Falling in Love with Cashmere

A feather from an Angel wing, softer than cashmere, drifted down from above… Jeannette B. Noonan

I remember the month and year my love affair began, October 1988. I was a year into a new position with a groundbreaking women’s magazine. Yup, I was “On top of the world!” Look’n good and feeling abundant. On my way home that afternoon, I took a short detour down Wilshire Blvd into Beverly Hills. My three favorite department stores were lined up along the boulevard, waiting for me. I. Magnin, Saks Fifth Avenue, and the new kid on the block, Neiman Marcus. I parked at Saks. No parking structure yet, just a handsome valet. The entry was the skincare dept. Erno Laslo on the left, Chanel on the right. Each sales consultant in a white Dr. coat branded with delicate embroidery and the consultant’s name.

I walked quickly through the store. I was on a cashmere mission. This was ironic, considering I grew up shopping for school clothes at Goodwill until I learned how to sew. My after-school uniform was a bikini with my surfboard under one arm and my outrigger canoe paddle in the other. And now, here I was, gliding through Saks sans the bikini. Just writing this takes me back to that long-lost shopping experience. The mature saleswoman was kind and soft-spoken, knowing her department and customers as well or even more intimately than the buyer selecting what hung on the racks.

My hunt for a cashmere cardigan was in full swing. But Saks proved to be a bit underwhelming. I had a vision of exactly what I wanted and made a quick exit and a sharp right to the next corner, and I. Magnin. Being a San Francisco-based company with a long history of selling luxury goods, I. Magnin was a grand, marble-encrusted jewel box of a store. Smaller than both Saks and Neiman’s. I made my way upstairs, escorted by a lovely saleswoman who told me she had “exactly what I was looking for.” And there it was, not a table stacked with sweaters, not a rack of sweaters hung with precision. It was an entire cashmere department! Be still my heart. I’ve gone from underwhelmed to overwhelmed. It was a sad and empty-handed goodbye to Agnes, the saleswoman with the patience that only a grandmother could deliver. As I departed, she had a secret to share. She leaned in and whispered, Neiman’s, third floor, ask for Martha. She’s the Queen of Cashmere.

I was now in “beat the clock” mode. My two hours before closing had evaporated. I was down to 40 minutes and two blocks from the Dallas outpost. As I rushed through the NM etched glass doors, a stunning, platinum-haired woman approached me and said, hello, are you Kathleen? Yes, I replied, and she said, “I’m Martha. Agnes called and told me you are on a quest.” We dashed to the third floor. A younger saleswoman had laid out a variety of cashmere cardigans arrayed in an artist’s palette of colors. The touch of the cashmere was like running your hand along an angel’s wing. And, from above came a soft voice telling us that the store was about to close. Oy Vey! Everything was perfect, except the hoped for color was not there. As we chatted about my two-hour cashmere odyssey, the young saleswoman reappeared holding two hangers, and hanger number two was it…My taupe, v-neck cashmere cardigan with tortoiseshell buttons. It was perfect, and it was mine. It was the most money I had ever spent on one item and worth every penny. I thanked the Queen and her Lady in Waiting.

As I walked along Wilshire Boulevard with my prized possession, I thought Lucky Girl. Here you are, miles and years from Waikiki Beach and the Goodwill Store. You have a fantastic career. Incredible friends and a life once only found in daydreams. I continued along Wilshire to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. I made my way through the busy lobby to the elegant bar. The hostess showed me to a table with a full view of the surroundings. As the waiter approached, I thought of my mother, Annabelle, saying, “Every once in a while, we can splurge on one good item.” Today, I splurged. I ordered a glass of Champagne and made a silent toast to Annabelle.

Shopping for your cashmere

Cashmere is usually more expensive than other wools because of its’ unique sourcing and production process. Cashmere goats have a fine silky undercoat that keeps them warm in the high altitude colder climate. This fine undercoat is entirely different from the protective outer coat. When the goats shed their coats during the warmer months, the undercoat fibers are collected and spun into cashmere yarn that is woven into the fabric that we know and love.

The A B C grades of cashmere are A as the highest, then B and C. Interestingly, the thinner the cashmere, the higher the construction quality. The goats used exclusively for cashmere yarn originated in Kashmir and are continually the only source of fiber to this day. The hardiest of goats reside in Inner Mongolia, where the harsher climate encourages a thicker undercoat providing the best quality fibers. These are not your average Gentleman Farmer goats. Their environment is a cold, harsh, rocky terrain, which is even more astonishing when you see how delicate their small hoofs are.

I have a few favorite and reliable resources that rarely disappoint in their quality and price. I do wander online at the end of the winter season, and some of the bargains are well worth the hunt. In fact, around the beginning of October, Costco usually brings in a small selection of Cashmere for both men and women. The styles are crew or v-neck and, at the most, three colors. Keep a lookout. They go fast and are very reasonable in price. Target online…A couple of years ago, I bought a scoop neck pullover. And this year, I found a really nice turtle neck by LandsEnd. It is a four-ply, good weight and it was on sale!

Here are a few to get you started or add to your existing favorites.

Quince…https://www.quince.com Style at an affordable price point. Well known for their $44.90 short-sleeve cashmere tee shirts in the newest colors. The range of styles, from joggers and hoodies, gloves and beanies to sweaters and dresses, is ideal. Most styles have a wide range of colors to select from. Also, take a look at their silk collection of tops. The overall price point is affordable, and the quality is consistent—$ Ranging from $10.00 to $250.00.

Naadam…https://naadam.co Naadam prides itself on being affordable and sustainable. Like Quince, they have eliminated the middleman and a lot of the costs that contribute to a normally higher price point elsewhere. They offer an excellent assortment of styles, from dress down to dress up, for both men and women. The color pallet is more of a neutral base with an occasional pop of seasonal color. Quality is consistent – $ Ranging from $75.00 to $375.00.

The Cashmere Shop @ Garnet Hill…https://www.garnethill.com Garnet Hill is a well-merchandised catalog, and their cashmere shop keeps up with the tradition. They offer a wide range of selections, from cashmere socks (the most comfy) to an oversized boyfriend cardigan. There is also a nice selection of travel pieces to make that long-haul flight cozy. The versatility of style, color, and price range is vast – $ Ranging from $175.00 to $350.00.

Everlane…https://www.everlane.com I have to say that Everlane is a little disappointing this season. The variety is just not as expanded as it usually is. The quality is always a ten and the customer service is outstanding. Overall it is a great catalog offering selections from shoes and handbags to classic coats. Not to be overlooked. – $ Ranging from $180.00 to $279.00.

Let me know if you are having the same love affair with cashmere and where you find your favorites. I also noticed that Quince and Garnet Hill both offer cashmere bedding. I’m gonna go look right now. xo