Fashion Girls Take Cashmere Sweaters Very Seriously—These 12 Passed the Test
We polled today's top tastemakers for the cashmere knitwear they live in.
Few garments are as synonymous with easy, rich, and unbothered confidence as the best cashmere sweaters. Produced from the soft undercoat of goats found in mountain ranges in Mongolia and China, cashmere wool is an inherently rare resource that's softer and more delicate than its scratchy wool counterparts—hence the typically steep price tag on 100 percent cashmere products.
Simply put, cashmere equals luxury. What's less straightforward, however, is navigating the highbrow world of cashmere as a first-time shopper—or as someone who can't shell out three to four figures on a single sweater. Fortunately, today's discerning fashion girls can help on both fronts.
To guide you on your cashmere journey, no matter how much of a newbie you are, or what your 2026 budgeting plans are, we researched the brands and specific sweaters top style tastemakers are vouching for. Every cashmere cardigan, turtleneck, and pullover below has been vetted by a fashion expert you can trust, from content creators you once followed on Blogger and now subscribe to on Substack to esteemed fashion editors, including Marie Claire's very own Nikki Ogunnaike.
Pictured: Nikki Ogunnaike wearing a lightweight navy cashmere turtleneck at Paris Fashion Week's Fall 2025.
Find your next go-to, forever knit from our favorite cashmere sweaters ahead. Whether you're looking for an under-$200 J.Crew cashmere find to complete your Winter 2026 wardrobe or are ready to invest in a more substantial designer sweater that you'll pass on to future generations, we (as in MC and the greater fashion-girl universe) have got you covered.
Our Cashmere Sweaters Shortlist
- Best Overall: Naadam The Original Cashmere Sweater Women's, $98
- Best Affordable: Quince Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater, $50
- Best Cashmere Pullover: J.Crew's Perfect Cashmere Crewneck Sweater, $168
- Best Cashmere Turtleneck: COS Chunky Cashmere Mock-Neck Sweater, $399
- Best Cashmere Cardigan: Naked Cashmere Paloma Brushed Cashmere Cardigan, $350
The Best Cashmere Sweaters, Vetted By Fashion Girls
NAADAM is a brand that comes up every time fashion folks discuss cashmere sweaters—and for good reason. A sustainable brand that sources its cashmere from Mongolia’s Gobi Desert and works directly with local goat herders, NAADAM provides artisan-made knitwear at affordable prices. As such, it's become a fashion-girl favorite, with its signature $98 cashmere crewneck gaining near-constant shoutouts across TikTok, Substack, and fashion publications (including—hi!—MC). This pullover sweater is a great lounge piece when hunkering down indoors. When you need to leave the couch and venture outdoors, dress it up with straight-leg dark-wash denim and heeled ankle boots.
Size: XXS–3XL | Material: 100 percent Mongolian cashmere
What We Love: Sustainably and ethically made; Reviewers gush about quality and comfort; Under $100; 18 colors.
Things to Consider: Pills over time, according to reviewers.
You know Quince. You might already own something from the brand, which is dedicated to producing quality-first items at affordable price points. It's especially excelled with its timeless, accessibly priced cashmere. Case in point: the Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater, which happens to be one of the knitwear brand's best-selling, most iconic pieces and a frequent flier on fashion TikTok. Also to note is that this crewneck is perfect for subtle layering, as its slightly baggy silhouette leaves you with plenty of room for experimentation. For instance, begin by wearing a white button-up underneath and teaming the tops with wide-leg dark trousers and ballet flats.
Size: XS–XL; Plus-Size option is 1X-3X | Material: 100 percent Grade-A Mongolian cashmere
What We Love: Three times as warm as wool; Made from Grade-A Mongolian textiles; Costs only $50; 12 colorways; Offered in plus-sizing as well.
Things to Consider: Some reviewers say it pills over time and the sleeves run loose.
There's a reason women have sworn by J.Crew's cashmere sweaters for three-plus decades (and why Marie Claire's shopping team stalks its knitwear section for sales like a panther on the prowl). This neutral crewneck made of black cashmere wool will easily slot into your closet as a core staple, versatile under blazers as well as in the middle of a "shirt sandwich." Alternatively, take a cue from fashion media veteran Tyler McCall with J.Crew's men's cashmere crewneck. "It’s the Goldilocks of cashmere sweaters: neither too fitted nor too baggy; not too thick but not see-through thin," McCall wrote in a recent article for MC's Style at Large program.
Size: 3XS–3XL; Material: 100 percent GSC-certified cashmere
What We Love: Relaxed fit; ribbed sleeves and trim; 10 colors; average four-point-eight out of five rating over 247 reviews.
Things to Consider: A lighterweight cashmere fabrication.
Cos' cashmere sweaters have had a banner year. The Q3 edition of the Lyst Index ranked the retailer's Chunky Cashmere Sweater as one of the top 10 hottest products of 2025. And while that particular It girl-adored Cos piece is sold out (save for one size XS in beige left), its mock-neck sweater, made in the same chunky cashmere fabrication, is a very close runner-up. Its deep red option also aligns with the mulled wine Winter 2026 color trend.
Size: XS–XL; Material: 100 percent GSC-certified cashmere
What We Love: Oversized fit; ribbed neck and trim; 2 colors; 2025 Lyst endorsement.
Things to Consider: Styles sell out frequently; limited sizing.
ICYMI: fashion sweatshirts—i.e., elevated sweatshirts that aren't covered in mysterious stains and you're not embarrassed to leave the house in—are trending. Contributing Marie Claire editor Tariro Makoni credits this hoodie from Gigi Hadid's knitwear brand, Guest in Residence, as a quintessential buy. "I gasped when I put this cashmere hoodie on for the first time. The cashmere is supple and thick, and it’s cut just so—cropped to the hip but not egregiously boxy. The stitching is also superb. I especially reach for it on the days when the wind is howling, the leaves on my trees are dropping precipitously, and I just want to feel extra cozy."
Size: XS–XL; Material: 100 percent cashmere
What We Love: Relaxed, open fit; ribbed cuff and hem; three colors; mid-weight cashmere jersey feel.
Things to Consider: Limited sizing.
The cashmere brand on everybody's lips—Naked Cashmere. Repeatedly shouted out by contributing Marie Claire fashion editors, including Style at Large writers Angela Fink and Alexis Badiyi, the 100-percent organic cashmere label is celebrated for its high-quality production and sustainable, traceable, and fair trade practices. To start, consider its simple cashmere cardigan in neutral ecru wool that will work open over a basic tee or buttoned up over a slip dress.
Size: XS–L | Material: 230 grams of 100 percent brushed cashmere in 12-gauge knit
What We Love: Sustainably and ethically made; Button-front closure; Hand-finished; Three colors.
Things to Consider: Sizing caps at large; dry clean only.
As Style at Large contributor, luxury consultant, and author of the popular Substack Objects of Desire, Noora Raj Brown puts it, "Lisa Yang has the best cashmere." The Stockholm-based brand is another insider favorite, beloved by Katie Holmes, Ariana Grande, and several other style tastemakers who have a penchant for supreme-quality coziness. This charcoal gray V-neck sweater will effortlessly slot into any wardrobe, from minimalist (paired with cream trousers and penny loafers) to maximalist (layered over a striped button-down and with vibrant silk pants).
Size: 0-3; Material: 100 percent fine-gauge cashmere
What We Love: The fine-gauge gray mélange cashmere; oversized and layerable design; ribbed trim and hem.
Things to Consider: Limited sizing; almost $500.
MC editor-in-chief Ogunnaike named Alex Mill as one of her favorite knitwear brands, and she is not the only fashion expert enamored with the brand known for its preppy wardrobe basics. The brand also counts Kaia Gerber and Emma Stone among its fans. This Breton-stripe cashmere pullover sweater adds easy-to-style French-girl flair to your winter rotation, and it'll look lovely paired with cigarette jeans and sweet ballet flats.
Size: XS–XL; Material: 100 percent cashmere, washed with a special process for extra softness.
What We Love: Relaxed fit; Eight colors; An average four-point-nine out of five rating from 21 reviews.
Things to Consider: Limited sizing.
If you're tuned into the fashion scene, particularly when it comes to knowing who's who on Substack, you're familiar with &Daughter. With celebrity co-signs from Alexa Chung, Jennifer Lawrence, and Dua Lipa, as well as a recent Ogunnaike Self-Checkout endorsement, wearing a &Daughter sweater shows you know. The small Scottish and Irish label uses 100 percent natural and responsibly sourced yarn, and it's beloved for its thick pullovers, triangle scarves, and polo-style sweaters. This collared cashmere sweater in baby pink (a key winter color trend) is a particularly smart find since you can wear the pastel well into spring, too.
Size: XS-XL Material: 100 percent fine-spun, lightweight cashmere.
What We Love: Light and breathable; hand-spun by the Scottish heritage mill, Todd and Duncan; Four colors; Trending polo silhouette.
Things to Consider: Limited sizing; Over $700.
"[Vince's] cashmere wrap sweater is everything I look for in knitwear," wrote Grace O'Neill Dougherty, the fashion writer behind the Substack Jelly Sandwich and a Style at Large contributor. It's simplistic in color but sculptural, more artistic in design, making it a great, punched-up minimalistic option. "I have enough plain clothes sweaters, if you will. I want something more elevated with a point of view; this checks every box," O'Neill Dougherty wrote.
Size: 2XS–XL; Material: 70 percent wool and 30 percent cashmere
What We Love: Trending scarf-sweater design; Two colors.
Things to Consider: Close to $500.
As Ogunnaike said in a recent Self-Checkout newsletter, “If money were no object, my collection of Extreme Cashmere would be much, much bigger.” The pure-cashmere brand is unique, operating on the traditional fashion calendar and offering genderless, unisex designs (as in, their one-size sweaters are meant for anyone). Founded in 2016, Extreme Cashmere swiftly became an IYKYK luxury label, with celebrity fans including Meghan Markle, Selena Gomez, and Hailey Bieber. This Nº319 Xtra Out zip-up sweater is, without question, a splurge. But the brand's unwavering commitment to top-notch quality ensures the cardigan will withstand several more winters.
Size: One size; Material: 100 percent GSC-certified cashmere
What We Love: Relaxed fit; ribbed sleeves and trim; 10 colors; average four-point-eight out of five rating over 247 reviews.
Things to Consider: Only one size; Over $1,000.
In a recent round-up pinpointing her favorite unique winter sweaters, April Lockhart, fashion creator and Style at Large contributor, shouted out this turtleneck from A.L.C. "Maybe my most classic pick, but this color is mesmerizing, mossy perfection," Lockhart wrote. In addition to its eye-catching chartreuse color, the A.L.C. turtleneck's angled seams, drop-shoulder design, and slimmer-fitting sleeves make it one of the market's best cashmere sweaters.
Size: XS-XL; Material: 100 percent cashmere
What We Love: Trending green color; Large oversized and angled fit; Ribbed neckline and hem; A.L.C.'s signature striped back stitch.
Things to Consider: Limited sizing; Almost $700.
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For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
