I wear this $50 cashmere sweater almost everyday (and it still looks perfect)

For my twenty-first birthday by BFF bought me a hot pink cashmere sweater. With its ballet neckline and impossible softness, it was the most luxe and gorgeous gift I could imagine–one she no doubt was late on rent to afford. In fact, I loved it so much I never wanted to wear it. It felt too special for “Sex and the City” marathons and to wear it at a bar risked it getting doused in some frat guy’s beer. It was too pure for that life. I didn’t keep it in a display case, but I was tempted.

Then I got pregnant and couldn’t wear it. Then I had a baby who barfed on everything. It stayed safely tucked away. And then I kind of forgot about it. Years later, I found it in a box of packed away clothes and tried it on. It was still as soft and vibrant as I recalled, but it just didn’t work anymore. The cut was too boxy, the length just a bit too short. Its time was up and I never even got to enjoy it.

Later this month I’m turning 40. I’ve learned two things in those in-between years. (Well, more than that but for the sake of this article, just two.)

1. Don’t keep the things you love under lock and key waiting for a special occasion. Today is that special occasion. Spray the fancy perfume! Use the luxe bubble bath! And for god’s sake, wear the cashmere.
2. Cashmere doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, the perfect cashmere sweater only costs $50. And I know because I have three of them that I wear multiple times a week: Quince cashmere sweaters.

Quince, an affordable luxury brand that has no doubt infiltrated your social feeds, promises “high quality essentials at radically low prices”–and they definitely deliver. At 50-80% lower prices than competitors like J. Crew and Vince, the quality of the cashmere itself is impressive. They’re not the softest I’ve ever worn (full disclosure, the $98 Naadam cashmere is softer) but they hardly pill which to me, is a fair trade off. The knit is on the lighter side which keeps the chill out but doesn’t overheat and the fit is just roomy enough to look casual and put together. I’ve worn mine with sweatpants by day and leather pants by night without missing a beat. I even packed one for camping because why not? If I have to sleep on the ground, I may as well be wearing something cozy when I do it.

Currently, my collection includes two black and one grey. But it seems only right to celebrate turning 40 with a refresh. This time, I’m thinking bright red. For all the special occasions ahead. (And yes, that even means Sex and the City marathons. The reboot this time.)

Check out my favorite Quince cashmere sweaters below!

Quince Cashmere Sweaters

Quince

Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater

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$50

My ride or die, this little unicorn comes in 14 different colors. It also boasts over 14.4K reviews and earned a 4.9 star rating from folks who obviously love it as much as I do.

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Quince

Mongolian Shrunken Cashmere Sweatshirt

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$69.90

Another style you can’t go wrong with! This sweatshirt style is cut a bit shorter, a bit more shrunken all the way around. It has a cute little v-stitch at the neckline that I just adore and a laid-back look that pairs perfectly with jeans and joggers. It comes in 11 gorgeous colors–including this new spicy mustard hue which I’m utterly obsessed with– to make your decisions even more complicated. (Sorry. Kind of.)

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Quince

Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Crewneck Sweater

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$89.90

I love this one so much I recently bought it in second color. (Mostly because I was afraid of wearing out my first one!) It never fails to get compliments and it’s even been mistaken for the Jenni Kayne version which costs FOUR TIMES as much. The chic and timeless design instantly looks pulled together despite being the coziest thing in your closet.

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Quince

Mongolian Cashmere Duster Cardigan Sweater

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$99.90

I don’t have this one, so I won’t definitively say it’s a dupe for the Jenni Kayne sweater coat that haunts me, but at one quarter of the price, I’m willing to see if it will scratch the itch.

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A version of this article was published January 12, 2022. It has been updated.