Ellen Tracy cashmere cardigan from Nordstrom

A cashmere cardigan is one of the most versatile items that you can buy.  Starting from the end of Summer until the end of Spring, you will be able to wear the cashmere cardigan all year round.  Beyond that, you can match it with so many different outfits that you will find yourself pulling it out again and again to wear.  It goes on top of jeans, skirts, and even a ton of dresses, both formal and more casual.  It also goes on top of t-shirts, long sleeve button down formal shirts, and little tank tops that you wear around during the summer.

The best thing about the cashmere cardigan is how warm and soft it is.  For such a thin, lightweight item, you get a lot of warmth.  To remain that warm with any other item would usually require a coat or sweater that is much heavier.  The feel of cashmere against the body makes the material one of the most luxurious materials in the world.

One little known fact is that cashmere is a fiber obtained from the Cashmere goat and it is actually a type of wool.  In the U.S., there are strict requirements for the product to be labeled as cashmere, however, some countries are more relaxed in their standards.  When buying a cashmere cardigan, make sure you check the label so you know it is 100% cashmere.  Many manufacturers make a blended cashmere where cashmere is mixed in with another material such as wool, silk or even cotton.  These blends can also be very comfortable, but they won’t be as warm as a pure cashmere cardigan.  Many stores will not tell you upfront that it is not 100% cashmere so don’t get tricked into buying something that you think is 100%.

Cashmere is more expensive than silk, wool, cotton, or other materials used to make clothes because the goats that it comes from are rarer and there are only a few areas that actually raise the goats.  Because of this, you should always check to make sure it is 100%.  If it isn’t, then you definitely should not be paying as much money.  Some stores like to use the word cashmere even if it is only 10% cashmere since they know they can get more money for any item labeled as cashmere.  So be careful when purchasing.  Also, be prepared to pay a bit more for your cashmere cardigan.

The cashmere cardigan that you can buy can be thick cashmere, or the very thin cashmere.  The thin cashmere usually fits better on the body.  Both kinds can be equally warm even though one is thinner.  Thinner cashmere is usually more expensive and used by more luxury designers such as Vince, Theory, and Tse.  Regardless of if your cardigan is thick or thin, the most important thing is if the cashmere is very fine.  The finer the cashmere, the more expensive the cardigan and the longer it will keep.  Coarser cashmere tends to pill more easily and won’t last as long.  When determining whether or not the cashmere is higher quality, use your fingers to judge.  If the cashmere doesn’t feel smooth, soft and fine, then it probably isn’t as high quality and is closer to regular wool.  If it feels soft and luxurious, then it is probably much better cashmere.