Wall Street Journal article: Cucinelli vs. $100 cashmere (+ question!)

[malefic]

I found this article on the WSJ, which pits a thousand-dollar Cucinelli cashmere knit against a competitor's hundred-dollar equivalent: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119629923865107298.html The obvious question, and one I wanted to ask even before I saw the article, is whether cheaper cashmere is worth it at all. If the stuff is sold to couturiers in an auction format, surely the highest-grade stuff is going for the most money, so cheap clothiers simply can't afford the same divine fluff that went into my recently acquired US$3,800 Marc Jacobs hoodie. On eBay I see pure cashmere sweaters/hoodies/etc. by Hilfiger selling for <$50 incl. shipping. Is that worth it? I see John Varvatos and Vince cashmere for $100-150, is that worth it? What about Prada cashmere for $200? There is a cashmere hoodie-sweater by Hermes listed right now that looks absolutely gorgeous, but it's $2.2K -- worth it? Incidentally, I have an Hermes cashmere & silk V-neck sweater I picked up for almost 300 bucks and it is soft as ****! Way softer than my Club Monaco cashmere hoodie, but maybe that's partly as a result of the silk? Then again I bought a pure cashmere hoodie by Dirty English (it's lined with rabbit fur) and it's way softer than the Monaco even without silk. So as the WSJ rightly concluded, higher prices do get you higher quality. BUT . . . . Is it worth buying a couple of Hilfiger-level pure cashmere sweaters for $40-50 each, or more worth it to spend $100 on John Varvatos cashmere or $200 on Prada, or is it best to just save all that dough so at the end instead of 25 Nothing-designer cashmeres I have just one by Hermes or Loro Piana or a similar company? I think in a lot of similar questions, taste enters the equation, but here I think it ought to be possible to divorce ourselves from subjectivity. I'm talking about relatively simple garments, so complex structure/tailoring/detailing don't really matter, I shouldn't think (or do they? Weigh in!), it is purely a matter of the direct financial value of the cashmere in question. How much softer is the expensive stuff? Would you (do you) buy it, or stick to the cheaper brands? Is there even any difference?

 

[FidelCashflow]

The law of diminishing returns kicks in pretty hard when you talk about $1,000 sweaters.

 

[SpooPoker]

As I have said in another post, my J.Crew cashmere sweaters, purchased for $49 on sale have served their purpose well. They fit nicely enough for casual environments, and the quality of the fabric is very good. That said, I have a $1300 thick Loro Piana cashmere sweater that I have had for 4 times as long as the J.Crews, and it retains its original shape, does not pill, and is the pinnacle of luxury. There is a difference, but IMO only after you wear it for a few seasons will you see how they wear.

 

[malefic]

^ There is some insane LP and RLPL cashmere outerwear on eBay and in B&S right now. I wish I wasn't dead broke.

 

[brittain]

Originally Posted by malefic

cheap clothiers simply can't afford the same divine fluff that went into my recently acquired US$3,800 Marc Jacobs hoodie

please tell me you didnt pay $3800 for a hoodie.

 

[SpooPoker]

Originally Posted by malefic

^ There is some insane LP and RLPL cashmere outerwear on eBay and in B&S right now. I wish I wasn't dead broke.

Ill sell you some J.Crew cashmere. I geeve you good price, my friend!

 

[malefic]

Originally Posted by brittain

please tell me you didnt pay $3800 for a hoodie.
$444! Less than a lot of crappy, entry-level cashmere at Canadian retail prices.

Originally Posted by SpooPoker

Ill sell you some J.Crew cashmere. I geeve you good price, my friend!

heh, well if it's anything like this or this shoot me a PM. In all seriousness, though, I don't like J Crew. I'm okay with "simple" and I'm okay with "preppy" but they have to be offset by "luxe" -- and I don't think that's a word in any danger of being applied to J Crew any time soon.

 

[SpooPoker]

^^ Those are coats, one actually was listed in B&amp;S here not that long ago.

I should have specified, that I was talking about their classic V neck sweaters, nothing to them, and visually no different than RLPL, LP, BC, etc. The cashmere is nice, luxe, and a classic design. And they are inexpensive. Thats a fair enough trade for me for one season, maybe 2 of wear.

 

[munchausen]

Ehh. No matter what I spend, they all end up as moth food.

I'm just feeling bitter because i just found two holes in my favorite cashmere sweater. I will have my revenge, believe you me. If I can't find the moths, I might have to take it out on some ladybugs.

 

[perpetua]

Interesting thread. I'm in the &quot;buy more cheaper&quot; camp, not just because of my limited means but also because variety is necessary. Even if I get a great deal on a top-end sweater (say, $250 marked down from the article's hypothesized $1000), I could get four J. Crew sweaters for the same price. You'd better bet I'll get more use out of a palette of sweaters (I'm inclined to say navy, medium gray, light gray, and bright red) than a single color, no matter how soft it might feel. Moreover, rotating four sweaters means each should last longer than the single nice one, even accounting for the differential pilling rate.

 

[Tarmac]

All I know is that pilling sucks. once it starts, it renders a fine sweater useless for anything other than wearing under something else

 

[John_Edward]

Originally Posted by perpetua

Interesting thread. I'm in the "buy more cheaper" camp, not just because of my limited means but also because variety is necessary. Even if I get a great deal on a top-end sweater (say, $250 marked down from the article's hypothesized $1000), I could get four J. Crew sweaters for the same price. You'd better bet I'll get more use out of a palette of sweaters (I'm inclined to say navy, medium gray, light gray, and bright red) than a single color, no matter how soft it might feel. Moreover, rotating four sweaters means each should last longer than the single nice one, even accounting for the differential pilling rate.
That's my approach. If you're starting from naught, having one posh jumper's going to look brilliant the first few times you've worn it. And then you'll look like someone who's spent all his budget on one article of clothing. Though, I can't imagine that's the case here.

Originally Posted by Tarmac

All I know is that pilling sucks. once it starts, it renders a fine sweater useless for anything other than wearing under something else
This does me in. I've seen advertised a device (essentially an electric razor) which is meant to rectify this. I've never tried it nor have I asked after it until now. I assume it's either ineffective or you're not familiar with it (or a combination with an 'effective' chucked in for good measure). If it works, I could use one. Bluey's been retired for this reason.