Tunic sweaters how to#

Also think about your preferred neckline, as you can find everything from casual crewnecks to plunging V-necks. You’ll be able to take your pick between relaxed silhouettes that prioritize comfort without sacrificing aesthetics or more tailored designs that seamlessly transition from day to night with the right accessories. What To Consider When Choosing A TunicĪs you shop, think about your personal style preferences. Whether you’re popping them over a pair of your favorite jeans and sneakers or comfy leggings and boots, they can be the perfect way to top off an outfit. They’re offered in an array of colors, fabrics, and lengths ranging from past the hips to even below the knees. The yarn spun from shorter and broken cashmere filters down into the mass market, though sometimes higher-priced fashion brands use it, too, so you can’t rely on price as an indicator of quality.With the comfort of your favorite sweater in a longer silhouette, the best tunic sweaters are cozy options for chilly days and seasons. High-quality long-fiber cashmere, however, remains scarce as heritage and luxury brands such as Italy’s Loro Piana, where you can easily spend thousands of dollars for a single cashmere sweater, buy up the majority of premium-grade cashmere. Both China and Mongolia have recently lowered or limited cashmere goat herds and production output for economic and environmental reasons. An increase in the sizes of goat herds grazing on the plains of Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and parts of the Himalayan mountains, paired with an orchestrated surge in processing capacity, has resulted in an abundance of low-quality cashmere sweaters selling for as little as $40 at fast fashion retailers. Still, cashmere has become considerably more accessible and affordable in the past decade, a development that can be almost entirely attributed to China’s efforts to produce more of it. Always wash a cashmere sweater before storing it away for the summer. Derek Guy of the fashion site Put This On washes his sweaters “every seven to ten wears, and at the end of each winter season.” Just remember that when the time comes to wash a cashmere garment, do it right and do it by hand. Also, wash cashmere inside out to reduce any stress across the front surface of your garment. Instead, use baby shampoo or wool wash to wash by hand this approach effectively removes dirt or stains and keeps the cashmere soft and supple. The harsh chemicals used in dry cleaning can strip the fibers. “Hand wash,” said Leret Leret representative Lisa Pomerantz, “but only when absolutely needed.” The cashmere brand representatives and fashion designers we spoke to all recommended forgoing dry cleaning completely (and definitely skipping the washing machine, no matter how gentle its cycle). Regardless of whether a cashmere piece is labeled as “dry clean only” or not, it can and should be hand washed. What they all share is high-quality construction that-with proper care-should last for seasons, as well as a flattering and comfortable fit and that silky-soft sensation you get only from cashmere.Ĭashmere can last for years if properly cared for, so it’s important to take the time to learn the material’s quirks. Our picks include designs from direct-order labels, smaller luxury brands specializing in cashmere, and even a brand primarily known for outdoor wear. Our recommendations include an affordable cashmere sweater that still feels like a luxury, cashmere with a playful personality, a stylish splurge, a rugged cashmere piece you can wear anywhere, and a lightweight cardigan that’s ideal for layering. Then we tested 22 men’s and women’s cashmere sweaters to find our six favorite sweater-weather must-haves.

Tunic sweaters how to#

So we set out to discover exactly how to buy a good cashmere sweater, and to learn whether pricier brands are really worth the money. But the differences between a $50 sweater and a $500 one are still mostly (and purposely) shrouded in mystery.

Once a prohibitively priced luxury, cashmere now seems to be sold almost everywhere, often at suspiciously low prices. Nothing can soothe the sharp chills of cold weather quite like a soft, snuggly cashmere sweater.