It\u2019s that time again: the first sign of winter, a chilly morning\u2026and here\u2019s me, gleefully pulling out every cashmere sweater I own. There\u2019s nothing cozier or more lovely<\/em>, which is why cashmere is one of the few fabrics I\u2019ve worn to both black\u2011tie events and<\/em> the ski slopes. In winter, I wear it daily: lounging with sweatpants (I\u2019ve napped in cashmere), running errands, and even going out at night.<\/p>\n There are few closet pieces that get as much use as my cashmere sweaters.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wearing: sweater<\/a> (s) | jeans<\/a> | earrings<\/a> | ring<\/a><\/p>\n Not only does cashmere drape beautifully \u2013 one reason it never looks out of place at fancy events \u2013 but it has some serious performance cred, too. Like most technical fabrics, cashmere is made<\/em> for exercise. Why? It\u2019s moisture-wicking and breathable, so you can wear it for sweaty endeavors like skiing (It\u2019s the best midlayer I own) or even cold-weather hiking. Since cashmere is a natural fiber, it washes up beautifully (or\u2026it mostly does \u2013 there\u2019s an exception I\u2019ll talk about below), and doesn\u2019t take on bad smells like other performance fabrics.<\/p>\n Each year, in order to create this guide, I spend months researching, ordering, trying on, and sending back\u00a0dozens<\/em>\u00a0of cashmere sweaters for women. At this point\u2026I\u2019ve tried on hundreds<\/em> of cashmere sweaters over the years, and put many brands through some pretty long-term (years-long?) tests.<\/p>\n The reason I think this research is so important is because a cashmere sweater can be, in general, something of a splurge. And the price of cashmere varies greatly: some sweaters can be had for as little as $99, while others are as high as\u2026$6450??!!<\/a> (Admittedly, that one\u2019s gorgeous<\/em>.) And this year, the price of cashmere sweaters have shot up significantly \u2013 around $20 per sweater!! <\/p>\n So which cashmere sweaters hit that sweet spot of quality + price?<\/p>\n For the purposes of this<\/em> guide, I\u2019m only focusing on cashmere sweaters for women under $550. After trying on almost all cashmere known to man (haha), I honestly don\u2019t think cashmere over $550 is worth the extra cost \u2013 there are too many incredibly delicious cashmere sweaters under $550 to focus on (and most of my favorites below are less than $300).<\/p>\n I know these soft, fluffy sweaters are trending \u2013 literally everyone from J.Crew<\/a> to Lisa Yang<\/a> is coming out with brushed cashmere sweaters \u2013 but I\u2019m not including them in this guide. Why? <\/p>\n The brushed effect is created with fine metal rollers that literally brush up<\/em> the fibers to create that fuzzy texture, but it also means that these cashmere fibers are shorter, looser, and rub together more easily, which means more<\/em> pilling. Brushed cashmere can look festive \u2013 but think of it more like a special top that should be worn occasionally, rather than a hardworking, wear-everyday cashmere sweater.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n We\u2019ve broken this guide out into five sections. Here\u2019s a quick table of contents: <\/p>\n If you read this guide every year, you\u2019ll likely recognize some of the brands \u2013 per usual, Jenni Kayne<\/a> and Quince<\/a> are back (they feel like permanent fixtures at this point). That said, there are<\/em> a couple of pretty big changes. First of all, the top pick in last year\u2019s guide, Reformation\u2019s Cove Cashmere Sweater<\/a> now contains 5% wool which does change the feel somewhat, so it has been relegated to honorable mentions<\/a>. New to the guide this year? Aritzia<\/a> and Banana Republic<\/a>. Banana seems to have (mostly) fixed the technical construction issues that plagued them last year, and Aritzia\u2019s cashmere was a really nice surprise \u2013 it\u2019s softer and thicker than I expected, especially for the price.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s get into it!!<\/p>\n Why we love it: <\/strong>Cozy luxury in a timeless shape, wildly versatile & sustainably sourced<\/em><\/p>\n Where To Buy:<\/strong> Jenni Kayne<\/a><\/p>\n Jenni Kayne\u2019s Fisherman Sweater is still<\/em> the one to beat. It\u2019s 100% GCS-certified cashmere, and is seriously thick & cozy\u2026yet refined, too. The drape is next-level, and it feels ridiculously soft against even the most sensitive skin. Despite the wear and tear I\u2019ve put on it, this sweater holds its shape season after season. I reach for mine constantly \u2013 errands, dinners out, travel, skiing, all<\/em> of it. Available in an inclusive range of sizes (yay!!), the cashmere is sustainably sourced (that Good Cashmere Standard\u00ae is no joke), and spun from long-fiber yarns for exceptional softness and minimal pilling.<\/p>\n While this sweater fits TTS, I suggest sizing up one size for extra slouch. <\/p>\n And because I know you\u2019re going to ask\u2026how does<\/em> Jenni Kayne\u2019s Fisherman sweater<\/a> compare to the almost-identical Quince fisherman sweater<\/a> ?<\/p>\n Side-by-side, the difference is subtle \u2013 at first! If you look closely, the Jenni Kayne sweater has stitches that almost look \u201cprettier\u201d because they\u2019re using a higher-quality yarn (it\u2019s finer, the longer fibers spun evenly) and the knit gauge is balanced \u2013 not too tight, not too loose. Each stitch looks defined and dimensional. This gives the sweater that impeccable drape it\u2019s known for.<\/p>\n Comparatively, the Quince sweater stitches look tighter, more uniform. They\u2019re knitting with a slightly thinner yarn, at a slightly looser gauge. These stitches, in comparison, look neat but flat<\/em>. This construction means that the Quince sweater doesn\u2019t drape as well as Jenni\u2019s, and it pills much faster. Additionally, the cuff and hem finishes on the Quince sweater aren\u2019t as refined (or durable) as the Jenni Kayne. <\/p>\n It was created by the AbTF (Aid By Trade Foundation) to improve transparency and animal welfare in the cashmere supply chain. It\u2019s basically the cashmere world\u2019s equivalent of \u201corganic + fair-trade,\u201d and it\u2019s one of the only<\/em> third-party verifications that tracks animal care and<\/em> supply chain integrity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Why we love it:<\/strong> Parisian nonchalance meets plush cashmere \u2013 thick, refined, and seriously so cool.<\/em><\/p>\n Where To Buy:<\/strong> Nordstrom<\/a> | Saks<\/a> | Net-A-Porter<\/a> | SSense<\/a> | Farfetch<\/a> <\/p>\n French-girl brand Loulou Studio has my freaking NUMBER. The tailoring is impeccable \u2013 curved hems, perfectly designed sleeves, some sort of cool shoulder seam detail, the most nonchalant drape \u2013 and then there\u2019s the cashmere itself: deliciously<\/em> thick, soft and cozy. While LouLou doesn\u2019t share sourcing details (it\u2019s OEKO-TEX\u00ae certified but not recycled or GCS-certified), the quality is fantastic. Photos do NOT do this piece justice. It\u2019s the kind of piece I put on and Marisa, my photographer, literally gasps, \u201cOHHHHHHHH\u2026.\u201d. <\/p>\n sweater<\/a> (s) | jeans<\/a> | boots<\/a><\/p>\n Why we love it:<\/strong> 100% Mongolian cashmere that looks and feels luxe (for a fraction of the price).<\/em><\/p>\n Where To Buy:<\/strong> Quince<\/a><\/p>\n I\u2019ve tried on a lot<\/em> of Quince cashmere, and this one \u2013 with its oversized, boyfriend cut \u2013 is Quince\u2019s best<\/em>. Unlike most affordable cashmere, Quince\u2019s Oversized Mongolian Cashmere Sweater<\/a> is shockingly thick (for only $120!!), super soft, and bananas cozy. The heft and cut both feel like a much more expensive sweater, and many of the colors look high-end. Quince didn\u2019t skip on the sleeves, either \u2013 they\u2019re nice and long \u2013 and this sweater, overall, is an absolute steal.<\/p>\n That said, this sweater does pill rather quickly. Pilling doesn\u2019t necessarily bother me \u2013 all cashmere pills eventually \u2013 but you will notice faster pilling with this one. <\/p>\n sweater<\/a> (s) | jeans<\/a> | boots<\/a> | ring<\/a><\/p>\n Why we love it:<\/strong> Modern shape, solid quality, and responsibly sourced cashmere that is incredibly easy to wear.<\/em><\/p>\n Where To Buy:<\/strong> Everlane<\/a><\/p>\n Everlane\u2019s Boxy Crew<\/a> is one of the best cropped cashmere sweaters on the market. It\u2019s boxy, cropped shape is literally perfect \u2013 not too much, but with a bit of swing. It can be worn with skirts just as easily as jeans, and the color selection is truly jaw-dropping. It\u2019s a mid-weight cashmere (so not as thick as others on this list), but is one of those pieces that requires *zero* thought.<\/p>\n Best of all, Everlane has really nailed the neutral colors \u2013 the grays and ivory tones are especially beautiful, with variegated colors woven throughout. Overall, this sweater looks much more expensive than it is, and is a wildly useful, wear-everyday kind of piece.<\/p>\n sweater<\/a> (s)| jeans<\/a> | boots<\/a> | ring<\/a>\u00a0| earrings<\/a><\/p>\n Why we love it:<\/strong> Super soft cashmere, vintage vibes<\/em><\/p>\n Where To Buy:<\/strong> Banana Republic<\/a><\/p>\n Based on a piece Banana discovered in their archives, this vintage-inspired sweater reads sporty French Girl and I LOVE it. It\u2019s outfit-making but easy, and has quickly become a favorite. I mean\u2026that COLLAR. SWOON.<\/p>\n sweater<\/a> (s) | jeans<\/a> | boots<\/a><\/p>\n Why we love it:<\/strong> Ridiculously thick and soft, with vintage ski vibes.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Shana](\"https:\/\/themomedit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/best-cashmere-sweaters-women-2026-2-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThe Best Women\u2019s Cashmere Sweaters of 2026<\/h2>\n
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\nTable of Contents: The 2026 Cashmere Sweater Guide<\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\nThe Best Cashmere Sweater Pullovers (Including Chunky Knits, Boxy, Classic, Fisherman, and Stripes)<\/h2>\n
1. Best Overall: Jenni Kayne Cashmere Fisherman<\/h2>\n
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Sizing: Small Vs Medium<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Jenni Kayne Vs. Quince Fisherman Sweaters<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\nWhat is The Good Cashmere Standard\u00ae<\/strong> (Or GCS-Certified)?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
To be certified, herders and mills must follow guidelines covering:<\/p>\n\n
\n2. Best Luxe (But Under-The-Radar): Loulou Studio (or Loulou De Saison) Baltra Cashmere Sweater<\/h2>\n
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\n3. Best Affordable: Quince Mongolian Cashmere Crew<\/h2>\n
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\n4. Best Cropped, Boxy Cashmere Sweater: Everlane<\/h2>\n
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\n5. Best Stripes: Banana Republic Oversized Cashmere Cropped Polo<\/h2>\n
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\n5. Best Novelty: Naadam Apres Ski Sweater<\/h2>\n
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