A little early - cashmere

[babyocho]

This year I am going to get a cashmere jumper, and not just think about it. What's your fave cashmere shop?

[EuphemiaMcGonagall]

Brora are lovely but £££.

Both John Lewis and M&S do cashmere jumpers and cardigans at much more reasonable prices, and they're lovely.

[MrsSnow]

Not early at all, I bought myself cashmere gloves in June!

Brora I have to agree is £££ but I'd wait for a sale.

Agree with JL and M+S

[Optimism]

I've bought cashmere from M&S, Boden and Brora over the years.

The M&S is good quality but be careful if you're at all long limbed - I'm only 5'7" and the arms are just not quite long enough. I've tried to convince myself they are because the price/quality is good but they're really not - despite my trying to stretch them every time I wash them!

Boden are not bad but mine haven't worn as well as my Brora cashmere which, though I agree is extremely £££, is really lovely and still going strong six years later (despite the fact I ignore the 'handwash only' instructions and put it in the machine on a 30 degree delicate cycle - life is too short for handwashing).

If you're interested and live anywhere near London it's worth getting on the Brora emailing list to hear about their clearance sales - they seem to have them a few times a year. Good for picking up bargains.

[Sariska]

So would you say Boden cashmere is worth buying, Optimism? I really want something from Brora but it's too £££ so will have to wait and hope that what I want comes into the sale at an OK price. In the meantime, I am tempted by the cropped cashmere cardy that is Boden's Catch of the Day today.

Sorry for highjack, OP.

[Dorothyredboots]

I think Boden cashmere is Ok, although I'm not lucky enought to have Brora (yet!). I have had three of the cropped cardigans and they have washed very well. They go a bit bobbly to start with but if you persevere with the little shaver machine thingyies you can get, they do sort themselves out. Just give them a bit of respect - but I do wash mine in the machine.

[Optimism]

Yes, I would say Boden is worth buying. I have two of their cropped cardigans and I have worn and washed them a lot. The 'cuffs' have stretched a bit/gone baggy, if you know what I mean, and one of them developed a little hole under the arm that needed fixing but they're both still perfectly wearable and I would buy from them again. The price is definitely much more appealing than Brora.

[bluesky]

Purecollection.com is really good, think they have a sale on at the mo.

Brora is lovely and lasts and washes really well. Better quality than M&S.

[babyocho]

Wow Brora is very expensive, but look lovely. Will hold out for a sale.

Purecollection.com do have a sale on! Think I will pick up something from there.

[ComradeJing]

The thing is, good quality cashmere should last years so it can work out cheaper to get a brora jumper that lasts 6 years instead of 4 m&s ones.

[higgle]

I have some Brora, which was worth it, though I only buy in the sale. I have quite a large collection of vintage cashmere that i have bouught on ebay, Some is Intarsia, some printed and some lovely classic cardigans. This is by far the best quality ( Pringle, Dalton, Hawick) I've paid between £5 and £60 for these and they will last forever.

[babyocho]

Do you know when Brora have their sale?

[higgle]

The summer sale has just finished, so it will be January now - usually one of the latest to start and they have 2 rounds of reductions.

[FGM]

Brora is definitely the best quality but my third favourite cashmere cardi is from Uniqlo which is way cheaper. I wouldn't touch M&S (rubbish IMHO). Boden is if you must.

[FGM]

Boden is OK if you must.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Land's End cashmere is not bad quality (better than M & S, not as good as Brora) if you want a fairly classic style.