I’ve been snooping around Quince’s cashmere selection for the past few months, and it all started with this cashmere cardigan.
I first saw the cardigan on an Instagram ad (it’s always an instagram ad).
The ad struck me immediately because the sweater being featured just so happened to be identical to my favorite Jenni Kayne cardigan that NOT ONLY have I not taken off my body in months but also is much (MUCH) more expensive.
After some light investigating, I gathered that the reviews for Quince’s Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Boyfriend Cardigan Sweater were stellar, and if there truly is a duplicate to my fave cashmere cardi retailing for 69% LESS — I had to know.
Is Quince’s Cashmere Cardigan Just As Good As Jenni Kayne’s?
Let’s begin with the fact that Quince has some really gorgeous pieces of clothing.
I fell in love with its toddler cashmere line when I tried a few items for my son, and if you want just the SparkNotes: wildly soft + machine-washable (I ended up purchasing even more for my little guy). And Shana recently did an in-depth video comparison between Jenni Kayne’s and Quince’s cashmere fisherman sweater (as well as the cotton versions), and I enjoyed every freaking minute of her breakdown.
So, how do the oversized cashmere cardigans compare? Could Quince’s $139.90 sweater REALLY beat out JK’s cult-favorite $445 sweater?
sweater (left) | sweater (right) | tee | jeans | similar clogs
At that price difference, if there’s any chance, I’m eager to find out.
First Up: My Favorite Investment Cardigan From Jenni Kayne
Jenni Kayne is a brand I’ve known about for quite some time, but it took a long time before I actually made a purchase.
I’m not one to throw down hundreds(ss) of dollars on a single sweater out of the blue, so it took a lot of thoughtful consideration, mental homework on multiple ways I could wear the cardigan, reading every review (and then rereading), and — let’s be honest — a moment when Jenni Kayne was featuring a good sale before I took the plunge.
When I finally decided to invest in Jenni Kayne’s Cashmere Cocoon Cardigan, I had HIGH expectations.
sweater | tee | jeans | similar clogs
To be brutally honest (what’s this blog for if we’re not honest + helpful, right?), I was a little taken aback the first time I touched the sweater. After reading countless reviews that mentioned remarkable softness, with claims of the softest item in their entire wardrobe, I was expecting something a little more… lotion-y.
I live for comfort, so I’m not trying to brag (but maybe I am) when I say that I’ve tried on a LOT of sweaters claiming to uphold “buttery softness,” and I now have a harsh review process on what that actually means.
While some cashmere that I’ve tried does have exceptional softness out of the box, a lot of times I find that the sweaters with true “butter” quality are the ones I’m least expecting (this non-cashmere Free People sweater and this cashmere button-up from Reformation are two of them).
My immediate reaction to the fit of JK’s Cashmere Cocoon? Perfection. Just as the website claims it to be, just as the reviews discuss in length — the oversized, drapey “cocoon” shape is my style to a T.
It actually only took a few moments of wearing the Cashmere Cocoon Cardigan around the house for me to realize this sweater is the real deal. The cardi somehow molds to me, keeping its breezy shape while magically fitting me better as time went on.
The fibers seemed to relax as the evening progressed, and — maybe Jenni Kayne infuses the yarn with magic pixie dust — I was loving the quality more with every passing second. My initial slightly bummed reaction was starting to appreciate the luxe cashmere feel after all (I love when clothing gets ever better with wear).
Fast-forward: JK’s Cashmere Cocoon Cardigan is easily one of my most-worn items in my entire closet, and I haven’t even owned it a full year. With every wear, it’s as if the sweater does, in fact, become softer (and it now truly is one of the softest items in my closet…go figure).
The cardigan seems to look good with just about everything I own, and if I’m ever feeling “blah” about myself or my outfit, throwing on the sweater seems to instantly elevate my perception. It’s like wearing a comfort blanket (that’s somehow chic).
Fit Notes: I’m wearing a size large in Jenni Kayne’s Cashmere Cocoon Cardigan. While I consider medium to be my “fitted” or “regular” size, large is what I order when I’m looking for comfort — and it’s the exact size I wanted for this!
Can Quince Hold Its Own? A Breakdown Of The Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Boyfriend Cardigan
I honestly didn’t expect Quince’s cashmere cardigan to be quite so similar to Jenni Kayne’s, but my first impression was simply: DANG.
sweater | tee | jeans | similar clogs
The stitching? If there’s a difference between the size and type, my eyes can’t pick up on it. The cuffs are the same width, the four buttons are the same size, and both are made with 100% Mongolian cashmere.
But there was one main difference: the dropped shoulders.
Jenni Kayne has perfected the art of a dropped shoulder, and I’ve noticed they often fall longer than others. (Take this JK hoodie compared with this alternative from Quince as another example. The dropped shoulder hem on JK’s sits slightly lower and flatter, giving it more of an overall high-end finishing touch).
I proceeded to do a blind feel test, even making my husband and my mother-in-law take part, and we all unanimously came away with the same results.
Jenni Kayne’s cashmere cardigan was picked as the favorite by all three of us, but it was CLOSE.
JK’s cardigan felt to all of us to be slightly thicker (which means my eyes did fail me somehow) and a touch — I’m talking a salt speck — more luxe feeling. Not one of us could really explain why, but it was the sweater we chose blindly to be the winner each time.
sweater (left) | sweater (right) | tee | jeans
Don’t get me wrong, Quince’s cardigan is incredibly, wildly similar. When our eyes are open it’s quite difficult to sense a big difference (other than the obvious: They’re totally different colors).
Fit Notes: I’m wearing the same size, large, in the Quince cardigan!
The Results Are In: Jenni Kayne’s Cult-Favorite Sweater Wins By A Hair
There really is something very special about Jenni Kayne’s sweater. While I can’t be certain to say it’s $305.10 more special than Quince’s cashmere, it really does have an unbeatable luxe quality to it. The perfected dropped shoulder is one detail I’m very fond of.
But Quince? Absolutely holds its own. If you’re looking for a cozy cashmere cardigan that’s more affordable than Jenni Kayne to wrap up in this winter, I put my stamp of approval behind Quince’s Oversized Boyfriend Cardigan 100%.
Xx,
Amy
Let’s be friends on Instagram! Sharing life from a California beach town, daily style, makeup favorites, Gilmore Girl binge-athons and endless cups of coffee — all with a good dose of adorable toddler content too.
Hey, Pinners…
