Take a regular priced cashmere item. Usually you will pay more than $200 for a really nice piece of Kashmir. Of course you can always find cashmere for cheaper, but there is a big difference between high quality and low-quality cashmere. If you want to find your next beautiful cashmere coat were cashmere sweater, my suggestion would be to wait until now. By now, most stores are really trying to clear out their winter inventories. You may have to look in February sometimes because in March many of the women have already snatched up that cashmere that they have been waiting for. But the great thing of shopping for cashmere in February or March if that the stores are now discounting it more than 50%. So, instead of paying more than $200 for that really nice piece of Kashmir, you are now paying somewhere around $100 or less. Work, if you have been waiting to buy that cashmere coat, you are now paying $300 versus the $600 you might have had to pay in November.

If you want to get a collection of fantastic cashmere, you need to wait for the cashmere sale. Cashmere does go on sale, but you have to have patience. You need to be checking the stores every week from January. You need to be waiting for your specific item and already know the item that you want. Come February, when stores start to bring in a lot more of their spring line, they will want to clear out that winter line as fast as possible. Also, it is not too late now. Don’t forget that some of the online stores carry the end of season inventory a lot later than regular stores. So, don’t forget to go online to look for your favorite pieces of cashmere. Stores like bluefly.com and overstock.com will sometimes carry the end of season items at a huge discount. So, if you are looking to buy a few more cashmere cardigans for next winter, go on line now and start searching.

Pink is a fantastic color for women. Most of the time when women wear pink it makes them look like they are very feminine and girly. For those women that are trying to look more attractive to men, pink is a great color to add to your wardrobe. Most men do not wear pink very well, and it is primarily a woman’s color. Adding pink, reminds them of all of the things about women that they like. Pink reminds them of perfume, flowers, and just general feminine items. Do not try to decorate your entire room in pink. Nor do not try to wear all pink. However, adding a little pink to your wardrobe will really allow you to add that feminine touch.

A pink cashmere cardigan is an easy item to throw on all winter long. Whenever it gets cold, it is easy to add to your wardrobe. Unlike white which is very stark, pink makes a person look warmer and cozier. Also, pink actually accentuate a lot of the winter colors very well. Gray and black are the primary winter colors that you see in many women’s wardrobes. Adding a little pink at the touch of color without adding something to bold. If you are not used to wearing green or red or a yellow cardigan, consider choosing pink as an alternative. Pink is so subtle it is very close to white, therefore it is easy to add.

Finally, the pink cardigan will keep you warm all winter. During the very cold winters, you need items that you can easily throw on over other sweaters and long sleeve shirts. If you have a tendency to have a lot of neutral items in your closet then adding something with color will really help to brighten up your clothes. If you like color, then adding a pink item will really help to mix it up. So for all of you who did not pick up a pink cashmere cardigan yet during the winter sales, head out to the nearest department store to get that pink cardigan on sale for a great price.

When the cashmere cardigan came, I was pleasantly surprised.  The thing is, I chose one that was more than 40% off the original price.  This is the main reason why I ordered online.  It was so much cheaper than what I had found in the stores, even when I found cardigans on sale.  Therefore, I decided to save money and order the clothes online.  I had chosen a bright orange color because I wanted to brighten up my winter clothes.  The color was true to what I saw on the internet and the cashmere was great quality.  It felt really good and it fit well on me.  The only thing I regretted was not ordering another one.  There were many different colors to choose from and I had only chosen one color.  When I went back online to try and order another one, everything was sold out.  Therefore, I would recommend ordering a cashmere cardigan online and taking that chance, but next time, I would say order 2.  You can always return it and if you like it, you would have found a great deal.

1.     Style – What style cardigan are you looking for?  Do you want a long cardigan or a short cardigan?  If you want a trendy one, how trendy do you want to go?  Remember that if the item is too trendy, then you won’t be able to wear it next year and you may not want to spend too much money on it.  However, if the item is not that trendy and you are looking for something stylish, then you may not wear it and all of that money you spent on the cardigan will go to waste.

2.    Money – How much are you willing to spend?  There are countless choices and the prices range from $50 to more than $1000.  Cashmere is more expensive and a good cashmere cardigan will last you a while so consider your budget.  Normally, for around $200, you will find a great stylish cardigan that you can wear this year and into next year.

3.    Closet – Look through your closet and see what clothes you will match the cardigan with.  This will help you determine if you want one that is colorful or if you just want to buy a black cashmere cardigan that can go with everything.  Also, depending on your style, you will want to buy a cardigan that matches that style.  Don’t buy a short one if everything in your closet is longer and you don’t have many skirts or dresses.  Buy a long cardigan if you’ve got plenty of t-shirts, skinny jeans, and boots to match.

4.    Figure – Look at your figure and make sure you know what type of cardigan will look best on you.  For some people, the long cardigan looks great since it allows them to hide their larger thighs and waist.  For others, a short cardigan may look better since there are a lot of boxier short cardigans that allow them to balance out the skinny jeans and leggings they like to wear underneath.  Whatever your body type, make sure you understand what will look best on you.

After thinking through these things, check out some of the great new cardigans that I’ve found below.

Martin & Osa Long & Lean Cardigan
This is a great cardigan for those looking for something to wear every day.  It matches many items and is really flattering.

Martin + Osa Cardigan

Marc Jacobs Mildred Cashmere Cardigan
This beautiful white cardigan has fine details that make it stand out.  Plus, Marc Jacobs clothes always fall and flatter the body.

Marc Jacobs Cashmere Cardigan

Victoria Secret Silk & Cashmere Chiffon-Trim Long Cardigan
I love this cardigan!  It’s not pure cashmere, but it is so cute and looks great over jeans or any pants.

Victoria Secret Cardigan

Marled cashmere cardigan – J. Crew
Check out this first one. The cardigan is a little chunkier and it is fantastic over a thin t-shirt or tank. It hits at the hips and comes in a warm grey color. Plus, don’t forget where J. Crew gets its cashmere – the same place as a “world-famous mill in Piedmont” (to quote them) or otherwise known as Loro Piana – the designer and maker of fantastic and outrageously expensive cashmere (expect to spend at least $1000). This cardigan will only cost you $298.

Ralph Lauren Wool-Cashmere Cardigan
I love this next cardigan. Simple, basic and something you can pair with everything, whether it’s black leggings or a short skirt. It comes in 3 colors – red, heather grey, and black, and is the perfect cardigan for those looking for something basic to wear all winter. Get it for $225.

Splendid Shadow Stripe Cashmere Cardigan
This next item is so cute. It is a thinly striped cardigan that you can layer. You can even do that new look that women are trying out – layering one heavier cardigan over a lighter one. This cardigan is so thin, but yet so warm. The stripes give it a trendier look than the traditional one color cardigan. The v-neck in front also makes it very flattering when buttoned or worn open. Buy it at Splendid.com for $267.

Vince Cashmere Draped Shrug
I love all things by Vince. The material he uses is just so nice and his clothes always look good on. This next piece is a modern take on the traditional cardigan. They call it a draped shrug because it does just that. Drapes over the shoulders and hangs delicately in front. Check out the three-quarter cap sleeves that show off your arms, but still keep you warm in the winter. Buy this one at Bergdorf for $285.

Theory Hollis Cashmere Cardigan
This next piece from Theory is a long cardigan. I love long cardigans in the winter. Ever feel like your legs get cold and you don’t know what to do? Well, I always choose a long cardigan when I know I’m going to be out late. This way, my legs will be protected since my boots never come that far up. This Theory long black cardigan is gorgeous. It falls slimly over your body and is thin so it doesn’t make you look chunky. Shopbop.com is carrying this for $365.

Kate Spade ‘Courtney’ Cashmere Cardigan
For those of you looking for something more conservative, but still want to have a little fun, try this cream and black cardigan from Kate Spade. The pockets are topped with little white bows and the black and white look works great with skirts and shirts in different colors. Buy this from Nordstrom for $295.

White + Warren Superfine Ruffled Cashmere Cardigan
A cardigan doesn’t always have to be so conservative. Check out this really feminine cardigan that adds so much to a plain white t-shirt and jeans. After putting this on, I felt transformed into someone much girlier. The knit is so fine and thin and the ruffles drape really prettily around your body. I tried it with a pencil skirt and tank and it looks great too. It costs $295 and is well worth the investment.

Aqua Wrapped Cashmere Cardigan
If you’ve never seen this brand, go check it out at Bloomingdales. Aqua makes some of the best and most affordable cashmere clothing. Plus, their styles are always trendy and updated so you can never go wrong with one of their items. This wrap has an oversized shawl collar which drapes prettily around the neck. Then, you just wrap it in front for a fantastic look over your leggings, jeans and any shirt. It comes in black or heather brown and you can buy it for $178 at Bloomingdales. What a steal!

Michael Kors Cashmere Shrug
Finally, I couldn’t resist throwing in this Michael Kors Cashmere Shrug that I saw at Bergdorf Goodman. I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for something to throw on over my dresses. I love my fall dresses, but sleeveless is just too cold in the winter. Why not throw on a cashmere cardigan or cashmere shrug? This shrug is so cute, hits above the waist, and will keep you warm in your dresses all winter long. Get it for $595 or shop around for others.

This first one is from Banana Republic.  It’s an open cardigan, no buttons, with big sleeves.  It’s flattering, yet is completely comfortable and won’t make you feel constrained.  I love the colors it comes in – a Heather Gray and a beautiful taupe.

Banana Republic Cardigan

I love these next 2 from J. Crew.   Now that I know where they buy their wool, I definitely check out this store more often since I know their cashmere is really high quality. Check out the first one with cute ruffles on the sleeves.  It’s on sale for $49.99 and comes in so many different colors such as black, yellow, Sweet Orange, Bright Tulip and more.  By the way, don’t you love the names of the colors?  The Bright Tulip is this pink color that is beautiful.  I can see myself wearing this now and into the fall season since it’s short sleeve, but still cashmere so it’s incredibly warm.

J. Crew Cashmere Cardigan

I also found this other cardigan at J. Crew.  I’m showing it to you because I love the color – salmon – and love the name.  It’s called the Cashmere Jackie cardigan and on the model, it looks like Jackie O!  If you’re going for that look, definitely check this out.  I love how the color is brighter, but the cut is more conservative.

J. Crew Jackie Cardigan

Finally, check out this Laurie B. “It’s a Wrap” cashmere cardigan from Nordstrom’s.  For all of you tall ladies, this cardigan is so elegant.  You can wrap it different ways or just leave it hanging down like this model.  It really helps to hide some blemishes while keeping you looking gorgeous and elegant.  It’s also really warm and serves and a great item to wear to the movies, out to the park, or anywhere else you want to cover up more.

Nordstrom Laurie B. Cashmere Cardigan

I’ll have more to post as the fall season comes in so stay tuned!  Also, send me anything you’ve found!

Loro Piana cashmere cardigan from Neiman Marcus

The interesting thing is that the article talked about how Loro Piana sells its fabric to high-end manufacturers such as Brioni and Brooks Brothers.  They use the fabric and can then put the Loro Piana label on them.  But, what nobody really knows is that they also sell their fabric to middle-end manufacturers as well.  Places like Bloomingdale’s also use them to make their in-store sweaters.
The biggest thing I learned is that J. Crew also buys their wool from there (remember – cashmere is a type of wool).  So, all of J. Crew’s sweaters are now made from the same wool as the sweaters made by Loro Piana!  Can you believe it?  J. Crew sweaters are about 20% of the price of Loro Piana sweaters.  J. Crew used to buy from a different manufacturer, but now is buying from Loro Piana because they want to increase the quality of their items and hopefully the price.  The good thing is that their prices can never even be in the same ballpark as Loro Piana since they cater to a much different market.  Therefore, if you are looking for a cashmere cardigan, you should definitely consider the cashmere from J. Crew.

J. Crew cashmere cardigan

The one downside was that the writer, Christina Binkley, compared 2 cashmere cardigans, one from Loro Piana and the other from J. Crew.  She found that the J. Crew one was a lot thinner and a lot more flimsy.  It seemed like the J. Crew sweater wouldn’t last half as long as the Loro Piana one.  So, even though the cashmere is purchased from the same place, when it is made into a sweater, J. Crew does not put as much effort or detail or even material into it as Loro Piana.   Also, I went to Neiman Marcus to look at a Loro Piana cashmere cardigan and it is definitely a lot thicker and more luxurious than ones from J. Crew.  However, it was also more than $5000 which equals more than 20 J. Crew sweaters.

Regardless of that, I still think it is a great deal.  I don’t know about you, but I definitely cannot afford a Loro Piana sweater.  However, I can buy a J. Crew sweater really easily.  So, this winter, when I am looking for my new cashmere cardigans, I will be looking at J. Crew for some great quality items.

Short cardigan

Nordstrom green cashmere cardigan

Made famous in the 60’s with women wearing them over poodle skirts and tight jeans, the short cardigan is one of the longest lasting clothing items in history since it has outlasted countless trends.  It matches almost everything you wear, whether it is a short skirt or trousers.  You can dress it up or dress it down.  The key to a short cardigan is to make sure it falls at the right place on your body.  Ideally, you want it to fall right at the top of your waist.  These days, since many pants and jeans are more low waisted, you should make sure that the short cardigan is still long enough to hit at the top of those low waisted pants.  You definitely do not want it falling higher than the waist.  Nor, do you want it to hit below the waist, hiding your waist line.   No matter if you are short or tall, skinny or slightly chubbier, the short cardigan will work for you.  Choose a short cardigan in a bright color like red or green to compliment your wardrobe.  Or, buy one in a conservative color like black or grey to blend in.

Long cardigan

Vince cashmere cardigan

The longer trend has resurfaced in the past few years and is here to stay.  From Gap to Neiman Marcus, you see the long cashmere cardigan being sold all over the place.  The key to the long cardigan is to style it with the right clothes.  Wear these over tight jeans or just tights.  Wear them over a short dress, but make sure they fall straight and are not too short compared to the dress.  The key to a long cardigan is where it hits on your body and how it falls.  If you are buying a tighter style, you want that cardigan to fall a little tighter down to the middle of your thighs.  Basically, the entire fit will be more narrow and body hugging.  On the reverse, if it is a more looser style, then it will be fitted on top, but fall out and swing around your body.  

Trendy vs. conservative

Sutton Studio cardigan, Bloomingdale's

The final decision for a cashmere cardigan is whether you want a more trendy or conservative one.  A conservative one is very long lasting and you can wear it again and again in every season.  The look is very classic with nice buttons and a regular shape.  It won’t hug your body as much, but it will still flatter everyone.  A trendy cardigan changes with the fashions.  The latest fashions have more cardigans that drape, have less buttons, and are more voluminous.  You won’t wear the trendier cardigan for as long as you will the conservative one but it will definitely be more fun to wear.  With the trendier cashmere cardigan, you will feel like it is a great part of your outfit.  That season, you will probably wear it again and again.  However, be careful, it may not last you more than one or two seasons before the shape or the style disappears.