Ralph Lauren cashmere

Does anyone have any experience w/RL cashmere they could share? It
seems like an unreasonably high price for the sweaters, considering the
prices I've seen on other brands of cashmere sweaters, but I realize
that prices can, to a degree, also reflect the quality of the cashmere.
Is RL's good quality? Or is the price high mostly because of the brand
name?

After–Christmas shopping...so far, I've pretty much refrained. I
bought
a half–price 3–foot fiber–optic Christmas tree from Walgreens (doesn't
everyone need one of those?) and ordered a nightgown that was
considerably on sale from LL Bean's web site. Other than that,
nothing.
But what I keep eying are the on–sale cashmere sweaters at Macy's, the
Ralph Lauren ones in particular. But, on sale or not, they're still
over $100.
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=175547&CategoryID=19293
I like the one in grey heather and, elsewhere on the site, the same
sweater in black. I've actually tried on the sweater in the store and
liked it, but the store didn't have the same colors in stock that the
web site offers.
Does anyone have any experience w/RL cashmere they could share? It
seems like an unreasonably high price for the sweaters, considering
the
prices I've seen on other brands of cashmere sweaters, but I realize
that prices can, to a degree, also reflect the quality of the
cashmere.
Is RL's good quality? Or is the price high mostly because of the brand
name?
I also am hoping that the price will continue to plummet as the new
year gets closer, but I've never paid much attention to whether or not
"New Year sales" were a big thing. Are they?
Thanks!
beeswing

I have two RL cashmere sweaters that I can think of off the top of my
head. One is a Lauren label heavy turtleneck, lambswool and cashmere
blend. It has worn OK, some pilling under the arms, but very warm. I
bought it on sale, for pretty cheap, and haven't given much thought to
the quality. This is the second winter I have worn it, and think I
will get one more before it looks ragged. I think I wear it two or
three times per month in Oct – May, because it is so warm.
The other is a Blue Label cashmere cardigan, pretty shell buttons, kind
of small in scale. It is also very warm. This one has worn
tremendously well, it is about 4 or 5 years old, and has not pilled at
all, it looks nearly brand new, and I wear it fairly often, as much as
once or twice a month from Oct– May. I think this one is at least
comparable in quality to some TSE sweaters I have, and better than
MAG/Magaschoni. This one I think was around $300 full price ( I paid a
lot less), and I think it compares well with others in the same price
range.
I think if you want a good piece of cashmere that lasts, you have to be
prepared to go for the big guns, TSE, Portofina, etc. You can get the
best deals at the end of the season, or at department store outlets
(Off 5th, Neimans, Nordstrom Rack).
NM

I have several RL cashmere and cashmere blend sweaters. The price is
low compared to the real cashmere of brands like TSE. There is a huge
difference in the quality of cashmere. For example, my girls bought IM
cashmere sweaters from Target. They need to wear camisoles underneath
because you can see right through them. The RL are nicer. Macy's
Charter Club makes a decent less expensive cashmere but it won't have
the cable detail of the link you've shown. The best RL prices are at
outlet stores but it's hit or miss on sizes, colors.
Audrey

I'd never thought about checking the outlets for sweaters;
unfortunately, they are a bit far out of the city from here, but that's
a great idea for when I have more time. Last time I was in a RL outlet,
it didn't carry petites, though. I don't know if that's changed but it
would be worth taking a look sometime.
beeswing