I’ve always believed the best wardrobe is built slowly, around pieces you reach for over and over again. I’m much less interested in what’s trending for a season than I am in finding a really good sweater, pair of jeans or jacket that earns a permanent place in my closet.
That’s exactly how Quince cashmere has worked its way into my wardrobe.
Quince was a newer brand for me when I first tried it, but after hearing so many people rave about the combination of quality and price, I finally ordered a few pieces. I’m fully sold. I already own several of their cashmere sweaters, and instead of looking for something completely different this season, I’m finding myself wanting to add more of the classic silhouettes.
That’s usually a pretty good sign that something is working in my wardrobe.
this is the Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Crew in brown
SHOP MY QUINCE FAVORITES
Why Quince Cashmere Works in a Timeless Wardrobe
I’m increasingly trying to buy clothes the same way I buy things for my home: fewer things, better chosen, and with enough staying power that I won’t be tired of them next year.
Cashmere naturally fits that philosophy. A simple cashmere sweater isn’t particularly trendy. It’s one of those pieces women have worn for generations because it’s warm, lightweight, beautiful and incredibly versatile. What has surprised me about Quince is how accessible they’ve made it. Their signature Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck is currently $50 and made from 100% Grade-A Mongolian cashmere.
That’s exactly the kind of price point that lets cashmere become an everyday capsule wardrobe staple rather than something I’m afraid to actually wear.
The Quince Cashmere Sweaters I Already Own and Love
Before I tell you what’s next on my list, these are the pieces that sold me on Quince in the first place, the ones that I actually bought, own, wear and love.
Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Crew
I have the Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Crew in brown and charcoal, and this is everything I want in a winter sweater. It feels substantial, incredibly soft and well made, with that classic fisherman texture that never really goes out of style. I own these both in a medium so I’d say they are very true to size yet still give that oversized look without having to size up.
I especially love these in brown and charcoal because they’re the kind of colors that work with virtually everything else in my fall and winter wardrobe. Jeans, trousers, a button-down underneath, a jacket thrown over it. There’s really not much thought required. I’d consider this my slightly oversized, chunky knit sweater but the cashmere makes it incredibly lightweight for its bulkier look, which I love. These are luxurious without feeling precious. I can actually wear them hard, live in them and reach for them constantly without overthinking it.
Mongolian Shrunken Cashmere Sweatshirt
I also have the Mongolian Shrunken Cashmere Sweatshirt in grey, and this one fills a completely different role in my closet. Honestly, I’m not sure why I decided to go with this one over trying the $50 cashmere sweater for my first order. I’m sure it is because it’s hard for me to resist the raglan detailing on this sweater. I love the idea of wearing this elevated basic with something like jogger style, old school sweatpants & a pony tail for a very effortless yet chic combo.
It’s such a good example of how I want to dress at this point. I can wear it with wide-leg athleisure pants or sweats, then add a gold necklace and a good sneaker and suddenly something incredibly comfortable still feels pulled together. I love that juxtaposition. It’s essentially a sweatshirt, but the cashmere elevates it enough that it doesn’t feel sloppy. I LOVE this sweater because it’s so lightweight and thin as a layering piece, and that neck & cuff detail are just perfect. I have it in a medium and it’s perfectly true to size.
The $50 Quince Cashmere Sweater I’m Trying Next
Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater
This is the one I am going to order next. And again, this is like the Quince “start here” purchase to begin with so I’m not sure why I didn’t get this in my first order.
Quince’s signature Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck is currently $50, made from 100% Grade-A Mongolian cashmere and available in the kinds of classic colors that make sense in a capsule wardrobe, including Oatmeal, Ivory, Faded Denim, True Navy, Heather Grey and Heather Charcoal.
For me, this is almost the test of the entire premise. Can a $50 cashmere sweater actually become one of those everyday pieces you keep reaching for? I love the simplicity of it. No unusual neckline, oversized sleeve or detail that’s going to immediately date it. It’s just a classic crewneck cashmere sweater.
I’m ordering this one and will come back and update this post once I’ve worn and washed it enough to tell you how it compares to the Quince cashmere I already own. But I can see this being the perfect layering piece. Throw it over your shoulders or in your carry on bag for an extra layer for look or necessity without taking up any space at all. An easy throw on piece that adds a ton of quiet luxury statement.
The Quince Cashmere Tee: A Year-Round Base Layer Wardrobe Staple
Mongolian Cashmere Tee
This may actually be the piece I’m most intrigued by because you can live in this spring & fall. It’s the ultimate capsule wardrobe piece (hello, a tee) but in an elevated material that will last you years upon years of wear. I love the idea of taking something as basic as a T-shirt and doing it in cashmere. It’s exactly the kind of quiet upgrade that makes a simple wardrobe feel more considered without making it complicated.
The current Mongolian Cashmere Tee is $44.90 and made from 100% Grade-A Mongolian cashmere. Quince describes it as lightweight enough for year-round wear and layering, which is precisely how I envision wearing it.
I would wear this exactly as I would a favorite black or ivory tee: with jeans and loafers, tucked into trousers, under a blazer or cardigan, or layered beneath a jacket in fall. This is your base layer essential my friends.
But instead of a cotton T-shirt, the cashmere adds that little bit of texture and luxury that makes an otherwise incredibly simple outfit feel finished.
TO TRY: Ivory or black
The Quince Cashmere Cardigan: The Classic Layer
Mongolian Cashmere Cardigan
A cashmere cardigan is about as classic as it gets, which is exactly why this one is also on my list. Cardigans are SO timeless but also I think they’re truly having a moment right now. They are so in and I love the styling with skirts, jeans & trousers.
Quince’s Mongolian Cashmere Cardigan is currently $79.90, made from 100% Grade-A Mongolian cashmere with shell buttons. The current cut is slim and somewhat cropped, so I particularly like the idea of it with higher-rise jeans and trousers, or with a skirt. Worn as a top vs. a layer is my favorite way to style this piece.
I’d wear this buttoned as a sweater just as often as I’d wear it open as a cardigan. I can also see it over the ivory cashmere tee, which is exactly what I want when I’m building a wardrobe: pieces that naturally work together rather than individual outfits.
Grey is also one of those colors I never tire of, so that is attractive to me but I think I will start with Ivory here. It works with brown, oatmeal, denim, navy, black and all the other neutrals already in my closet.
TO TRY: Heather Grey, Ivory or Black
If I Were Building a Quince Cashmere Capsule Wardrobe
I think this is where Quince gets especially interesting.
Rather than buying a bunch of different sweaters, I’d build a very small cashmere wardrobe around different functions:
- Textured chunkier look winter sweater: Fisherman Crew
- Casual raglan sweater: Shrunken Cashmere Sweatshirt
- Everyday basic: $50 Cashmere Crewneck
- Year-round base layer: Cashmere Tee
- Classic layering piece: Cashmere Cardigan
That’s really all you need. And because the colors live within the same quiet palette, you can mix everything with the jeans, trousers, jackets, loafers and sneakers you already own. That’s much more appealing to me than continually buying whatever sweater silhouette happens to be trending. And the insane part, from Quince you can score all 5 of these for the price of 1-2 cashmere sweaters elsewhere with the same level of quality and wear & tear.
Is Quince Cashmere Good Quality?
This was one of my biggest questions before I ordered from Quince.
Based on the pieces I already own, I’ve been really impressed. My fisherman sweaters feel substantial, soft and well made, and the fact that I immediately wanted to try more Quince cashmere probably says more than anything else. Quince currently says its core cashmere pieces use 100% Grade-A Mongolian cashmere. Its classic crewneck, tee and cardigan are all currently listed as Grade-A Mongolian cashmere.
Of course, I’m also going to continue updating this post as I live in these pieces. How something looks when it arrives isn’t nearly as important to me as how it looks after you’ve actually worn it for a season. But a full year later and these three sweaters I personally own (and have worn countless times) are still looking fresh and good as new.
Does Quince Cashmere Pill?
Some pilling is normal with cashmere and other natural fibers, particularly anywhere the fabric experiences friction. I generally find the most pilling where things are rubbing, like underarms or if I’m wearing a jacket or crossbody purse over my sweaters.
This is also one of the things I’ll specifically watch when I test the $50 crewneck. At that price, I think one of the most useful things I can tell you is not simply whether it’s soft when it comes out of the package, but how it looks after real wear over a season.
I’ll update this post accordingly.
How Do Quince Cashmere Sweaters Fit?
I’ll continue adding sizing notes as I try these additional styles because I think that’s particularly important with pieces like the cardigan, which Quince currently describes as having a slim, cropped fit.
For reference, I’ll include my normal size along with the exact Quince size I’m wearing beneath each photograph so you can compare the different silhouettes. I’ve done that above, but overall I think they are very true to size with no need to adjust for the look you’re going for. Meaning, if it’s oversized then get your true size and it will have an oversized it. Same with cropped or shrunken. If you’re going for an exaggerated oversized, size up one.
Is Quince Cashmere Worth It?
For me, the pieces I’ve purchased so far have been 100%. Quince overall has been a brand I have honestly been so impressed with, especially if you love a capsule wardrobe like I do. You can build and rebuild your basics in an array of colors & silhouettes without breaking the bank.
That’s an important distinction because I don’t want to tell you that every single Quince cashmere piece is wonderful when I haven’t tried every one. What I can tell you is that I bought the Fisherman Crew in two colors, added the Shrunken Cashmere Sweatshirt, and now have three more of their classic cashmere pieces on my list.
That’s generally my best test of whether something was worth buying: do I actually want another one? So far, with Quince, the answer is yes.
Quince Cashmere vs. More Expensive Cashmere
I don’t think a $50 cashmere sweater needs to be identical to a $300 cashmere sweater to be worthwhile.
Cashmere varies in weight, construction, fiber length, finishing and craftsmanship. There are absolutely beautiful investment-level cashmere sweaters worth owning. The question I’m more interested in is whether affordable cashmere can be good enough to wear often, care for properly and keep in your wardrobe for years.
That’s where Quince has become interesting to me. I don’t want clothes that feel disposable, regardless of what they cost. But I also don’t believe everything in a timeless wardrobe has to be SO expensive. Sometimes the real find is discovering something beautifully made at a price that allows you to actually live in it.
How I Style Quince Cashmere
Most of the time, very simply and in layers.
The Fisherman Crew works with jeans, trousers and a button-down underneath. The Shrunken Cashmere Sweatshirt gets paired with wide-leg pants or sweats, a gold necklace and sneakers.
For the pieces I’m trying next, I can already see the wardrobe forming. The cashmere tee with jeans and loafers. The cashmere cardigan buttoned with high-rise denim. The classic $50 crewneck layered beneath a jacket.
Nothing particularly revolutionary honestly. And that’s the point of my whole style usually. A really good wardrobe doesn’t require reinventing yourself every season. The pieces should quietly work together and make getting dressed easier.
How I Care for Cashmere
Cashmere is one of those materials that benefits from a little old-fashioned care.
Quince recommends hand washing its cashmere tee and cardigan in cold water and laying them flat to dry. I also prefer folding cashmere rather than hanging it, which helps prevent stretching through the shoulders.
A cashmere comb is helpful for removing the occasional pills that naturally develop from friction. I don’t mind that kind of maintenance. Part of buying things worth keeping is being willing to take care of them.
Things Worth Keeping
I’ve become much more intentional about separating new from trendy. I’m always interested in finding something new that’s better, more useful or more accessible. But I don’t want to build my wardrobe around things that will feel dated six months from now.
That’s what I like about this little Quince cashmere collection I’m building. The fisherman sweater, crewneck, cardigan and cashmere tee aren’t new ideas. They’re some of the most enduring shapes in a woman’s wardrobe.
Quince is simply giving me a new way to buy them. And if these next pieces hold up as well as the ones already in my closet, I have a feeling they’ll be around for quite a while.
Other Posts You’ll Love
