A Guide To Buying, Caring For and Styling a Cashmere Lounge Set

Today’s post is all about cashmere and a cashmere lounge set.  Cashmere is a one of the must have luxe items, but can be intimidating to purchase, mainly because it’s expensive.  Anytime I have to spend a lot of money on one item I have a bit of a panic attack.  I want to be sure I LOVE the item if I’m going to spend a ton on it.  Cashmere has always been something I’ve wanted to buy, but could never justify, until recently.

 

For the majority of my adult life I haven’t owned a piece of cashmere clothing.  A few years ago I added a couple super cheap cashmere sweaters and have slowly graduated to the more luxe/expensive cashmere pieces.  I’ve learned a few things along the way that I think everyone should know.  So today I’m sharing my quick guide to buying and taking care of cashmere.  I’m also styling up my favorite cashmere lounge set.

 

Buying and Taking Care of Cashmere

What Is Cashmere?

Cashmere to the modern woman is the most luxe fabric you can get your hands on.  It comes from Capra Hircus goats that are typically found in the Tibetan Highlands, the Himalayas, and Mongolia, though in modern times they have found new homes in Scotland and China.  These goats produce a very fine, weather resistant coating in the winter that is removed by combing or shearing in the spring and becomes cashmere.

 

So the process of gathering cashmere is natural and sustainable, the animals are never hurt in the process.  Many cashmere farmers are in this for a lifetime, taking care of their animals and working with brands on long term contracts.  Cashmere will last a lifetime and can be easily recycled, so buying and owning cashmere is a sustainable activity.  

 

How To Buy Quality Cashmere

This is not a scientific guide, this is a common sense guide.  Cashmere is made in all different ways.  With some items having as little as 10% cashmere and being passed off as cashmere.  Sorry, but you need to have a lot more actual cashmere in the product to actually be legit.  

Great quality cashmere is up to 8 times warmer than merino wool.  And the best cashmere around is Grade A, 100% cashmere.  The warm, quality and longevity of this caliber of cashmere is unmatched.  One question you need to ask is does the price reflect the quality of the cashmere?  The answer is YES.

I’ve seen Grade A, 100% cashmere range from $100 to $300 per item and that is confusing, because shouldn’t it all be the same?  Unfortunately no.  Many factors play into the cashmere, including the production, the ply (single or double) and the brand.  Sometimes you are paying more for the brand name.  While I don’t always agree with this, I do believe that top brands often produce top quality pieces. 

How To Assess Cashmere, Regardless of Price

1. Touch – Feel the cashmere, is it super soft or just kind of soft?  If the brand is using the Grading Scale for their cashmere you will be able to tell immediately if you are getting the top quality.  The grading scale is A, B and C, with A being the best you can get.  While Grade C is still cashmere, it’s just a bit more coarse and not as soft as Grade A.  That is why touching the item is so important.  If you are buying it online, touch it once you get it home and truly feel the cashmere, you will be able to tell the softness.
2. Elasticity – Excellent cashmere will retain its shape after wearing and washing.  It will literally bounce back into shape.  Stretch the cashmere piece a bit, does it slowly go back to its original shape, if it does then it’s a great piece of cashmere.  If it doesn’t you will want to rethink your purchase. 
3. Read The Tag – don’t go with anything that doesn’t say 100% cashmere…no cashmere blends, it’s cheaper and not as good…100% cashmere is comfortable to keep you warm in the winter and cool and dry in the spring and fall.

 

How To Care For Cashmere

If cared for properly cashmere can last for a lifetime and even be passed down to younger generations.  Many cashmere pieces are timeless, which make them ideal for owning forever.  Cashmere is an investment piece and you can read about how I assess investment pieces in my post here.

Cost per wear is a huge component of buying an investment piece.  Over time the cost per wear on cashmere is pretty good which means caring for it should be a top priority.

Here are a few tips on how to care properly for your cashmere. 

1. Do Not Machine Wash – You can dry clean cashmere or hand wash in cold water.  I personally would dry clean it as I don’t have the patience to hand wash it.  You could use a gentle cycle on your washing machine if you are in a pinch.  If you do hand wash it, DO NOT put it in the dryer.  Lay it flat or on a drying rack. 
2. Avoid Friction – Cashmere will pill, so be sure that your skin is smooth so it doesn’t pill from the inside out.  
3. Don’t Clean To Often – Since cashmere is incredibly breathable it airs out nicely. Which means you do not have to wash it after each wearing.  I personally wear it and then lay it flat to air out afterwards and it’s usually just as fresh and washing it.  I would say washing a cashmere piece every 6 or 7 wears is a good rule of thumb.  
4. Fold Items In a Drawer – To keep your cashmere pieces in tip top shape you should always fold them in a drawer vs. hanging them in a closet.  Folding them will retain the shape and avoid unnecessary pulling on the items.  If you must hang them you should hang/fold them on the hanger.  For a top fold it over the hanger vs. actually hanging the top by the shoulders. 

 

How To Style a Cashmere Lounge Set

I started 2020 in matching loungewear and I’m ending 2020 in luxe matching loungewear.  It’s been a LONG year and ending it with a little luxury is just what I need.  This MM LaFleur matching cashmere lounge set (hoodie and jogger) is exactly what I need!  It has all the luxuries of cashmere, with complete comfort and chic style.   I love this matching set because it is 100% cashmere, has great elasticity, is ultra soft to the touch and can be styled for work and weekend.  Yes a loungewear set can be styled for work, technically work from home, but still for work.  Let me show you how to style it!

You can get 20% off your own matching cashmere set with code LATEREVERAFTER20 at MM LaFleur (first time customers only).  You actually get 20% off your whole order with that code, so shop away!

 

Weekend Look 

 

Great cashmere can be worn in fall, winter and spring since it is breathable.  It will keep you warm on chilly days and cool on warmer days.  On the weekend I love to wear the cashmere lounge set (hoodie and jogger) in the house and out of the house.  It is perfectly styled with a lightweight turtleneck and white sneakers (check out my full guide to wearing white sneakers here).   When running out of the house I add a rich color coat to complete the look.

 

Casual Workday 

 

On a regular work day I can be found rocking my jogging pants and a simple black turtleneck.  I am ultra professional on top and casually comfy on the bottom.  Just be conscious to not stand up on your video call 🙂  And if I need to run out of the house, I simply wear my white sneakers.  I’m a huge white sneaker fan, even in the winter.

 

Formal Workday 

 

Formal workdays are the days I need to appear on video with a client or internal colleagues a lot.  I call these my zoom fatigue days 🙂  I’m usually in the same spot for hours on my computer so I want to be professional yet comfortable.  How do I accomplish that?  With my joggers on the bottom and a blazer up top.  It’s the best secret ever!  For clients I wear just a blazer up top and jewelry to dress it up.  If I’m on with internal colleagues I may do the hoodie with the blazer over it.  It’s still ultra professional, yet comfortable.