What makes a £400 cardigan 'worth it'?

[NiceSausage]

I was thinking about this because the ONLY damn cardigan I have truly loved and which fits (perfectly) my ultimate criteria in many years of searching comes in at this price. Typical!

It is a cashmere loose fit v-neck from Johnstons of Elgin.
I have searched everywhere, from Poetry to Ebay to Vinted and have never been able to find the one in my mind. And then this turns up.

I could use my savings, which wouldn't be hurt by it, but it feels somehow off. I can't bring myself to do it. When I ask myself why, omitting financial constrains (which thankfully there aren't at the moment), it comes down to wondering whether the construction and source of this garment are actually worth it.

Does anyone know how this shit works?
How does a person qualify such expense for a transitory item? It mnight surely last for many years, but it isn't a holiday or a true life experience. I am not used to throwing money on expensive clothes.
But I adore it.

I don't want permission to purchase it, but would like some insider knowledge of why it costs what it does. I gather these are made in Scotland - great. But what does this cost truly cover? And is this just another item which lends someone status and not much else?

@BlackForestCake keep reading the thread to discover the true horror of combating the moths. Spoiler alert: wasps are involved.

Appreciate its an old post but that OP was still looking.

Just wanted to say I love Johnstons of Elgin but after discovering their outlet I'd never pay full price again! You get such amazing amazing bargains!

I've actually driven a couple of hours each way to visit.

There's one at Gretna green shopping outlets but if you Google I'm sure there might be more. The main shop it's self in Elgin is absolutely the best and massive with Greta cafe but clothes are full price and really pricey unless you time it with a sale. They used to have their own mini outlet place on site but the last time I was there it was closing down

Here's how to justify it:

1. It's cashmere, so you are looking at £100 minimum even for John lewis shit that bobbles when you try it on in the changing room
2. It is an absolute classic in colour and design. It can't date because it's not in fashion or out of fashion.
3. It will last if it is good quality. i have Jaeger cashmere cardigans that are 10 years old and wash like new. They are still kitten-soft and I live in them all winter.
4. If you work from home you will save on heating bills. Nothing is warmer than a big cashmere cardigan.
5. Over the years you could easily squander that amount on a number of cardigans that aren't quite right. You won't wear them. You will regret them.
6. The value of an item divides by cost per wear. I'd wear that cardigan about 2-3 times a week for half the year for 15 years at least. That works out at about 35p per wear. You could buy one you think is quite nice for £80 but it's a bit itchy and it bobbles after a few washes and loses its shape after a year, so you end up only wearing it once a fortnight for three years and never feel good in it. That would cost over £1 per wear and still it would never feel quite right and you'd still be in search of the elusive perfect cashmere boyfriend cardigan in grey.

nrtft
OP, have you thought of waiting for the annual pre-Xmas Johnston's Mill sale? I've been to it several times as I love the quality of their cashmere and the array of colours offered. If you like the feel and lightness of fine cashmere you will die for their camisoles! It's a renown luxury brand and worth every penny imo.

R T F T !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I want this cardigan ❤️

@NiceSausage

Have you thought about getting someone to knit the shape you want for you? I expect if you contacting the people who make this cardigan, they could recommend where you’d find independent knitters

@NeverendingCircus - there are 152 posts before yours.

By convention the thread proceeds as a conversation.

Each post builds on those before it.

The OP returns intermittently and may add more detail or, as here, change their mind about the initial issue, either because of points made here or because of changing circumstances.

It is, if you’ll forgive me, somewhat odd to imagine that not one of the posts before yours has made the points you make, or that there will have been no further input from the OP.

MN threads assume that each poster will Read The Full Thread before posting. If everyone assumed that this did not apply to them, no thread would ever make any sense at all.

LOL
Sorry miss. I am human and I erred. There are all sorts of weird posts on MN. I am amused that you found mine so in need of a good and thorough telling off.

I think I got one too, @NeverendingCircus . I obviously made a mistake in not reading the 5 pages of posts before making my comment. Aren't we lucky that we have a self-appointed thread prefect to tell us where we've erred.

Your post was fine and useful. How weird it got you a ticking-off from the thread police 😂