All I want for Christmas is….. CASHMERE!

Cashmere is Code for Luxury Y’all!

There are a handful of words that just by their sheer utterance – immediately trigger feelings of luxury and indulgence. Caviar, carats (not the kind rabbits eat) and….. cashmere, one of the softest, warmest, lightest-weight luxury sweaters money can buy. I mean, how exciting is it to open a beautifully wrapped Christmas gift, and peel away the delicate tissue paper to reveal a gorgeous, yummy, luxurious cashmere sweater staring back at you? Pretty flippin’ exciting.

What is it?

In a nutshell, cashmere is the ultra-fine hair from the undercoat of cashmere goats, most of which come from the goats of Mongolia and China. Inner Mongolia produces the highest quality cashmere due to freezing cold, minus 40-degree winters, which have caused the goats to adapt by developing a double fleece. The undercoat of this fleece consists of ultra-fine hairs with major insulating properties – this is what produces our cashmere!

The Sweet-Spot is $100-$300

It can be confusing to see what looks like the exact same 100% cashmere sweater, priced at $100, $700 or $2,000 depending on the brand. Why the difference? The quality of the cashmere does play a role…. The most important factor being the length and fineness of the fibers. Products made with long fine fibers will pill less and maintain their shape better than those made with shorter hair. You’ll also pay more for a designer brand name or if it’s an extra cool design!

The pricing sweet spot for a cashmere item made with high-quality yarn, that will wear well and last for years is between $100 and $300, and that’s exactly what I’ve got for you! An array of cashmere gorgeousness that you’ll be proud to give as a generous gift to friends and to yourself! I mean, you deserve luxury too!!

Cashmere Gorgeousness

from $65 to $295!

AMAZON’S own Lark & Ro brand, 100% Cashmere Pullover Crewneck Sweaters. I love these so much – no joke, I have every color ;-/

AMAZON’s Brand, Lark & Ro

Hear me out on this one. Lark & Ro is Amazon’s proprietary brand of clothing essentials. Last year, I discovered their line of 100% cashmere sweaters, priced ridiculously well…. as in $77 for a basic crewneck pull-over. I ordered a few just to try – thinking they’d probably look cheap and I’d send them back. That didn’t happen…. I have to tell you, I found the quality for the price is unbelievable.

It’s a nice soft hand-feel, flattering fit and a can’t-be-beat basic. Amazon can price a $100 sweater for $77, because…..well, they’re Amazon. Ergo, cut-rate costs from suppliers due to scale, perhaps even manufacturing themselves. They pass the savings onto the consumer – so take advantage of it!!

I’m not embarrassed to tell you, that I loved them so much – I ordered one in most every color. They’re THE perfect basic. Wear as a layering piece over a button down, or just with a pair of jeans. So easy to throw on, yet look polished.

More Lark & Ro Cashmere You May Love!

Above:

+ Fluted Sleeved Crewneck, $67

+ V-Neck, $65

+ Boyfriend Cardigan, $64

+ Oversized Drapey Open Cardigan, $99

+ Pullover Crewneck, $77

Swanky Cashmere Scarves, Snoods & Wraps

A Must-Have for Travelers

I always take a large cashmere wrap on a plane. Not only is it easy to stow in your tote in case you need, it also doubles as a light blanket instead of the yucky ones the airlines give you. If you have a traveler on your list – this is a must!

Oh – and let’s not forget that scarves, wraps and snoods are one of the fastest, easiest ways to look polished and chic. They travel incredibly well and are a staple of every well-dressed woman’s wardrobe! The ultimate, are any of the above in cashmere. Aside from the decadent soft coziness, cashmere gives unparalleled warmth in cold weather.

Above:

+ Cable-knit scarf, $149

+ Snood, $99

+ Ribbed scarf, $295 (my personal pick!)

+ Ruffle scarf-wrap, $169

Luxe Gloves & Headwear

Ya gotta have even more luxury to complete a look, right? I am loving these Touchscreen-fingertip gray cashmere gloves. No more removing gloves in cold weather to use your Smartphone. Practical and glam – we like!!