The Cashmere Sweaters I Used to Recommend vs. the Only Ones I Wear Now
When I worked at Nordstrom, I used to tell my clients to invest in one really good cashmere sweater every season. After a few years, they’d have a beautiful collection of quality sweaters they could wear for years to come.
I spent more time in Nordstrom fitting rooms over those 20 years than most women spend in their kitchens.I’m a retail cheapskate, but a sweater snob. I want soft, luxurious Grade-A cashmere that doesn’t itch, holds its shape, and looks as bougie as it feels.
My cashmere standards haven’t changed. What I spend has.
Now that I’ve found Quince, I can build an entire cashmere collection in one season without compromising on quality. You don’t have to wait years to have a closet full of beautiful cashmere, either.
What 20 Years at Nordstrom Taught Me About Buying Cashmere
Not all cashmere is created equal, and an expensive price tag doesn’t guarantee you’re getting the good stuff. I look for Grade-A cashmere, made from the finest, longest fibers of a goat’s soft undercoat. It’s the kind that’s buttery soft, not itchy, and less prone to pilling. Give me that in the beautiful neutrals and timeless sweater styles you’d expect from a brand like Jenni Kayne, and I’m a happy girl. Just don’t make me pay extra for the name on the label.
A Closet Full of Cashmere, All From One Brand
Quince has officially taken over my closet. I don’t wear any other sweaters anymore. Call me dramatic, but it’s true. I’ve built my own little cashmere capsule that takes me from jeans and sneakers to holiday parties and everything in between.
The Cashmere Capsule You’ll Wear on Repeat
You’ve seen these sweaters before. They’ve made it into more of my capsule wardrobes than any other brand, and some barely make it back into my closet before I’m wearing them again. The secret is having the right sweater for every outfit. Oversized cardigans for leggings, cropped cardigans for midi skirts and dresses, cozy sweaters for casual days, and colorful cardigans that spend more time around my shoulders or waist than buttoned up. Even a simple Amazon skirt looks expensive when you pair it with beautiful cashmere.
1 | The Classic Cardigan
You need this classic cashmere cardigan for every capsule wardrobe. I have it in every color, and it has made its way into every capsule wardrobe I’ve created over the last six months. Most recently, it was part of my October Fall Capsule, my Cruise Capsule, and the carryon I packed for two weeks in Italy this summer. It comes in ten colors, and at $79.90, you don’t have to choose just one.
Styling a Classic Cardigan
2| The Cropped Cashmere Cardigan
You need this cropped cashmere cardigan for wide-leg pants and midi skirts or dresses. The secret is getting the proportions right, and this one hits at just the right spot, with a flattering V-neck, fun flared sleeves, and buttons that let you wear it frontward or backward.
3 | The Oversized Cashmere Cardigan
You need this oversized cashmere cardigan for leggings. Most days, it lives on the back of my desk chair. It’s my work-from-home staple and the perfect silhouette to wear with a short skirt or dress. Cozy enough to lounge in, but far too pretty to leave at home.
4| The Oversized Cashmere Pullover
You need this oversized cashmere pullover instead of another sweatshirt. It’s just as comfortable, but it makes your loungewear look luxe, even when you’re wearing nothing more than a simple pair of leggings.
5 | The Cashmere Tee
You need this Cashmere Tee instead of another cotton tee. The best thing I did for my casual wardrobe after 40 was trade in my cotton T-shirts for cashmere ones. The ivory version made it into my Fall Capsule because it’s a softer, more subtle alternative to stark white cotton and looks beautiful with fall colors. You won’t stop at ivory, either. I just added pastel pink to my collection, because every girl looks pretty in pink.
Stripe Is My Spirit Animal
My favorite neutral print is stripes, and these are some of my favorite striped sweaters from Quince. The cropped pink stripe cardigan is new, and this blue and brown pullover keeps selling out. Snag it if you can!
The Cashmere Gifts Yule Want to Give
If you’re going to give someone the sweater treatment this Christmas, make it quality cashmere. A cashmere sweater is the Quinceessential holiday gift. I’m collecting this Grade-A cashmere cardigan in every color because it goes with everything. Pair it with the cashmere T-shirt for a little mini sweater capsule she can wear all year. For the woman who runs warm, the cashmere tee is a lightweight luxury she’ll love. It also comes in a short-sleeve cardigan, and I’m wearing the polo version in the video. The gift I give any woman? A cashmere wrap. It’s a beautiful holiday accessory and the best travel companion.
How I Keep My Cashmere Looking Beautiful Year After Year
I don’t believe in babying my clothes, but I do want my favorite sweaters to look just as beautiful next year as they do today. A little TLC goes a long way, especially when it comes to washing, removing pills, and storing your sweaters between seasons.
I’ve put together my favorite tips and tricks for keeping cashmere looking beautiful, including the right way to fold and store your sweaters, in my complete guide to caring for cashmere.
