Considering purchasing cashmere this season? Here's a review of two popular styles from Mott & Bow.
Growing up, I seemed to only ever own one or two sweaters at any time, and they were generally flimsy things made from cotton or *shudders* acrylic.
I didn’t really need anything else – considering I lived in Florida well into adulthood, I barely even needed those sweaters.
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But as I grew older and started traveling to colder climates more frequently, I began a ritual of adding one cashmere sweater to my wardrobe each year. I enjoyed the ceremony of it, scouring the websites of my favorite brands and searching for gold at thrift stores.
This process worked well for me – until we moved to North Carolina four years ago. I had no choice except to ramp up my sweater acquisition process because winters here are cold (before my friends from New England and beyond interject, yes, I do know that our winters here are milder than yours).
I’ve done so as thoughtfully and methodically as I can given the circumstances, prioritizing versatile silhouettes in natural fibers over trendy fast fashion pieces. From experience, I find I prefer animal fibers like wool and cashmere to plant fibers like cotton for lightness and warmth. Despite their reputation for being a challenge to care for, I’ve found that knits in these materials are far easier to hand wash and line dry than their bulky cotton cousins, which seem to take their precious time to dry.
Looking for more honest reviews? Check out my Style Reviews Index, which includes every review from this site, sorted by brand.
Two new cashmere additions this season are from Mott & Bow, a brand that is more synonymous with denim than with knitwear, so I thought I’d bring you a mini-review of each today. Say hello to the Cashmere Raglan Crew Cambridge Sweater and the Cashmere Oversized V-Neck Willow Sweater, and then read on for some of my favorite knit care tips (and they generously provided an exclusive code for soon-to-be-warm readers – you’ll find it at the bottom of this post!).
Let’s get cozy, shall we?
Cashmere Raglan Crew Cambridge Sweater Review
Cashmere Raglan Crew Cambridge Sweater Color | Cream Size | Small Materials | 100% Cashmere (12gg) Also wearing | Mom Ridge Jeans | Sneakers | Sunglasses | Bag | Hoop Earrings | Stud Earrings | Necklace | Rope Bracelet | Chain Bracelet
I’ve always wanted a beautiful cream cashmere sweater, but haven’t found one I’m happy with until now. Light-colored cashmere sweaters are a challenge, because modern cashmere is rarely as dense as vintage cashmere, and in white or cream, they are often too sheer for my taste.
The Cashmere Raglan Crew Cambridge Sweater is made using 12 gauge (often abbreviated as 12gg) cashmere, for a denser knit without the weight. The result is a lightweight yet opaque sweater that feels good on the skin. This version has raglan sleeves (which grow out of the neckline to create that classic sloped line), though the stitches are so fine it’s sometimes hard to see. I generally prefer a raglan sweater to one with straight shoulder seams, and appreciate that this one isn’t so sporty looking. Really, I have no complaints about the quality or shape!
From my past forays into Mott & Bow denim, I knew that the brand tends to run true to size – and the sizing for this sweater is no different. I took a size Small here, and it’s the right size for the fit I desired (fairly fitted in the shoulders and bust with a smidge of ease). The length is just right for tucking, which is how I plan on wearing it in the near future.
Should we talk about styling? Um, always! The soft fabric and color are an ideal mate for swishy skirts or tossing on top of a favorite dress, but I’ll probably get the most mileage out of this classic jeans and sneakers combination. Gotta love an elevated take on a forever formula!
Cashmere Oversized V-Neck Willow Sweater Review
Cashmere Oversized V-Neck Willow Sweater Color | Black Size | Small Materials | 100% Cashmere (9gg) Also wearing | Mom Ridge Jeans | Sneakers | Hoop Earrings | Stud Earrings | Necklace
My thrifted black cashmere sweater is on its last legs (ten years of heavy wear will do that to a garment!), so I decided to phase in another via the Cashmere Oversized V-Neck Willow Sweater. This sweater is knit in 9 gauge (9gg) cashmere, which means it’s a bit less dense than the raglan version (in black, though, it’s still not sheer or see-through).
Out of the packaging, I was surprised by how slim it fit me given its name. I selected the Small expecting a slightly oversized fit, but it is just about as snug as the Cashmere Raglan Crew. Since I’ve been choosing more relaxed pants and denim, I don’t mind a slimmer cut – but if you are truly looking for an oversized fit, I recommend going up a size or two.
It feels almost a little silly to talk about styling a black sweater (it’s kind of a no-brainer, right?), but I plan to embrace the casual nature of this sweater by matching it with jeans or cargo pants. I’ll also likely always fully tuck or French tuck the sweater to suit my proportions and to keep the bottom hem from snapping up (see a photo of it untucked here).
While I have very little to complain about regarding the cream sweater above, the Cashmere Oversized V-Neck Willow Sweater doesn’t quite hit the mark for me. I’d love it to be just as luxuriously plush as its sibling, but I find this version a little scratchier and prone to shedding.
Caring for Mott & Bow Cashmere Sweaters
In my opinion, the most important step of sweater care begins before you even put it on. Cashmere sweaters are expensive (and as a knitter, rightfully so), and the very best thing you can do to extend their life is to place a barrier between your skin and the delicate knits. By layering ultra-light, next-to-skin tees beneath your sweater, you reduce the amount of oil and sweat that comes in contact with the fine fibers without adding bulk (shown here: Fitted Crew Marcy and Long Sleeve Crew Tee Marcy, both from Mott & Bow and both incredibly soft). This reduces the frequency of laundering, which can cause friction and felting.
But, of course, laundering is inevitable. Mott & Bow provides instructions for both machine washing and hand-washing, but I prefer the latter with my pricey sweaters. I add just a drop or two of a specially formulated detergent into a basin of cold water, allow it to soak for 15-20 minutes, and gently press as much water as possible out of the fabric before carefully rolling in the garment a towel to extract even more. After that, it rests on my drying rack until I’m confident that it’s bone dry.
To store, I fold all of my pullover sweaters and file them in a sweater storage box with a cedar sachet to ward away moths, although if you’re short on storage space, Mott & Bow offers a hanging solution.
What about pilling? I’m happy to say I haven’t noticed any fuzzies or nubs yet with these sweaters, but pilling is inevitable with all knitwear. When the time comes, I’ll be armed with my sweater comb and a good TV show.
Exclusive Mott & Bow Discount Code
Buying cashmere feels like a bit of an investment, but the team at Mott & Bow kindly provided an exclusive code for readers. Save 10% sitewide with code WAYWARD, whether you’re purchasing one of these two cashmere styles or anything from their popular denim range.
Final Thoughts on Mott & Bow Cashmere
It’s difficult not to compare the Cashmere Raglan Crew Cambridge Sweater and the Cashmere Oversized V-Neck Willow Sweater when reviewing them both simultaneously. If the V-neck sweater were offered at a lower price, I might consider recommending it, but as it stands, there are better options on the market. The raglan version is a much better value for the price – it’s softer, denser, and has my preferred fit. I think time will reflect this, too, so expect to see this sweater in many of my future packing lists!
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Questions for you
How many sweaters are currently in your wardrobe?
What are winters like where you live?
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Wow do I get it! Living in Florida, I just don’t consider buying sweaters, and traveling for work so much lately I find myself buying clothes for the cold weather every time I have to go somewhere cold. I’ve tried several sweaters because I can’t seem to commit to cashmere but this is definitely making me reconsider!
I am testing out the Willow now and agree that it does not live up to its name of oversized. It’s just normal sized.
Great review. The cream Raglan one sounds perfect and looks really good on you.
Have a great week
Gemma x