I had been eyeing this item for over a year and was very excited to purchase it for an upcoming trip. When it arrived, it was slightly too small and some of the styles did not fit at all without the snaps coming undone, although I had followed the size specifications on the chart exactly. After measuring the item, it turns out that it was an entire inch smaller than their measurement chart claims (they attributed this to shrinking while ironing). While at that point customer service did agree to allow me a direct exchange at no cost to myself, the service was very slow and the whole process has taken much longer than it should with slow, drawn-out response times which have caused me to not receive a new item in time for said trip. While USPS tracking denotes the item as delivered, customer service told me AFTER I inquired about it that they must still wait another 1-2 weeks until they receive it as it's coming from the USA. I sent it back within 2 days of receiving the return shipping label. Overall, a long, drawn-out process and I am very dissatisfied. Also, I encourage you to read the return and exchange policy closely ahead of time; it is not nearly as accommodating as many others.

I purchased my cardi just over a week before leaving for an extended trip. I was worried it wouldn't come in time (due to my procrastination) so I sent an email to customer service just to be sure. They were super helpful and prioritized my order to be sure it arrived in time - it did! The fabric is super soft and seems durable. 5 stars for quality and customer service!
The versatility and light weight of this product is fantastic for travelers! However, there are a few things that have left me disappointed - and perhaps they are just my own shopping errors. I am 5'2" and a bit over 120lbs and I went with the petite size because I am used to flowy clothes absolutely swimming on me. While it definitely fits, some of the styles leave me feeling constricted around the neck and arms and I am worried the snaps may be under too much strain. Hopefully, they hold! Another thing I'm bummed about is the color. I ordered Deep Indigo expecting it to fall more on the blue side of indigo (ie. deep) or even a bit grey as it appears in the picture, but its much more of a royal purple. There is only one picture of this color on the site and the cardi is styled as a scarf in it, so it's very difficult to get a clear idea of the shade. It is definitely a very pretty color, I was just expecting it to be a bit more subdued and therefore more versatile for travel. Finding myself wishing it were black or grey. I would recommend clearer guidance on sizing and more than one photo of every color for future customers.

I bought the sapphire blue ahead of a 10 day trip to Africa with just a small backpack. I was able to get two wears out of it before two of the snaps/thread loosened. Love the fabric, and the color, the petite size and of course the concept. Probably would have bought in black too if it weren't for the snaps!

I really really want to love my chrysalis cardi but after only 30-45minutes of trying out all the different ways to wear one of the buttons loosened and came half way apart. The ends are too short to try to pull back through the holes in the snaps so it just sort of dangles there. For the cost of this piece I would have assumed there would be much better quality. I am hoping there is a way to fix this without having to take it to a seamstress. Otherwise I loved all the various ways this could be worn and was strongly considering purchasing it in another couple colors.

Sizing: I am 5 ft 7, 140 lbs, Size 4-6, 36C-29-35 and the petite is the right size for me. When worn as a dress, it hits about 2 inches above the knee--long enough for work, but still short enough for after work! Given how this fits me, I'd recommend a petite for size 6 and under and height 5'8" and under. There's a little tension in the fabric when I wear it as the x-back halter, but nothing that will hurt the garment or cause me discomfort.

Snap Quality: I don't agree with other reviewers who say the snap quality is poor. You'll have no problem with the snaps if you're gentle and select the right size. In working with the garment, the snaps come lose from 1. Selecting a petite size when you're in need of a regular or maxi - if this is the case you'll notice tension on the snaps when wearing the outfit (much like buttons puckering on a dress shirt) vs. the snaps lying flat or with a little slack. 2. User error - if you pull the fabric to disconnect the snaps then the snaps will come loose over time-- this is not poor craftsmanship but simple physics. Use your fingers to separate and disconnect the snaps at the connection point (vs. pulling on the fabric) and you'll have no problem with the snaps coming loose.

Fabric: I chose black--it's lovely and as expected. The fabric is SUPER SOFT/comfortable and somewhere between light and mid-weight, however, you can easily wear this year round. The fabric resists wrinkling and will travel well. The fabric drapes beautifully regardless of which style you choose. I was a bit worried I'd get lost in the drapes, but it is VERY flattering

Multi-way: Very versatile piece -- I will get A TON of use out of this on work and personal trips. The booklet and videos make it easy to understand the variations--I got the x back halter on the third try using only the booklet accompanying the cardi. I am not savvy in this way fyi (you should see how [poorly] I assemble furniture...) -- if I can do this, anyone can!

The Chrysalis Cardi - Maxi

I am a huge fan of encircled clothing. I own 7 or 8 different items from encircled and this is the only piece that I have even a slightly negative review of. I love this piece’s comfort and versatility, but I have had issues with the buttons coming unstitched. I can stitch them back on, but I’m a little fearful of a wardrobe malfunction in public.

I wasn't sure about The Chrysalis Cardi Maxi at first. I've worn it 4 different ways and people are amazed when I say, "This dress is the cardigan I wore last week."
The usual response is, "How is that possible?". Then I explain, let them feel the fabric and tell them where they can get theirs.

Love how this can be worn different ways to cut down on packing. My favorite is the X-back halter and the cocoon cardi, my friend was amazed that I was able to wear it again on a weekend getaway. Just be careful to find all the deodorant marks when you switch out the style. ;-)

Spring, summer, or fall, I'm constantly wearing this piece and looking forward to buying another in a different color. The only downside is having to resecure the snaps with thread of my own, but that's no problem considering how much mileage I get out it.