The first cashmere sweater I ever bought from Quince was a crewneck, 4 or 5 years ago. It cost about $50, and I was fully prepared for it to fall apart by the second winter.
It didn’t – and I’ve worn it a lot!
That crewneck is still in my rotation, and it’s the reason I now own 11 pieces of Quince cashmere (plus one more on my wishlist, but we’ll get to that).
Since 2021 I’ve lived out of a carry-on full time, which means every one of these pieces has been worn, packed, washed, and worn again more times than a normal closet would ask of it.
If a sweater was going to pill, stretch, or quit on me, I’d know by now 😉
So this isn’t a first impressions post. It’s what these cashmere pieces are actually like to own, which ones I’d buy again, and the one I’d think twice about.
Here’s what you’ll learn today:
✅ Whether Quince’s cashmere is worth it after years of wear (and what “Mongolian cashmere” actually means for you)
✅ My notes on every piece I own: fit, sizing, how each one has held up, and what I wear it with
✅ How I wash mine (not the way the label says), plus the one piece that stays home when I travel
Quince Cashmere Review: Worth It After Wearing It On Repeat For Years?
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Estimated reading time: 19 minutes
Yes, Quince cashmere is worth it. I own 11 pieces (sweaters, cardigans, tees, a skirt, a dress, and accessories), the oldest for nearly 5 years, and they’ve barely pilled even though I machine wash them on a cold delicate cycle instead of by hand. Sweaters start around $50, and the crewneck, the shrunken sweater, and the duster cardigan are the three I’d buy again without thinking.
🧶 Why cashmere is worth it in the first place
Cashmere is warm without being heavy. A cashmere sweater does the job of a much bulkier knit, always looks classy and layers nicely without adding bulk.
It’s also super soft, wrinkle resistant, and doesn’t need washing after every wear.
Perfect for travel!
The catch is usually the price, which is where Quince comes in. Most Quince sweaters in 100% cashmere start around $50, and Quince says it’s Grade A Mongolian cashmere.
I’m not going to pretend a $50 Quince cashmere sweater feels identical to a $400 one on day one. What I can tell you is how mine look and feel after wearing them all the time.
💡 Pro tip: if you’ve never owned cashmere, the thing that surprises people most is how thin it is. The warmth comes from the fiber, not the bulk.
🎯 Also read: the pieces from Quince I’d buy again (everything I own from the brand, not just the cashmere)
🧥 Quince Cashmere Sweaters
This is where most ladies out there get introduced to Quince’s cashmere clothing – the sweaters.
They’re incredibly soft, shockingly affordable, and honestly, they’re one of the easiest pieces to style in my entire closet (or suitcase 🙋🏻♀️).
Four sweaters live in this section: the crewneck that started it all, a boatneck, the shrunken one, and a sweater vest. All four are 100% Mongolian cashmere.
🍂 Fall colors: every fall Quince brings in limited edition fall colors in whatever that season’s trending shades are, and they sell out fast!
1️⃣ Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater
This was my first Quince piece and it’s the one I’ve had longest, 4 to 5 years now. I have it in green and light pink (both were limited edition colors), in a size S.
It’s warm, it’s comfy, and it’s the easiest sweater in my closet to layer. A merino base layer goes under it when it’s cold, and your favorite Quince jacket goes over it when it’s really cold 🥶
Both the green and pink cashmere sweaters travel with me on fall and winter trips.
This is the Quince Mongolian cashmere sweater people usually mean when they ask if the brand is any good. After this many winters, mine still looks like a sweater I’d buy today.
🔥 If you tend to run hot, Quince also makes a lightweight cotton cashmere crew for $29.90. It’s a blend, not 100% cashmere, so it’s less warm but you get the softness at a lower price (I don’t own it, so just a suggestion).
2️⃣ Mongolian Cashmere Boatneck Sweater
Same cashmere as the crewneck, different collar. I have it in pink and aqua green (limited edition colors), and the boatneck reads a little more funky and fun than a crewneck.
The tradeoff: it’s cut looser, with batwing sleeves, so it’s harder to layer under a jacket. That’s why it stays home when I travel anywhere too cold.
If you size up, the boatneck works as a drop shoulder sweater. My pink sweater below is a size S, while the aqua is XS.
💡 Buy this one for everyday wear and dinners out. It’s great for cool weather, not when it’s cold and layering comes into play.
3️⃣ Mongolian Shrunken Cashmere Sweater
This is my favorite Quince sweater.
I have it in black and beige, size S, and it’s the one I reach for with high waisted bottoms because the shorter length lands right where the waistband starts.
It’s also my go to for layering over dresses. If you like a slightly cropped look without showing any skin, this is that sweater.
🎯 It pairs with the cashmere midi skirt further down for a head to toe cashmere outfit that still reads as separates.
4️⃣ Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Sweater Vest
I have this in ivory, size XS (one of the pieces I wear smaller than my usual S). It works as a top on its own, or over a T-shirt or a dress.
It’s my shoulder season piece. When it’s too warm for sleeves but too cool for a tee, this is what goes on.
🧶 Want the same knit with sleeves? The Quince fisherman sweater comes as a turtleneck, the warmer sibling of this vest.
🧣 Quince Cashmere Cardigans
I live out of a carry-on, so a cardigan has to earn its space by doing more than one job. The ones below go over dresses, over jeans, and on planes, which is why I keep a couple in rotation.
Next up you’ll find the one I own and wear constantly, one that’s my next Quince splurge, and one I’d point you to if you like a slouchier fit.
5️⃣ Mongolian Cashmere Duster Cardigan Sweater
I have this in grey and camel, size S. Long cardigans cover my butt and make me feel cozy and put together at the same time, which is a rare combination.
On a 6 week trip a while back, it sat in the suitcase for most of the first four weeks and only came out on travel days.
Then the temperature dropped into the high 50s and it worked with every top and bottom I’d packed, plus a dress and a jumpsuit.
Bonus points because the extra length creates a flattering silhouette. When I need a break from jackets, this stylish duster is the layer I reach for.
6️⃣ Luxe Baby Cashmere Cable Cardigan (the one I’m buying next)
I don’t own this one yet, so this isn’t a review, but it is next on my list!
Here’s what makes it different from everything else in this post. It’s baby cashmere, and the fiber measures 14.5 to 14.9 microns, finer than the Grade A cashmere in the rest of the lineup.
Finer fiber = softer.
At $249.90 it’s the premium cashmere sweater in the Quince lineup.
💡 Sizing: the fit is relaxed and oversized, and Quince recommends sizing down for a more classic fit. That’s exactly why I’m torn between S and XS. Oversized isn’t usually my personal style, so I’ll probably go for XS.
7️⃣ Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Boyfriend Cardigan
If you like a “borrowed from him” fit, the Quince boyfriend sweater comes as an oversized cardigan.
I don’t own it, but it’s the one I’d point you to for a slouchy layer over jeans.
PS: I would totally love to own this cardigan, but it isn’t as versatile as the cable cardigan above, so it’s difficult to give it a spot in my carry-on.
Because it’s chunky, keep whatever’s under it fitted: a tank, a thin turtleneck, skinny or straight jeans.
💡 Here’s Quince’s own note on the boyfriend cardigan: consider sizing down for a little less volume.
🧣 Before you spend $50 to $250 on cashmere, do this first.
The most expensive sweater isn’t the pricey one. It’s the one you bought and never wore, and most closets have a few of those.
My closet quiz takes about a minute and shows you what your wardrobe is actually missing. That’s how a cashmere sweater becomes the one you reach for every week instead of the one you feel guilty after buying.
Answer a couple of quick questions to find out what your closet needs ⬇️
👚 Quince Cashmere Tees and Tanks
I used to think cashmere only belonged in my winter closet. These two changed my mind.
Cashmere breathes and regulates temperature, so a thin tee in it is comfortable across three seasons, not one.
In practice these get more wear than most of my sweaters, because a tee goes with everything and a sweater has to be planned around.
8️⃣ Mongolian Cashmere Tee
I’ve had this for about 2 years, in red and light pink, size S.
It’s an elevated T-shirt, and that’s exactly how I treat it.
This tee comes with me on almost every trip, except in intense summer heat. Jeans and sneakers look put together with it on, and a skirt and gold jewelry turn it into dinner.
9️⃣ Featherweight Cashmere Ribbed Tank
The newest piece in my collection. I have it in black, size S, and I bought it because I wanted a tank that would keep me warm (I tend to run cold).
It goes under a blazer or a cardigan in fall, winter, and spring, and it’s the piece I’d tell a friend to buy if she already owns a sweater.
🎯 This tank is also what I pair with the midi skirt below when I want cashmere on cashmere without the bulk.
👗 Quince Cashmere Skirt and Dress
🔟 Mongolian Cashmere Midi Skirt
Easily the most gorgeous skirt I own. I have it in teak brown, size S, and it’s a pencil shape, which is my favorite skirt shape anyway.
It’s warm and it’s flattering, which is not a combination most skirts manage well. Think of it as the elevated skirt for fall and winter, perfect for work trips, date nights, and holiday parties.
Leather sneakers make it casual, and tights and booties make it a dinner outfit. On top, I wear either the ribbed tank or a turtleneck sweater.
1️⃣1️⃣ Mongolian Cashmere Short Sleeve Mini Dress
I have this in black, size S. A black cashmere dress is the fastest complete outfit in a closet: one piece, and you’re dressed.
Mini means above the knee, so tights do the work in cooler months, with booties, heels or leather sneakers depending on the day.
A cute jacket or duster cardigan goes over it when you want a layer without a jacket.
💡 If a mini isn’t your thing anymore, the midi skirt above with the ribbed tank gives you the same all cashmere outfit with more length. Or simply go for one of Quince’s longer cashmere midi dresses.
🧤 Quince Cashmere Accessories
1️⃣2️⃣ Mongolian Cashmere Wrap
Cozy is the word. It feels like a warm hug, and it does two jobs: scarf on cold days, elegant wrap over a dress at dinner.
If you’ve been searching for a Quince cashmere scarf, this is the piece to look at, because a wrap gives you the scarf and the shawl in one.
1️⃣3️⃣ Mongolian Cashmere Ribbed Beanie
My Quince beanie is pink, and my husband has one in heather gray. Both are regular features of our fall and winter outfits.
It’s the kind of thing you don’t think about until you’re cold, and then you’re glad this Quince beanie is something you can easily grab as you’re heading out the door.
🤔 Which piece is right for you?
Not sure where to start? Here’s how I’d match them to what you need.
- You run cold: the crewneck over a merino base, and the ribbed tank under everything else.
- You run hot: the shrunken sweater on its own, or the cotton cashmere crew.
- You want one piece that layers over dresses: the shrunken sweater or the fisherman vest.
- You want a break from jackets: the duster cardigan.
- You want an outfit, not just a sweater: the midi skirt with the tank or the shrunken sweater, or the mini dress with tights.
- You want warmth that fits in a coat pocket: the beanie and the wrap.
💡 If you only want one and you’re not sure, a Quince cardigan or crewneck in a neutral is the safest first buy, because it goes with everything you already own.
🧼 How I care for my cashmere pieces
Cashmere is delicate, and the label will tell you to hand wash it.
Honestly, I have rarely hand-washed my cashmere.
Mine go in the machine on cold water, delicate cycle, and then they air dry. Never the dryer, that’s the one rule I don’t break.
Even though pilling has been minimal, all cashmere does eventually pill. It’s fixable with Quince’s cashmere comb, which I own but barely use, because mine haven’t pilled enough to need it.
And you don’t wash it after every wear. A few wears between washes is normal for cashmere, and it’s part of why the pieces last as long as they do.
Quick Recap: My Top 11 Cashmere Picks from Quince
- Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater. My first Quince piece, still in rotation after 4 to 5 years.
- Mongolian Cashmere Boatneck Sweater. Prettier collar, looser fit, stays home and colder trips because it doesn’t layer well.
- Mongolian Shrunken Cashmere Sweater. My favorite, for high waisted bottoms and layering over dresses.
- Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Sweater Vest. My shoulder season piece, on its own or over a dress.
- Mongolian Cashmere Duster Cardigan Sweater. The jacket alternative that earned its spot on a 6 week trip.
- Mongolian Cashmere Tee. The elevated T-shirt I pack for almost every trip.
- Featherweight Cashmere Ribbed Tank. Warm under blazers and cardigans, my newest and a favorite.
- Mongolian Cashmere Midi Skirt. The most gorgeous skirt I own, warm and flattering.
- Mongolian Cashmere Short Sleeve Mini Dress. One piece, one outfit, black, with tights when it’s cold.
- Mongolian Cashmere Wrap. Scarf and evening wrap in one, feels like a hug.
- Mongolian Cashmere Ribbed Beanie. Warmth without bulk, my husband has one too.
And there you have it. The 11 cashmere pieces from Quince I’ve worn for years, so you don’t have to guess.
If you’ve been circling the site wondering whether $50 cashmere can be any good, my answer is yes. The boatneck is the only one I’d think twice about, and only if you layer a lot or don’t like a looser fit.
Start with whichever piece fills the hole in your closet, not whichever one I happen to like most. That’s how every one of these earned its place with me.
Thanks for reading!
XO,
Aimara
>>> PS: If reading this has you wondering whether your closet is actually working for you, don’t forget to take the closet quiz! It’s quick, fun, and will tell you exactly where your wardrobe stands (and what to do next). Take it here!
About the author:
Hi, I’m Aimara, the full-time traveler behind Ways of Style 👋🏼 I help women simplify their closets, figure out their style, and feel good in what they wear.
Since 2021 I’ve been living out of a 20 inch carry-on while traveling full time, and it changed how I think about every piece I own.
When your whole closet has to fit in one bag, you find out fast which pieces are worth it and which ones just take up space. Quince’s affordable cashmere made the cut years ago, and this post is the reason why.
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Quince Cashmere FAQ
Is the cashmere from Quince real cashmere?
Yes. Quince’s pieces are 100% Grade A Mongolian cashmere, and after 4 to 5 years with my crewneck it behaves like the real thing: warm, soft, light, and still in my rotation.
A Quince sweater feels thin in your hands, which is normal for high-quality cashmere.
How can Quince sell cashmere so cheaply?
Quince’s model is selling directly to you, without the layers of markup that usually sit between a factory and a store shelf. That’s how most Quince sweaters in 100% cashmere land around $50 when similar sweaters elsewhere cost a lot more.
The price is lower because of how it’s sold, not because the fiber is different.
Is Quince’s cashmere actually high quality?
Yes!
My oldest pieces have barely pilled, and I wash them in the machine on a cold delicate cycle rather than by hand. A Quince cardigan or sweater won’t feel like a $400 sweater on day one, but it holds up to regular wear.
Where does Quince get its cashmere?
Mongolia, which is why the pieces are labeled Mongolian cashmere. Mongolian cashmere is known for long, fine fibers, and that’s what gives a Quince sweater its softness and warmth at a low weight.
Does Quince’s cashmere pill?
All cashmere pills eventually, and Quince’s is no exception, but mine has pilled very little after years of wear.
When it does happen, a cashmere comb takes the pills right off. I own Quince’s and rarely need it.
How should I wash cashmere from Quince?
The label says hand wash and lay flat to dry. I use cold water on the delicate cycle and air dry, and it’s been fine for years. The one thing you can’t do is put it in the dryer.
Do Quince sweaters run true to size?
I wear a size S in almost every piece I own, from the crewneck to the midi skirt and the mini dress, and an XS in the fisherman sweater vest. For the boyfriend cardigan, Quince suggests sizing down for less volume, and for the boatneck, sizing up gives you a drop shoulder look.
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