Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Can we chat about cashmere please?

29 replies

Squeeless · 04/08/2018 20:12

I've just been looking at cashmere jumpers on Next. I've always liked the sound of a luxurious cashmere piece of clothing but I'm not being blown away and they are so pricey!

So cashmere lovers, what am I missing? Also any recommendations would be fab!

OP posts:
LunaTheCat · 04/08/2018 21:59

Good cashmere is great. Poor quality cashmere just looks awful really quickly. I am not in UK but lots people rate Uniqulo. I have ordered Brora online in the sales - could never pay full price. Beautiful quality and I expect will last many many yrs.

Original poster
Squeeless · 04/08/2018 22:19

Thanks luna

Probably a stupid question but what's good quality and bad quality cashmere? Is it the mix of cashmere/wool?

Thanks for the tips!

OP posts:
MissMildred · 04/08/2018 22:24

I have lots of cashmere - can't resist it. Pure, Brora and others. But I have to say, no matter what I do, it always shrinks. So I now get one size larger.
I did learn through experience to not use fabric conditioner.

IwankaTramp · 04/08/2018 23:13

THE length of the fibres determines whether it is good or poor quality.

My advice would be never to wash with biological detergents.

BubblesBuddy · 05/08/2018 06:56

Pure Cashmere cannot be mixed with any other wool. It’s either cashmere or it’s not.

Cashmere is warm but light. It should be fabulously soft. There are different guages of cashmere. 2 for normal wear up to 4 for heavier outer wear. You can also get a very gauzy gassato. Less good cashmere feels slightly less luxurious and is often thin. It just feels cheaper.

If you are buying for the first time, I think M&S does reasonable quality for the price. Or Pure. You can get Denner on line but their quality is variable. Boden quality is good.

With cashmere, as long as you keep moths at bay, it will last. Some cashmere can be hand washed or you can have it cleaned. Good cashmere won’t bobble and will remain soft. If you intend to hand wash, size up. Also most cashmere comes with washing instructions that you must follow. It’s always a great Christmas present or wait for the sales afterwards. Brora is expensive but in the sales it’s a bit better!

HumptyNumptyNooNoo · 05/08/2018 06:59

Mine are the best fed moths in the whole of the in :-(

HumptyNumptyNooNoo · 05/08/2018 07:00

*uk

SpeckledyHen · 05/08/2018 07:05

Watching with interest as I was some cahmere for the autumn / winter and know nothing about it.
I bought and returned a jumper from Pure Collection as it felt itchy ? It was described as gassato and I didn’t know what this meant ?

If money was no object - what is the ‘ Best ‘ brand please ?

Original poster
Squeeless · 05/08/2018 07:39

bubblesbuddy thank-you so much!! That is so informative. I thought it was either cashmere or not which was why I was confused about quality but that makes perfect sense.

I'll have a look at M&S as I'd like a lovely cashmere jumper like the one Olivia Palermo wore on her wedding day tucked into a skirt. So quite plain and simple but beautiful. This has encouraged me to keep looking!

OP posts:
teta · 05/08/2018 08:34

Brora is really good cashmere but very expensive. I don’t find Pure, Boden and M&S that good. M&S cashmere used to be very soft as I have jumpers from previous seasons that feel completely different to last years offerings. I buy my cashmere mostly from Tk Maxx or from BrandAlley ( Scott & Scott). Sometimes Tk Maxx have really lovely things. I also comb my jumpers really regularly with a cashmere comb and wash on a 30 degree cycle with a delicate wool wash. I have been known to tumble dry then for a couple of minutes to soften and fluff them up. Mine don’t shrink .... apart from the time I left them in the dryer accidentally.

SpeckledyHen · 05/08/2018 09:02

Thank you Teta . I have just seen that there is a Brora branch in Oxford not too far from me so will take a look at their’s as a benchmark at least .

I’ve ordered 2 from M&S to try too . Seems odd buying turtle-necks in this weather !

LanaorAna2 · 05/08/2018 09:44

TK Maxx has Chinti & Parker cashmere in now at 40 quid. Samples. yay.

TypicallyNorthern · 05/08/2018 09:48

I have a few cashmere jumpers. I'd never put them in the machine with other clothes and I would only ever use a wool/ cashmere hand wash detergent. I get mine from Waitrose own label. I usually hand wash or I put it in one of those net bags on it's own and put it in a gentle wool wash. They are still fabulous 3 years later and have not shrunk.

thedevilinablackdress · 05/08/2018 09:53

I get mine from eBay or charity shops. They go into the freezer for 24 hours straight away in case of moths.

Nanasueathome · 05/08/2018 09:55

Brora and Pure
But only in the sale

Phillipe · 05/08/2018 10:38

You need to go to TK Max.

I got a lovely plain black cashmere sweater there last year, the cashmere is really soft & good quality.

The brand is Paraphrase which I wonder is one of their in house brands as I'd never heard of it before.

I can't remember how much i paid, about £45 I think. Given the quality of the cashmere it would be at least 4x that in a 'known brand'.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/08/2018 10:40

I bought one years ago to try out (see what it was all about and did I want to buy more)

Tesco, in sale £20 , short sleeved crew neck beige,

It was not the best quality but it was soft , very lightweight and warm. Good as a layer under a thick coat if I'm in and out of shops.

I did wash it , net bag and wool liquid. It lasted a while but it did shrink and go felty.

If I was buying again, Woollovers would be my go-to. (I had some wool sweaters that lasted for the last 4 winters)

Uniqlo colours always a bit hit and miss .

I always stroke the M&S ones and promise myself one but IRC , I'm too cack handed !

Phillipe · 05/08/2018 10:44

This thread has reminded me I bought two lovely brand new M&S autograph cashmere jumpers a few months ago from a charity shop.... but cannot for the life of me remember where I put them.

One was cream and the other baby blue...

Original poster
Squeeless · 05/08/2018 15:03

So many good tips- thanks! I'll definitely be checking tk max too

OP posts:
Original poster
Squeeless · 05/08/2018 15:07

I'm thinking maybe this one just not sure of the sleeve length?

£59 M&S

Can we chat about cashmere please?
OP posts:
Mumsnut · 05/08/2018 15:20

Freezer, Philippe? ;)

Original poster
Squeeless · 05/08/2018 15:25

Actually if I was going for that one I'd probably get the black one so it's more versatile but I don't think I'll buy until I've been to tk max. Only problem with the M&S one is it's online only so I wouldn't be able to see it before buying

OP posts:
Original poster
Squeeless · 05/08/2018 15:26

You've lost me mumsnut?!

OP posts:
careerontrack · 05/08/2018 15:26

I’ve been slowly investing in cashmere. I have a few which are M&S which are great and the rest from uniqlo.

Haffiana · 05/08/2018 15:27

Yes yes to the freezer! I put all woolens from dodgy sources in the freezer for a few days (at least 10) to kill off any potential moth invasion.

I have done this ever since a cashmere sweater from Jigsaw caused me to have to throw away virtually every woolen object I owned. Sad

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.