Seven Days of Style: Cashmere, low to luxe

| Posted Dec 21st 2006 11:29AM by Sarah J. Gim
Filed under: Holidays, High-end threads, Casual wear, Seven Days of Styledash, Dresses and Skirts, Outerwear, Tops

Anne posted about a recent article in the UK Times about cashmere - what used to be considered quite a luxury is becoming more and more affordable. Take a moment to refer to the article as a good resource for understanding the differences among the different quality cashmere. While you do that, we're going shopping for cashmere, from low-cost to luxe, and you can decide where you want to put your dollars (or cents, as the case may be).

Sunday - It doesn't get any more affordable than Target, but $19.99 cashmere is stylish when it comes from designer Behnaz Sarafpour. So what the short sleeve sweater with bow detail at the neckline is a cashmere blend? So what if it's 95% cotton and only 5% cashmere? It still has cashmere in it.

Monday - If you only want to spend $19.99 on 100% cashmere, get gloves at J. Crew. In fact, if you are aiming for the highest quality cashmere, which starts with quality yarns, 2-play, and a tight knit in the manufacture, but have to stay within a budget, gloves and scarves are your best bet.

Tuesday - Maybe we'll do a little better with a cashmere blend that's more cashmere than something else. Gap's Deep V-Neck Sweater is 15% cashmere, which is why it's only $44. If you want to full cashmere, Gap has a more modest V-neck sweater that's 100% cashmere for $88.

Wednesday - J. Crew thinks that everyone deserves a little bit of luxury so they have an entire section of their site dedicated to cashmere. Their cashmere crewneck cardigan is $158 and comes in more than a dozen colors. The one shown in Majestic Purple, but I have a thing for their Heather Peppermint (light pink).

Thursday - If you can afford $248, then Nordstrom carries the Tesori cashmere cable-knit sweater. The slightly long sweater has a shallow V-neckline and comes in both Ivory (shown) and Heather Grey.

Friday - You know how much I love Diane von Furstenberg's dresses, and lucky for this post, the designer makes a wrap dress out of 100% cashmere. The Jewel dress has the same shape and features as all her signature wrap dresses, with a tie at the waist. DvF's Jewel dress is $546 at Nordstrom.

Saturday - When I think of fine cashmere, the first name that does come to mind is TSE. Saks Fifth Avenue carries the line, and while they currently don't have mathing top and bottom, they do have TSE's basics like sweaters and cardigans. The Crewneck Cardigan with ¾-length sleeves also features silk in the weave. The sweater is $895.

Bonus - We also end with a bonus because we don't like to leave holes in our pictures, and since we don't want you to leave holes in your cashmere goods, use White+Warren's wash specially formulated for handwashing your cashmere. It's $20 at Neiman Marcus.

Tags: cashmere