Have you joined the Dudley Stephens fan club yet? It’s no secret that I am OBSESSED with the women-founded small business and that you can catch me wearing a Dudley in my Instagram stories no matter what the outside temperature is. I first started seeing the sustainable fleeces appear on Sarah Rose Stuart’s IG stories a few years back. Though I desperately wanted one, they were initially a little out of my price range, so I pined from afar. However, one day I was able to purchase one at a discount (RARELY happens) as a gift for myself and I haven’t looked back since! If you’re wondering if they live up to the hype, then spoiler alert–they do!
Now that I have been a fan for a few years, I thought that it was about time that I posted my official Dudley Stephens sustainable fleece review and fit guide. While this is not a sponsored post, I have worked with the small business in the past (on their website’s Fit Guide!) and some of the fleeces mentioned were gifted.
Dudley Stephens also offered a special Cyber Monday discount code for my Ambitious Fam! Keep reading for all things Dudley!
Why Dudley?
Though I was initially attracted to the Dudley Stephens fleeces because of how chic and comfy they look, I was completely sold when I learned about how the fleeces are produced. The fleeces are manufactured in the United States using a yarn that repurposes plastic bottles. Using this method, Dudley has been able to repurpose and redirect almost 2 million plastic bottles from becoming environmental waste! As someone currently on a sustainability journey, I was ecstatic about the prospect of my fashion choices contributing to my efforts to reduce my carbon footprint.
I also love that Dudley Stephens is a small, women-owned business that is dedicated to giving back. This year they had a $100,000 donation goal to St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital to help provide comfort and aid to families facing childhood cancer. Over the course of the year, they have found creative ways to raise money, including creating a patchwork blanket from production scraps. The blankets were sold on their site with 100% of the proceeds going to the fund. Loved to see it!
Sizing
My stats for Dudley sizing reference:
| Height | 5 foot, 6 inches |
| Bust | 36 DD |
| Typical Size | XL (14/16) |
| Dudley Size | XL (14/16) |
I find all of the Dudley Stephens styles mentioned in this post to be very true to size. As someone with a larger chest, I can understand the desire to size up. Wearing an XL in these styles allow me to be super comfortable, and still maintain a chic and tailored look. There is plenty of room throughout the body of the fleeces, but it is more fitted in the sleeves and chest. If you are in doubt, you won’t regret sizing up for a cozier fit!
The DS Fit Guide is a great resource for those who would like to learn more about Dudley Stephens fleeces on other body types (here)!
Fleece Types
Dudley Stephens currently offers two main fleece types: Vello and Terry. The Vello fleece is their original fabric that has a thicker, cozier feel. It’s super soft, more structured, stain-resistant, and the type that I prefer to cozy up within the colder months! The Vello fleece also holds up great in the wash. I let my fleeces air dry as opposed to putting them in the dryer.
The Terry fleece is a lighter weight fabric that is loved for its movability and layering capabilities. While I don’t own any of the Terry fleeces, friends have told me that they prefer this type as a light layer during chilly summer and fall mornings. My friend Taylor of Living Taylored has a great comparison picture of the fleece types in her blog post (click here)!
Both fleece types are made out of repurposed plastic bottles (yay)! When choosing a fleece type for the first time, I would consider your climate and which occasions would most likely cause you to reach for your Dudley.
Dudley Styles
When it comes to Dudley Stephens, my favorites are the classic turtleneck styles. They allow me to feel comfy and cozy all day long! I love to snuggle my face into the structured turtlenecks while lounging or getting work done. While I have been working from home a majority of the year, the fleeces made frequent appearances when I was working in the office. The great thing about sustainable fleece is that they can effortlessly be dressed up or down! Style tip: don’t be afraid to play around with textures and outfit combinations. While I enjoy the effortless comfort of pairing my Dudleys with leggings, some of my favorite outfits are the result of tucking them into a flowy or faux leather skirt!
Cobble Hill
Cobble Hill is my go-to Dudley style with leggings on a cold and/or rainy day with Bean Boots. The tunic-style sustainable fleece is longer in length making it great for those who have longer torsos or those who like a little more coverage. This OG Dudley style also has pockets! When I was making my first DS purchase, I hesitated to choose the Cobble Hill because I was worried that it would be tight around my hips and thighs. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the fit–the silhouette allows plenty of room!
Greenpoint
“The perfect length doesn’t exi—” *Greenpoint enters the chat
Friends, when people would ask me about my favorite Dudley length, I would answer “Park Slope” without hesitation. Now that the Greenpoint has become another staple collection item, I’m not so sure. The Greenpoint is an in-between length design that is shorter than the Cobble Hill, but longer than the Park Slope. It features an unbanded hem and is pocketless. One of my first thoughts, when I put my gifted red Greenpoint on, was that it would be perfect tucked or with a pair of jeans. Yall know that I avoid jeans like the plague, but this is definitely the style to go for if that’s your thing.
Park Slope
The Park Slope was my first Dudley purchase and my first love. This is the shortest style, hitting just at or slightly above the hip. I love that it has a band on the bottom which really adds to the “put together” look. While I’m not opposed to wearing my Park Slope with legging (literally do it all the time), my favorite looks have included tucking it into a skirt or layering it over dresses. I love to wear my dresses and skirts across seasons and the Park Slope easily allows me to do so. Unfortunately pink is not currently available (I vote that we petition to bring it back!) but there are still plenty of great colors to choose from!
Brighton Boatneck
Lastly, I wanted to include a look for my friends that aren’t super fond of turtlenecks. The Brighton Boatneck is the same length as the Park Slope but features an open neck design. The open neck also makes it a great candidate for layering–I most recently wore it over a buttondown without any issues in my normal, XL size. It also contains a banded finish, similar to the Park Slope.
Love DS! And loved seeing you on their sizing guide!!!
Ah thank you so much, Carly!! <3