Everlane's cashmere sweater is the backbone of my winter wardrobe - and it's only $100
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- Everlane has a great line of $100 cashmere sweaters for women and men.
- The relatively low cost reflects Everlane's transparent pricing and declining costs in raw materials.
- I wore the $100 Cashmere Crew as an unofficial uniform last winter, and it's a great deal.
It's that time of year again. The cold is creeping in through drafty windowsills, Central Park once again smells like decomposing leaves and roasted peanuts, and cashmere and wool coats - the unofficial mascots of the winter season - are being unfolded from their summertime storage.
For me, that means Everlane's $100 Cashmere Crew, which without much conscious involvement, became my cold weather uniform last year - a reliable choice for everything from weekend apple picking outings to groggy Monday mornings.
It's warm and soft, but still ultimately lightweight - making it perfect on its own, layered, or tucked into a skirt. The relaxed fit works for the office, weekend plans, or lounging around the house with a cup of coffee and a book. This also makes it a good investment piece, since I can wear it alone on chilly fall nights and layered during colder winter nights - it is a closet staple for six months of the year.
In other words, the Cashmere Crew has been a great use of $100.
It's a foundational closet piece, and it never disappoints. It's unobtrusive, chameleon-level versatile, and both looks and feels good effortlessly. I've had more fun buying statement pieces, but rarely have I ever gotten so much wear per dollar.
The Crew comes in six sizes (XXS - XL) and 22 colors, but I would suggest starting with a staple color that works with the bulk of your closet, like black, charcoal, or dark navy. You can always stock up on more colors, but I guarantee you will thank yourself for beginning with one that weathers repeated wears gracefully. I ordered true to size, but if you're concerned about tightness, you should be happy with the next size up.
Read more: I put 5 of Everlane's best-selling shoes to the test in NYC - and ranked them by comfort level
It's not cheap, but it is relatively affordable. Everlane uses Grade-A cashmere - the best there is - but sells it at the same price you might find Grade-C in another store. Unlike lower-quality options, Grade-A is stronger and doesn't pill as easily.
According to Everlane, the cost of raw cashmere fluctuates wildly, and retailers raise prices to reflect higher cashmere costs when necessary. However, they rarely lower prices when the raw cost declines. Because of their 100% transparency model, Everlane has adjusted prices to reflect the declining cashmere costs in recent years (from $125 originally to $100 for the last few years).
Cashmere sweaters - like many items on the site - have a pricing breakdown for the interested customer. According to the company, it cost $42 to make the Cashmere Crew, but traditional retail markup would sell it for $210. Everlane has priced it at $100.
Though you are getting a nicer form of cashmere, $100 still isn't chump change. But, if you're looking for a good deal, then this is a great option.
I don't have a minimalist closet with spare options, but I opt to wear this sweater at least once a week during the cold season. It's soft, comfortable, flattering, and comes in a silhouette that makes it even more versatile than the average crewneck cashmere sweater. If you need to stock up on winter closet workhorses you know you're going to inevitably live in, you may want to take a look.