I Wear Cashmere Year-Round Thanks to This Genius Sweater Alternative

Woman wearing Alex Mill cashmere vest and Still Here jeans inside a mid-century modern living room.

(Image credit: @ladhav)

Whenever a cold front rolls in, sweaters are the first wardrobe items to come out of storage—specifically cashmere sweaters. The material is surprisingly warm for how lightweight it feels, and it's a must-have layering piece for fall and winter. But here's a little tip: When the weather turns and temperatures begin to rise, you don't have to ditch cashmere. All you need are a few cashmere vests, the best compromise for transitioning seasons. You can wear them on their own to go sans sleeves or layer long-sleeve button-downs or turtlenecks underneath them if it's still a bit cold outside.

There are also multiple versions of cashmere vests, from buttoned ones to V-neck styles to cable-knit textures. To prove just how many options there are on the market right now, I rounded up 29 of the best cashmere vests available, including neutral, minimalist ones that will become staple pieces in your closet and bold, colorful alternatives that'll make a strong statement come spring. The brands known for cool cashmere styles like Guest in Residence, Leret Leret, and ME+EM are in the mix, but there are also options from Nordstrom, Quince, and J.Crew that are wallet-friendlier (without sacrificing quality). With that said, shop all the cashmere vests you could possibly desire below.

Lauren Adhav
Freelance Fashion Editor

Lauren Adhav is a freelance fashion editor based in Los Angeles. Originally from Orlando, Florida, she got her start as the beauty and fashion editorial assistant at Cosmopolitan and worked her way up to fashion editor. She contributed to both the website and print issues, pitching new ideas, forecasting trends, covering red carpet events, and informing the overall coverage and brand voice.

After five years in NYC, she moved to Los Angeles. As a freelance fashion editor, she contributes to Cosmo, The Cut, and now Who What Wear. She also spends an unhealthy amount of time online shopping for the perfect piece, and now that she's in L.A., she's rediscovering her soft spot for malls.