bothered to capitalize anything at 11pm. I’m publishing the whole thing below because I think the process is more honest than the finished, polished version of this story would be.
Sept 3, 11:47 PM — saw the ribbon-knit one again. it’s $340. that is a number I have said out loud to no one because saying it makes it real
Sept 5, 8:12 AM — did the math from that cardigan post I wrote a while back (the $38 vs $340 one). 34 wears in, still holding its shape, no pilling. am I about to become a person who does cost-per-wear math unprompted in a group chat
Sept 5, 8:14 AM — yes
Sept 9, 6:30 PM — checked if it’s still in stock. it is. this is either a sign or just… stock
Sept 12, 1:03 AM — found out their site gives new subscribers 20% off if you sign up for restock alerts. did not need a restock alert. signed up anyway. no regrets yet
Sept 12, 1:06 AM — 20% off $340 is $68. that’s basically the price of one (1) fast-fashion cardigan I’d wear four times and donate
Sept 14, 9:40 PM — told my sister about the note. she said “just buy the sweater.” she does not understand that the note IS the process
Sept 17, 7:15 AM — bought it
That’s the whole note, typos and all. I didn’t clean it up because I think the actual version of this decision — half-convinced, doing math on the subway, needing a sister to say the obvious thing out loud — is more useful to whoever’s reading this than a tidy “why I invested in quality basics” post would be.
If you want the discount path: it’s through the email signup, not a checkout popup, so you have to go looking for it — it’s on Misook’s site (affiliate link, doesn’t cost you anything extra, it’s just how this blog keeps the lights on). Whether it’s worth it depends entirely on whether you already have a note titled something embarrassing sitting open on your phone right now. No judgment. I have three.