Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew review: worth it or skip?

Buy8.6/10 research score

Quick answer

Buy it, if you want great cashmere for less. Why: Scottish cashmere crewneck. The catch: plain.

By Opulique Editorial Team Updated November 6, 2026 1 min read

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Our verdict on the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew

Buy it if: you want great cashmere for less.
Skip it if: you want a fashion label.

Best for: Value mill
Key feature: Scottish cashmere crewneck
Typical price: $400–$550

Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

Yarn	2-ply cashmere
Weight	Medium
Fit	Regular
Made in	Scotland

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

you want great cashmere for less
value superb value
can spend around $400–$550

Skip it if you

you want a fashion label
mind this: plain

Pros and cons

Pros

Superb value
Durable

Cons

Plain

The verdict in one breath

The Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew is women’s cashmere knitwear we would point most people to. What earns it the buy: Scottish cashmere crewneck. In our list it is the pick for: value mill.

Reasons to buy

Superb value
Durable

Reasons to skip

Plain

The details that matter

Yarn: 2-ply cashmere
Weight: Medium
Fit: Regular
Made in: Scotland

Worth knowing

Mill-direct value.

Buy it or skip it?

Buy it if you want great cashmere for less. Skip it if you want a fashion label; the Guest in Residence Cashmere Crew is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best women’s cashmere knitwear.

Alternatives worth considering

Guest in Residence · Women’s cashmere knitwear

Guest in Residence Cashmere Crew

Buy it if you want modern value.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Modern value
Typical price: $400–$600

Pros

Fair price

Cons

Newer brand

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Lisa Yang · Women’s cashmere knitwear

Lisa Yang Cashmere Sweater

Buy it if you want value.

Verdict: Buy
Best for: Swedish value
Typical price: $450–$650

Pros

Fair price
Soft

Cons

Less known

Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew?

Buy it, if you want great cashmere for less. Why: Scottish cashmere crewneck. The catch: plain.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want a fashion label. The Guest in Residence Cashmere Crew is the better buy then.

What does the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew cost?

Usually $400–$550 in the US. Luxury houses raise prices often, so check the current price before you buy.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew worth the money? Short answer: buy it, if you want great cashmere for less. This review explains what this Johnstons of Elgin piece gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs and which women’s cashmere knitwear to buy instead if it is not right for you.

What the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew does well

The headline: Scottish cashmere crewneck. The details: Yarn: 2-ply cashmere; Weight: Medium; Fit: Regular; Made in: Scotland. In our list it is the pick for: value mill. It usually sells for $400–$550 in the US.

Mill-direct value.

The trade-offs

Good: superb value, durable. Not so good: plain. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want a fashion label.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Guest in Residence Cashmere Crew ($400–$600): cashmere crewneck from Gigi Hadid’s brand. Better if you want modern value.

Instead, consider the Lisa Yang Cashmere Sweater ($450–$650): cashmere crew. Better if you want value.

Instead, consider the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Cardigan ($500–$650): cashmere cardigan. Better if you want value.

Before you buy

Ply and gauge: 2-ply cashmere is tougher and warmer than single-ply; finer gauges look smarter, chunky ones feel cozier. Fiber length: long-fiber cashmere pills less; squeeze it, and it should spring back. Care: hand wash or a wool cycle, dry flat, and use a cashmere comb for the first pilling.

Buyer tip

Cashmere sweaters from great mills (Johnstons, Loro Piana, Cucinelli) last a decade with care; cheap cashmere often pills within weeks.

Buying in Europe: Italian (IT 38, 40, 42) and French (FR 36, 38, 40) clothing sizes are not the same; IT 40 is about a US 4 and an FR 36. Check each house’s chart, and keep returns in mind when you order from another country.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.