Fabulous Classic Cashmere Under $100

Monday, October 21, 2013

As soon as the weather starts turning, I’m ready to climb back into my fall cashmere. I crave the soft, cozy, warm weave of a good cashmere sweater. Falling in love with cashmere is easy. Finding the right balance between “good” cashmere and a price tag that won’t blow your budget is the tricky part.

I won’t lie, expensive cashmere does feel better, and wear better, than lesser weaves. But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find a great cashmere sweater experience at an affordable price. After years of cashmere collecting, I’ve found two brands that offer a quality sweater in a range of seasonal colors for under $100.

Nordstrom’s in-house brand Halogen offers a basic cashmere v-neck sweater for an unbelievable $79.00. I have two of these sweaters, both purchased a few years ago, and they have worn quite well.

Halogen sweaters are a fairly lightweight weave, making them great for layering. This year the basic v-neck comes in 16 colors, including three striped versions. The heather dark camel color is a super versatile neutral; the heather stone/ ivory stripe is a fun, but still work-appropriate pattern.

Halogen V-Neck Cashmere Sweater in Heather Dark Camel


→ Buy the Halogen V-Neck Cashmere Sweater, $79.00, at nordstrom.com; shipping and returns are free.


Uniqlo’s cashmere sweaters are a bit thicker than the Halogen sweaters, but unfortunately also pill a bit more. Nothing that can’t be remedied with a standard pill-removal device, but something to be prepared for before you buy.

Uniqlo’s v-neck comes in an amazing 20 colors this year, including all of the classics and a wide range of on-trend colors. The bright pink and yellow versions are gorgeous. I have at least 7 Uniqlo cashmere sweaters (that I can think of off the top of my head), and have been very pleased with how they wear. Since they are a bit thicker than the Halogen sweaters, they are great for cooler climates.

Uniqlo Cashmere V-Neck Sweater in Yellow


→ Buy the Uniqlo Cashmere V-Neck Sweater, $89.90, at uniqlo.com.