How to wear women’s cashmere jumpers and cardigans
Women's cashmere jumpers and cardigans work hardest when the rest of the outfit is left plain. A round neck under a blazer gives a clean line at the shoulder and needs nothing at the collar; a V-neck takes a shirt beneath it and is the better choice when something is meant to show. A cardigan left open over a straight trouser reads more easily than one fastened, which is why the placket is made fine enough to sit flat either way. In the understated shades these pieces are the layer nobody notices; in red, pink or lilac they are the decision the outfit is built around.
Take the size you would normally take. The cut is close rather than tight, with room across the shoulder and a sleeve that finishes at the wrist bone. Wash by hand below 30°C in a wool detergent, press the water out rather than wringing, and dry flat away from direct heat. Fold rather than hang, so the shoulders keep their shape. Cared for that way, women's cashmere jumpers and cardigans stay soft and hold their line for years.
