Cashmere comes in very different qualities, and the price reflects that more than you might think. A one-hundred-dollar cashmere sweater from a fast retailer is not the same fibre as a five-hundred-dollar one from a designer. It might be thinner, rougher on the skin, prone to pilling, and it might hold its shape for two seasons instead of ten. It might shed. On the other hand, a two-thousand-dollar cashmere coat is buying you fineness of fibre, careful construction, and longevity. The price tag tells you something about the weight, the sourcing of the wool, the way it has been finished, and whether you are buying something that will last. A cashmere basics are a reasonable buy. A cashmere investment piece is worth the cost.

Jenni Kayne's Phoebe polo in cashmere at under six hundred dollars is a solid mid-range buy. Veronica Beard's Daro cardigan in cashmere is in the same range, useful because a cardigan gets worn more often than a sweater. Staud's Toni sweater at under four hundred is a bargain for cashmere, a sign that Staud is confident in the quality of its supply or accepting a lower margin. Khaite's Angel top in cashmere at seven hundred and forty sits a bit higher, a sign that the fibre is finer or the construction is more precise. All of these are reasonable cashmere buys for someone who wants to wear cashmere regularly without spending luxury prices.

A good merino or wool sweater will last longer than cheap cashmere. Isabel Marant's Monette in mohair and Cornelia in wool are both higher price than Staud's cashmere, and they are priced that way because merino and mohair require different manufacturing. FRAME's boiled wool polo is a different textile entirely, and Tibi's skinlike mercerized wool cardigan is another option. For warm weather, silk and cotton are better than cashmere; Ulla Johnson's Marlowe cotton top, St. Agni's transparent silk cami, and Jenni Kayne's cotton cable cardigan all work year-round. The truth is that cashmere is one choice among many, not automatically better than a well-made wool or silk.

The price of cashmere reflects the cost of the fibre, the weight of it, and the care in finishing. Under three hundred dollars and you are taking a risk on longevity. Three hundred to six hundred is the sweet spot for cashmere that will last. Above six hundred and you are buying fineness or designer pricing. A mid-range cashmere basics sweater from Jenni Kayne or Staud is a fair buy. A expensive cashmere from Khaite is worth it if you are going to wear it fifty times a year. Merino and wool can be better buys than cheap cashmere. If you take one thing away, it is that the price tag on cashmere tells you something real about the fibre and the finishing, not just about the brand name.