The cashmere coat is one of the classic outerwear pieces that exude quiet luxury. This does not shout but feels the difference as soon as you put on it. The problem is, “cashmere coat” could be any of the above, or maybe a coat with a very small amount of cashmere mixed in with regular wool. How to discover what you are really purchasing.
Pure cashmere or a mix?
• 100% cashmere: the softest and lightest. It is very drapy, but may be more fragile and prone to pillowing at the friction points.
• Cashmere and wool blend: Soft cashmere and tougher wool. It’s warmer when wet, retains its form better, and resists wear.
• Wool with some cashmere: a large wool percentage, with some cashmere. Very good, but not to the pure-cashmere price.
Look at the composition label and not the name on the tag. A high-cashmere blend is frequently the ideal choice for a coat that’s worn daily.
All that’s left to do is to search for signs of a well-made coat.
• Double-faced: Two layers of fabric woven together and seams hand finished. It is light, soft and unlined. It is a characteristic of a good cashmere coat.
• Dense and springy fabric: squeeze a handful. The quality cashmere is like a sponge; it absorbs and then bounces. Pills thin.Pills lounge on thin, floppy fabric.
• Smooth shoulders: the shoulder line should be smooth and there should be no seamed puckering.
• Tight seam allowance: see inside. The extra fabric allows for letting out later.
The reasons why fur trim should be considered.
The fur collar or cuffs are not simply adornments. It is located right where the cold is able to enter the body—neck and wrists. A cashmere coat with fur at the collar will keep you at least a few degrees warmer than a coat without it and many of the styles have the collar removable as well – two for one. The fox and shearling trims provide volume around the face. The mink and sable trims are more streamlined.
Choosing the style
• Wrap-coat belted: easiest to wear over thick knits and most flattering on most bodies.
• Straight or tailored: best on suits and tight pants.
• Cape or cape-coat: For evenings, wear a cape or cape-coat for a dramatic and elegant look.
• Short coat or jacket: More comfortable while driving, for daily tasks.
When you do, its helpful to have a pure cashmere, a blend and a trimmed style side by side, and you can do this in a women’s cashmere coat collection. Look especially at the trimmed styles. One of the best ways to ensure authentic winter style and warmth from a coat that will still seem light and chic is a cashmere coat with fur trim.
Tips on preventing pilling.How not to get pillows to pill.
• Let it rest a day between wears. At times when cashmere fibres are not under tension, they will bounce back.
• After wearing, use a soft brush for garments, brushing with the grain.
• Use a cashmere comb to remove pills gently; never by pulling.
• Avoid shoulder bags. They’re the number one cause of pilling.
• Keep it in a hanging bag on a shaped hanger, keep moths away with cedar.
• Look for a cashmere-knowledgeable dry cleaner to dry-clean sparingly, once per season.
A good cashmere coat is as soft as a year one coat, if looked after properly.
