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Review Women’s cashmere knitwear

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

Buy8.4/10 research score

Quick answer

Buy it, if you want value. Why: cashmere cardigan. The catch: plain.

By Opulique Editorial Team Updated 1 min read

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Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Cardigan

Our verdict on the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Cardigan

Buy it if
you want value.
Skip it if
you want status.
Best for
Value cardigan
Key feature
Cashmere cardigan
Typical price
$500–$650
Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

YarnCashmere
WeightMedium
FitRegular
Made inScotland

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

  • you want value
  • value excellent value
  • can spend around $500–$650

Skip it if you

  • you want status
  • mind this: plain

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Excellent value

Cons

  • Plain

The verdict in one breath

The Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Cardigan is women’s cashmere knitwear we would point many buyers to. What earns it the buy: cashmere cardigan. In our list it is the pick for: value cardigan.

Reasons to buy

  • Excellent value

Reasons to skip

  • Plain

The details that matter

  • Yarn: Cashmere
  • Weight: Medium
  • Fit: Regular
  • Made in: Scotland

Worth knowing

Mill direct.

Buy it or skip it?

Buy it if you want value. Skip it if you want status; the Extreme Cashmere n°000 Little Kid is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best women’s cashmere knitwear.

Alternatives worth considering

Extreme Cashmere n°000 Little Kid

Extreme Cashmere · Women’s cashmere knitwear

Extreme Cashmere n°000 Little Kid

Buy it if you want relaxed cult knit.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Dutch cult
Typical price
$550–$750

Pros

  • Distinctive
  • Soft

Cons

  • One size
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review
Lisa Yang Cashmere Sweater

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 Cardigan?

Buy it, if you want value. Why: cashmere cardigan. The catch: plain.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want status. The Extreme Cashmere n°000 Little Kid is the better buy then.

What does the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Cardigan cost?

Usually $500–$650 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 Cardigan: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Cardigan worth the money? Short answer: buy it, if you want value. 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 Cardigan does well

The headline: cashmere cardigan. The details: Yarn: Cashmere; Weight: Medium; Fit: Regular; Made in: Scotland. In our list it is the pick for: value cardigan. It usually sells for $500–$650 in the US.

Mill direct.

The trade-offs

Good: excellent value. Not so good: plain. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want status.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Extreme Cashmere n°000 Little Kid ($550–$750): one-size slouchy cashmere. Better if you want relaxed cult knit.

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

Instead, consider the Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Crew ($400–$550): Scottish cashmere crewneck. Better if you want great cashmere for less.

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.