Editor-Tested for Softness and Style

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It’s finally — gloriously — the season of the sweater, and that first chill in the air merits an examination of just how dependable and chic your current cashmere collection is. If, upon taking stock of the situation, you find yourself at a loss (or, as The Neighbourhood once sang, with holes in said sweaters), your seasonal upgrade should come in the form of the $98 The Original Cashmere Sweater from Naadam: which boasts thousands of five-star reviews and has attained an impressive level of TikTok popularity.

With this new season comes the hunt for cozy, versatile, and elevated pieces that can take you from day to night. Naadam’s cashmere line include layering to warmer pieces, including Olivia Culpo’s favorite picks. If you want to try Naadam’s best-selling pieces for yourself, use our exclusive 40% off code: VIP40 from today until Tuesday, 11/18 before all the holiday madness.

For the sake of offering only the most honest, tried-and-true advice, I was lucky enough to trial the sweater style in its Tomato and Peacock Blue colorways over the span of two days, evaluating factors like softness, breathability (especially on unventilated subway cars, let me tell you), and aesthetics in context of my overall fall ensembles. As someone who still gets anxiety thinking about the itchy knits of yore that I had to wear as a child, I’m very picky in the comfort department, too, and always look for sweaters that won’t bother me (or cause sensory overload) the entire day, no matter where it takes me.

On a cooler NYC morning, I decided to put on my tomato-red Naadam sweater with white jeans and green platform Sambas from Adidas. Right away, I was blown away by just how feather-like its material was, having what felt like no weight at all as it draped on my body in an attractive and non-baggy way. While the sleeves ended at my wrists and were thus very true to size, I decided to roll them up as an extra step — something that only contributed to the piece’s overall chicness.

As I commuted to work, something that usually turns me into a sweaty mess by the time I get to my desk, the sweater maintained optimal airflow and breathability. It’s totally something I envision putting a puffer vest on top of as the weather gets even cooler and can be worn either tucked (Naadam says it’s “the perfect length for a front tuck”) or in a more relaxed way. That crew neckline also lent itself well to a pearl necklace I chose to accessorize with — after the above picture was taken, alas — and accentuated the length of my neck. Call it the placebo effect, but I truly felt like my The Original Cashmere Sweater was responsible for creating a better, more graceful version of me.

The very next day, I tried the Peacock Blue iteration of the same Naadam bestseller, and it’s safe to say the color was much darker than what I expected, while still retaining vibrancy. I matched it to a brown suede skirt but recommend going with bottoms that can aptly contrast the sweater’s jewel tone (for an even sharper look, resort to fashion‘s “sandwich rule” by picking similarly hued shoes and a lighter-toned midi skirt, say).

Since this item was identical to the one I wore just 24 hours prior, albeit in a different color, I had the exact same feelings about it. This time around, though, I tucked The Original Cashmere Sweater into my skirt — where it stayed the whole day without sliding out, which has happened to me in the past and led to a less-than-ideal, not-so-professional look.

Whenever I felt like my forearms needed some extra breeziness, I simply slid up the sweater’s sleeves, which didn’t contribute to a baggier appearance in any way. And while I did experience a very slight itching sensation in the first hour of wear, it was nothing compared to that of a heavy Fair Isle cardigan knit by Grandma. All in all, the Naadam favorite was consistently smooth and agreeable against my skin.

In case the kind of vivid red spotlighted on the fall runways of labels like Ferragamo and Calvin Klein isn’t your thing, and neither is the type of blue that pays homage to a peacock’s plumage, Naadam comes in clutch with 16 other colorways for the taking. The brand is so meticulous about keeping its range of offerings expansive that it even sells the product in a Cherry Red (just a touch more pink than its vegetable-inspired counterpart). You should carefully consider the hues that are speaking to you, as well as the ones that would go best with your new fall fashions. But don’t think too long, as multiple trending shades are already seeing dreaded “notify when available” notices.

Naadam launched in 2013, immediately generating attention based on its mission of sourcing cashmere fibers directly from Mongolian herding communities — thereby cutting out the middlemen and paying suppliers more. Because of this, consumers also started benefiting, and people quickly realized that Naadam’s lower-than-average price tags on cashmere goods (it also sells loungewear, dresses, joggers, and more) didn’t translate to lower-than-average quality. Indeed, in the past decade-plus, Naadam has led the market when it comes to timeless designs, sustainable manufacturing practices, and fabrics that sit at a “not too thin, not too thick” Goldilocks equilibrium.

Once the world learned that cashmere, thanks to Naadam, doesn’t have to be an inaccessible pipe dream making your wallet cry at the thought of it, even celebs got on board. Jamie Chung and Lea Michele are fans of the company, and they’re joined by countless TikTok influencers who are letting Naadam transform their personal style. Honestly, while wearing The Original Cashmere Sweater, I was also tempted to make a video or two about its magic (set to Conan Gray‘s “Heather,” of course, because nothing about the closet staple is “just polyester”).

Ready to invest in something you won’t want to take off and that strangers on the street will ask about each time you wear it? Here are the exact styles of Naadam’s The Original Cashmere Sweater we’re adding to cart today.

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Meet the Author

Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on trending style staples worth the investment.