I have been on the ultimate hunt for affordable cashmere sweaters, going on for two years now. It all started when I took a hard look at my closet and wondered what was missing, what I could toss out, and what had stood the test of time. My attention was caught by the 12-year-old Rag & Bone cashmere sweater my dad had bought for me for Christmas at an outlet mall. It was discounted by 60 percent and still felt like a hefty investment. An entire decade later, though, it remains in pristine condition and gets a ton of wear, leading me to believe that a good cashmere sweater is always worth the money.
Of course, the sentiment feels logical until I’m standing in front of a $600 Mongolian cashmere sweater and can’t seem to pull the trigger. Does cashmere really have to be that expensive? A little research informs me that, yes, the raw fiber is quite difficult to source and takes between three and six goats to make a single cashmere sweater. While it certainly made me respect the garment more, it doesn’t change the fact that $600 in this economy is no small feat. I’d genuinely have to avoid eating out for the next two months to justify the splurge.
Until the day comes that I can casually drop several hundred dollars on a single sweater, I’m filling the gap in my capsule wardrobe by investing in the best affordable cashmere sweaters I can find.
My Top Affordable Cashmere Sweaters, At A Glance
The Research
My hunt for affordable cashmere led me to Aritzia, Naadam, Quince, Uniqlo, and Banana Republic—where I tried on some of the under-$200 cashmere sweaters they had in stock. For the brands that don’t have physical store locations, I ordered their pieces online and tested them as part of my normal outfit rotation.
The Comparison
Uniqlo Fluffy Cashmere Relaxed V-Neck Sweater
- Best for: Work, everyday life.
