The best men’s cashmere sweaters are a lot like that guy Bryce you couldn’t stand in high school. Remember him? The one who was valedictorian and the star quarterback and the lead in the musical and always really nice to you, which somehow just made you hate him even more? Well, the best men’s cashmere sweaters are the Bryce of autumnal staples.
Cashmere is the strongest and warmest and softest and swankiest form of wool there is, and it’s here to take your dreary cold weather wardrobe to bold new heights of handsomeness and coziness. The very best cashmere sweaters instantly make whatever you happen to have on that day—a T-shirt and denim, say, or a button-down and blazer—look miles more considered, sophisticated, and polished.
Make sense? Good, because now comes the fun part: settling on the right cashmere sweater for you. Are you after a basic cashmere pullover? A svelte cashmere turtleneck, perhaps? How about a currently-trending cashmere cardigan? To help make that decision as simple and streamlined as possible, we found 13 of the very best men’s cashmere sweaters on the planet—from the gigantic flexes worth dropping a paycheck on to the budget-friendly crewnecks you should cop in every color. You’ll look even better in them than Bryce did the night he was crowned prom king. Stupid Bryce.
The Best Men’s Cashmere Sweaters, According to GQ
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Best Budget Cashmere Sweater: Uniqlo Cashmere Crew Neck Sweater
After its supreme softness, cashmere’s best-known attribute is its price. But thanks to the forces that be (globalization, capitalism, etc.) cashmere is shedding its high-falutin’ price tags. The quality of more affordable cashmere sweaters aren’t up to par with the truly nice stuff, of course, but some options are better than others.
For us, the best of the budget bunch is Uniqlo. For just a hundred bucks, you get a satisfyingly soft pure cashmere sweater in a classic, relaxed fit, available in a wide range of colors. “If you want an upgrade from merino wool without the massive price jump, Uniqlo’s your best bet,” style commerce writer Gerald Ortiz says. “The style is timeless and the cashmere is softer than you’d expect for the pricepoint.”
Best Cashmere V-Neck Sweater: Buck Mason California Cashmere V-Neck Sweater
A V-neck sweater has the uncanny ability to turn anyone into a ‘90s heartthrob, but only if it has the right fit. And a really good drape. And also a V-neck that’s not too deep nor too shallow. That’s usually one spinning plate too many for most brands, but Buck Mason is the Cirque du Soleil of knitwear and its California Cashmere V-Neck sweater is its harrowing act. The fabric is a 12-gauge jersey knit made from long-staple cashmere that has a pillowy hand and an elegant drape that, unlike many flimsy cashmere, has plenty of structure. The neck hits the bullseye and is deep enough for a tee to peak out, but not so deep to reveal the insane graphic on said tee. It hits that lower-middle tier price point oh so well and even out-classes higher-priced options.
“Buck Mason made its bag off of basic knits, so it doesn’t surprise me that they make a hell of a sweater,” Style Commerce Writer Gerald Ortiz says. “The jersey has the perfect weight, the silhouette is classic but not frumpy, and the V is right on the money.”
Best Cashmere Cable-Knit Sweater: J.Crew Cashmere Cable-Knit Sweater
You don’t have to do much to a cashmere sweater for it to make a big impression. The fabric itself speaks volumes, so even the most basic of knitwear options can instantly make an outfit feel a bit luxer, more considered, and altogether elevated. (Just think about how put together guys like David Beckham and Justin Theroux look wearing plain ol’ pullovers.)
