The best modern cashmere <$250
Video | Shop the post: sweaters, Italic sweater
What makes a sweater great? Technical specs matter because we want it to perform, and we want it to last. But our wardrobes aren't machines to be optimized for functionality. The technical specs only matter if they deliver us clothes we enjoy wearing.
I've got my favorite sweaters here with modern cuts, and I'll highlight what they deliver best so you can pick a sweater for your priorities.
I'll be providing gauge data and then grading the rest of the categories from one to five, five being best. I'll include design notes about the cut and execution.
Gauge: number of stitches per inch. The higher the gauge, the finer the sweater. This stat tells you about the thickness of the sweater, but quality sweaters can have different gauges.
Surface smoothness: generally, a fuzzy surface is a precursor to pilling because the little filaments rub together to create the little balls we call pilling. The more surface fluff a sweater has, the more it's likely to pill. For my scale, smoothness is the opposite of fluff. A higher smoothness score means less (bad) fluff.
Knit tightness: a tighter knit is more dense with yarn, so a densely knit sweater would have more cashmere per square inch than a loosely knit sweater. Loose knits are more likely to pill because the yarn can move around as you do, creating friction. The friction can then cause filaments to rise to the surface, and the resulting surface fluff + friction = potential pilling. I'll note that very tightly knit sweaters can turn stiff. None of the sweaters evaluated here are too densely knit. A higher score will indicate better quality.
Color: the whiter the raw cashmere, the better it takes dye. If raw cashmere has a murky gray/brown color, it is not high quality. It infuses any color with murk, so it can't take on bright hues. A higher score means more available colors and clarity among the colors available.
Most colorful: J.Crew
It's hard to find a palette this brilliant at J.Crew's prices, and only superior cashmere can render color with brilliant clarity. While the yarn runs thinner and the knit looser than some competitors, the trade-off feels intentional rather than compromising. Their styling reveals the Miu Miu inspiration behind their cuts, and the result is a sweater that brings high fashion sensibility to everyday wear.
- Gauge: 14
- Surface smoothness: 3/5
- Knit tightness: 2/5
- Color: 5/5
Most affordable: Quince
While the $50 crewneck is not my favorite, Quince's Mongolian Cashmere Boxy Crewneck Sweater delivers thoughtful design through careful details. The rolled edges and split waistband elevate the piece well beyond its modest price tag. While the color selection is limited to six options, they do include my favorite understated color of 2024: denim blue. Quince uses Grade A cashmere, so the sweater is very soft. This is the rare affordable luxury that doesn't feel like a compromise.
- Gauge: 12
- Surface smoothness: 3/5
- Knit tightness: 4/5
- Color: 2/5
