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Browse all American Giant sweaters →Women's French Terry Cardigan - Tapenade
The verdict
Fit
French terry is relaxed and textured. American Giant's women's fit is true-to-size with natural volume.
Quality
At $115, American Giant delivers predictable durability and solid seam work typical of their line.
Is the price fair?
Mid-tier pricing backed by the brand's durability reputation. You're not overpaying for construction.
Best for
Women seeking a durable, everyday cardigan in a casual fabric with reliable American Giant construction.
Care
Machine wash cold; tumble dry low. French terry softens and relaxes slightly with each wash.
Fit check: American Giant
Varies by lineFit depends on which cut you pick: the Classic line is slim, tapered, and reads small on average builds, the Relaxed line is much roomier, and the all-cotton fleece shrinks a size's worth in a hot dryer.
Owners and testers split along the brand's two fit lines rather than one direction. The Classic fleece is cut athletic — broad shoulders tapering to the waist — and one hands-on tester found several pieces "ran small" against the brand's own size charts, with pants also running short in the leg. Meanwhile hoodie reviewers report the opposite out of the box — one called it "larger than its true size" and baggy in the arms — but the 100% cotton shrinks roughly 3-5% in the dryer, and another reviewer's slightly-large medium settled to a proper fit after one wash-and-dry. Reviewers note the Relaxed fit runs about 5 inches bigger in the chest than Classic at the same marked size, so the label alone doesn't tell you the fit.
Sizing advice: Keep your usual size in the Classic fleece and dry on low to let the 3-5% shrinkage dial in the fit; choose the Relaxed cut (not a size up) if you want room, and expect pant inseams to run short.
Per owner & reviewer reports: American Giant Review: Are the made-in-America clothes wo… · American Giant Review — The Adult Man · American Giant Hoodie Review — How Comfy · American Giant Hoodie Review — Stridewise
What owners report about American Giant sweaters
Third-party wear tests report American Giant's knit tops hold up through repeated wear and washing, with one tester finding no color fading, loose threads, or shrinkage after several washes. An owner of the merino crew sweater reports it is a merino-and-cotton blend that machine-washes on delicate without shrinking, and expects to keep wearing it every winter. Fit is the recurring caveat: the merino crew ran noticeably oversized on one reviewer, while a tester found a women's french terry crew ran small with narrow sleeves and a hem that rode up.
- Strengths
- Reviewers consistently report the knits survive repeated washing without fading, shrinkage, or loose threads.
- Watch out for
- Sizing is inconsistent across styles — owners report the merino crew runs oversized while a women's french terry crew ran small with narrow sleeves.
- Sizing
- Sources report fit varies by style rather than by brand: the merino crew sweater runs oversized while a women's french terry crew ran small, so check each product's own fit notes instead of assuming one size across the line.
About American Giant's sweaters line as a whole. Sources: American Giant Review: Are the made-in-America clothes worth it? - Reviewed · American Giant Clothing Review - Lakeshore Lady · American Giant Review (2024): Are Premium Basics Worth It? - The Adult Man
