Happy August. Although we’re still busy with back to school heatwaves here in SC, I’m thrilled to share a mini Unbound Merino review for Fall today! As you have probably noticed, Unbound Merino is one of my favorite brands to work with, so these reviews are always especially fun for me to create.
One of the things I really appreciate about Unbound Merino is that they keep expanding beyond the basic merino T-shirt. They’ve added so many innovative and creative additions to their Women’s line this year alone— including pants that look polished, linen blends for summer, and easy layering pieces that work year-round.
This post contains #affiliate links and #gifted items. Thank you for supporting my family by shopping with me. It’s so much fun to try merino wool and create these reviews, so thanks for checking it out!
About Me: I’m 5’6″ and about 200 lbs.
For this review, I picked out three pieces that are especially perfect for a Fall transition in the Deep South.
- Women’s Merino Travel Pants in Black, size XL
- Women’s Merino-Linen Short Sleeve Shirt in Chambray, size Large
- Women’s Merino Rib Scoop Neck Tank in Stout, size Large
And yes, I do have a coupon code for you!
Use code WOOLOBSESSED to save 10% off your first Unbound Merino purchase.
A Quick Note About Unbound Merino
If you’re new to Unbound Merino, the basic idea is pretty simple: high-quality merino wool that is comfortable enough for everyday wear but polished enough that you can actually travel in it.
Merino is such a game-changer because it can be worn repeatedly without needing to be washed after every single wear, while also being breathable and comfortable across a range of temperatures. (This is becoming even more important to me as I reach “that age”.) Comfort & Temperature Regulation are no longer nice features, they are absolutely crucial to my health, sanity, and productivity. (I’m only being a little bit dramatic with these statements).
And while I adore a good merino T-shirt, I’m especially interested when a company starts making the other pieces that work across many different life-stages like work, travel, date night, evening out, events, etc. That’s why I’m so happy to see Unbound Merino continue to build out their closet staples with really unique pieces like the Halter Dress, Jumpsuit, and the Bomber Jacket. Can’t wait to see what they drop next! But back to today’s review…
Item #1: Women’s Merino Travel Pants
First up are the Women’s Merino Travel Pants in Black, size XL
These are designed as an all-occasion barrel trouser, with a modern tapered shape and plenty of stretch for movement. The fabric is 95% premium Italian Merino wool, and Unbound describes the construction as having all-way stretch.
A few of the details:
- 95% Merino wool
- Italian Merino wool
- All-way stretch
- Modern tapered/barrel-leg silhouette
- Available in 28″ and 30″ inseams
At $218, these are definitely an investment piece, but the fit, feel, and performance of these definitely give premium.
Polished, but comfortable, with just the amount of movement and flow, these pants really hit all the “black pant wishlist” features for me. It’s very easy to build an outfit around pants like this.
And of course, black is basically the ultimate travel life color. You just can’t go wrong with a pair of great-fitting black trousers in your wardrobe. Owning them in merino is the ultimate wardrobe flex.
An update to this new iteration of the travel pants is the addition of a faux fly which gives them a more traditional look, plus they still fit super comfortably with the stretchy, pull-on waistband. These fit exactly as I’d expect an XL to fit me.
Item #2: Merino-Linen Short Sleeve Shirt
Next up is probably the piece I was most curious about: the Women’s Merino-Linen Short Sleeve Shirt in Chambray, size Large
This is a really interesting combination because you get two fibers that are both fantastic for warm weather, but they bring different benefits to the table.
The Women’s Merino-Linen Short Sleeve Shirt is designed to have that crisp, polished linen-shirt look without quite as much of the relentless wrinkling that can come with traditional linen. I found that to be true as right out of the box the shirt has a crisper feel than typical linen. It’s also got a slight sheen which looks very pretty in real life and the chambray is a true, even blue rather than a faded look.
The details:
- Merino-linen blend
- Short sleeves
- Chambray color
- Size Large
- Designed for warm-weather dressing
- $178
The Chambray color is also such a good choice for a travel wardrobe and I’m a lifelong chambray devotee. It’s so easy to pair with black, navy, white, olive, florals, lace — basically everything you’ve already got in your wardrobe.
The one size note I have is that it is a boxy fit and runs a bit on the large-side. That’s probably the intended fit as I would say it looks to fit the model that way too. But as someone who often sizes up, I’m glad I didn’t do so for this shirt as the Large is already a relaxed fit for me.
This works well with the Travel Pants for a more polished outfit, but it would also be easy to throw over shorts or wear open as a lightweight layer. What’s not to love about a piece with this kind of versatility and potential? Which brings us to the tank top!
Item #3: Merino Rib Scoop Neck Tank
And then we have the piece that is definitely my new favorite color the Women’s Merino Rib Scoop Neck Tank in Stout, size Large.
I am so pleased with this deep, cool brown. It’s maybe got a hint of purple in it? Whatever they’ve done, it’s a GORGEOUS color and even better than I hoped. With my winter-season coloring, I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to find this brown. It’s a great way to move into fall while it’s still so hot here in the Deep South.
I’ve always had a soft spot for a good tank top, and this one has some features that make it extra special.
It’s made from:
- 96% Merino wool
- 4% Spandex
- 210 gsm fabric
The little bit of spandex gives this one some stretch, while the ribbed construction gives it the heft to serve as more than just an undershirt. I love a scoop neck since it tends to look great under, over, and around all the rest of my wardrobe staples.
At $85, I think this is also a great price point for as a travel wardrobe staple and a good start for a merino capsule.
Ideas for Styling These Three Pieces
Outfit #1: Travel Day
Black Travel Pants + Stout Rib Tank + Chambray Merino-Linen Shirt
This would be my classic travel outfit.
The pants give you a polished look, the tank is comfortable and easy, and the shirt can be worn open as a layer or buttoned up when you want to look a little more serious.
And because everything is relatively neutral, you can add a jacket, scarf, sneakers, sandals, or whatever else makes sense for the trip.
Outfit #2: Sightseeing & Shopping
Black Travel Pants + Stout Tank
Simple, comfortable, and easy. I’ll always pair it with a long gold pendant because that’s my signature dress-up hack when it’s still hot outside. But once it’s cooler it would make the perfect foundation for layering.
Outfit #3: Dinner
Black Travel Pants + Chambray Merino-Linen Shirt
So simple, but striking. With jewelry, a nicer shoe, and my Lyons Leather Co bag, this combo will work for any venue.
And it’s the magic combination I’m always looking for when I pack: comfortable enough for travel, but nice enough that I don’t need to change when the day turns into dinner. Because chances are, I haven’t made plans and I’ve got no idea where the day will take me.
Is Unbound Merino Worth It?
Obviously, my answer is yes. And I should always remind my audience that even though I receive gifted items for my review, I also regularly shop these brands for myself. I think Unbound Merino is perfect for people who are trying to build a smaller, more versatile wardrobe, and if you travel frequently, the choice makes even more sense.
These staples are a smart way to invest in your wardrobe, with thoughtful styles that can be worn on repeat. Always intentional, and never disposable.
Because I don’t know about you, but I want to buy fewer things that I can wear more often, in more situations. So merino just makes sense.
The three pieces I chose also demonstrate why I keep coming back to Unbound. It’s one thing to make a really nice merino T-shirt. It’s another thing to create an entire wardrobe where the pieces actually work together.
The Travel Pants give you a polished foundation. The Merino-Linen shirt gives you a warm-weather layer that can be dressed up or down. And the Rib Scoop Neck Tank gives you a comfortable foundation piece with ultimate versatility.
That’s a pretty great little travel capsule right there.
Don’t Forget the Coupon Code!
You can use my coupon code: WOOLOBSESSED to save 10% off your first purchase. I’d love to hear what items you’re most excited about this season, so please drop a comment and let me know!