<p>I want to buy a cashmere sweater for an aunt. I know pretty much nothing about cashmere (except that it is not machine washable, which has kept it out of my wardrobe). I would like something that is good quality without costing a fortune. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Garnet Hill is a reliable company with an easy to use web site. There are lots of comments from buyers so you can get tips on sizes. This cardigan style is classic and comes in pretty colors ($148):</p>
<p>[Classic</a> Cashmere Cardigan - Garnet Hill](<a href=“http://www.garnethill.com/classic-cashmere-cardigan/womens-fashion/sweaters/view-all-sweaters/16422]Classic”>http://www.garnethill.com/classic-cashmere-cardigan/womens-fashion/sweaters/view-all-sweaters/16422)</p>
<p>I have several cashmere sweaters from L.L. Bean in a hoody style just like a sweatshirt. I love them and wear them all winter. I think they will have them again this year, probably in late July or August. They zip up the front and have pockets and a hood.</p>
<p>L.L. Bean has cardigans right now for $129 and they have free shipping. I think the Garnet Hill ones look nicer.</p>
<p>[Classic</a> Cashmere Sweater, Button-Front Cardigan: Cardigans at L.L.Bean](<a href=“L.L.Bean: Page Not Available”>L.L.Bean: Page Not Available)</p>
<p>The Nordstrom anniversary sale is coming up in July and they will probably have a cashmere sweater on sale.</p>
<p>If this doesn’t answer your question, you could ask on the “Dressing Young” thread, which is always active. There are some serious shoppers who post there who will have more suggestions.</p>
<p>I like the cashmere sweaters from Land’s End. On their website, if you go to the “overstock” section, you can find pretty great prices.
In the winter, our local Costco stocks great basic cashmere sweaters, but a limited color selection. Unfortunately, their stock is seasonal, so that wouldn’t work for a gift you need to buy now.</p>
<p>I second the Lands End cashmere sweaters. I’m sort of a cashmere collector and I prefer Lands End cashmere to Talbots, Nordstroms, and some other high end retailers. LE usually has a great selection and they go on sale frequently.</p>
<p>I like LE and prefer it to the Costco cashmere I also have.</p>
<p>I don’t want to discourage you from buying a nice gift for your aunt–go for it. But in the future, something to be aware of is the environmental consequences of most cashmere production today. It used to be an expensive luxury fiber, because it was produced from relatively small herds of cashmere goats grazing on small sustainable farms in Europe. In the past decade cashmere prices have dropped dramatically; the inexpensive cashmere comes from China and Mongolia, where the goats are overgrazing millions of acres of drylands, leading to massive erosion and permanent destruction of the land. Google “cashmere overgrazing” and you’ll learn a lot. Sustainably produced cashmere is available, but it’s expensive and you’re unlikely to find it in Land’s End, Garnet Hill or Bean.</p>
<p>What is a good brand? Hmmm… Loro Piana comes to mind. Is it affordable? That is a really good question.</p>
<p>Pootie, yes, yes, and yes, but using your logic we also should not wear cotton (just Google and you will see all sorts of issues) and synthetic fibers (they come from oil, duh).</p>
<p>A word of caution about LE - I have been shopping there for years, buying almost all of S1’s and S2’s clothing, much of mine, and some of DH’s, from them. I valued the good quality and consistent sizing. Recently, I have seen problems with both sizing and quality. The cottons are not what they used to be, and quality of some products has gone down. I don’t know anything about their cashmeres.</p>
<p>I am sorry to hear about the downside of affordable cashmere. As BunsenBurner points out, there are issues with many of the things we buy. One thing I am struggling with at the moment is beef - I’m participating in the “Weight loss for dummies” thread, and many of us are experimenting with a high-protein/moderate-fat/low-carb diet, and flirting with the paleo diet, which involves high meat consumption. Yet I’ve been reading lately that half of all water usage in the world is devoted to raising beef - a good reason to go vegetarian.</p>
<p>Both Bloomingdale and Macy’s have house brands, Sutton Studio and Charter Club respectively, that make cashmere sweaters. I think they might be hard to find this time of year, but especially on sale, these can be obtained for less than a hundred dollars, sometimes far less.</p>
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<p>That is a misconception. Manufactureres attach “dry clean only” labels to handwash items because it is really hard to explain to an unexperienced person the precise steps that need to be taken during washing and drying in order not to ruin said items. Good quality cashmere is perfectly washable, says she who regularly washes her cashmere hats, sweaters, cardigans, and wraps.</p>
<p>Here is an idea. How about giving your aunt a cashmere wrap instead of a sweater? I love Nordstrom’s cashmere wraps, and they can be worn almost year round:</p>
<p>[Nordstrom</a> Tissue Weight Cashmere Wrap | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/nordstrom-tissue-weight-cashmere-wrap/2815691?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=0]Nordstrom”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/nordstrom-tissue-weight-cashmere-wrap/2815691?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=0)</p>
<p>88 reviews and 5 stars. Not bad :)</p>
<p>I do not recommend Macy’s house brand cashmere, because the quality went down in the past years…</p>
<p>I agree about the quaility of the Macy’s Charter Club sweaters. While the prices are good I find they don’t last a season.</p>
<p>I used to love Bloomindgales Sutton Studio cashmere and picked up 1-2 cardigans every year on Dec 26. (actually wearing one today!) However, 2 years ago they apparently changed the vendor and I find they are much thinner and the cardigan buttonholes are flimsey. I switched back to Lord & Taylor’s and am happier.</p>
<p>sorry to feed the poloabc ■■■■■…</p>
<p>Patagonia makes the best and warmest cashmere sweaters ever.</p>
<p>dmd, Loro Piana makes the best cashmere (best=/=affordable). :)</p>
<p>For someone on a non-Loro Piana budget still looking for a quality sweater, here is a suggestion:</p>
<p>[Costco</a> - Italian Cashmere](<a href=“http://www.costco.com/Common/Search.aspx?whse=BC&topnav=&search=cashmere&N=0&Ntt=cashmere&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US]Costco”>http://www.costco.com/Common/Search.aspx?whse=BC&topnav=&search=cashmere&N=0&Ntt=cashmere&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US)</p>
<p>There is an article in today’s WSJ about Cashmere and how to wash it. The guy recommends hand washing and only dry clean if there is a serious stain.</p>
<p>I think the quality of Cashmere varies so much that I’m almost afraid to buy it. I’ve read some articles about how the lower end wool won’t hold up at all, and I’m always thinking if the price is too low that I’m getting bad stuff.</p>
<p>I love the quality of the JCrew cashmeres, which are mad of Italian milled cashmere. And I wash ALL my cashmere sweaters-I use Ivory snow liquid and add softener in the rinse, and then lie them flat on towels. They come out clean, soft and fluffy!</p>
<p>Don’t know if you’re near NYC, but the Uniqlo stores have beautiful, well-under $100 cashmeres. Everything at that place is great quality and lasts forever. Highly recommend the merino sweaters too.</p>