The Complete Cashmere Capsule: How to build a timeless wardrobe

10 Core Garments + 3 Essential Accessories

A capsule wardrobe isn’t about owning less.
It’s about owning better.

Cashmere — when chosen thoughtfully — becomes the foundation of a timeless closet. It layers effortlessly, softens beautifully with age, and carries you through seasons with quiet confidence.

Here’s how I would build a complete cashmere capsule: ten core garments, supported by three essential accessories.

The 10 Core Cashmere Garments

1. The Classic Crewneck

If you own only one cashmere sweater, make it a neutral crewneck.

Cream, oatmeal, soft gray, navy — these tones work with denim, tailored trousers, silk skirts, and layered over button-downs. It’s the sweater you reach for on a foggy morning, a casual dinner, or a long travel day.

Look for 100% cashmere in a mid-weight knit that holds its shape.

2. The V-Neck

The V-neck elongates the neckline and layers beautifully.

It feels especially elegant over a crisp shirt or worn alone with delicate jewelry. Choose a slightly relaxed silhouette — modern, not tight.

This is the sweater that reads polished without trying too hard.

3. The Lightweight Layering Knit

A fine-gauge sweater or cashmere-silk blend is essential.

It slips easily under blazers, denim jackets, and trench coats. It transitions beautifully from fall into spring and gives your capsule flexibility.

Think of this piece as your “second skin” layer.

4. The Statement Sweater

Capsule does not mean colorless.

One piece should bring joy — a bold pink, a stripe, a subtle metallic thread, or a heritage brand moment. This is the sweater that makes an outfit feel personal.

Restraint in the rest of your wardrobe makes space for intentional personality.

5. The Cashmere Cardigan

A cardigan extends your wardrobe more than almost anything else.

Worn open over a tee. Buttoned and styled as a top. Draped over shoulders at dinner. It adds softness without bulk.

Choose one with beautiful drape rather than something overly fitted.

6. The Spring & Summer Weight Cardigan

Not all cashmere is winter.

A lightweight cardigan — ideally cashmere-silk or fine-gauge 100% cashmere — is indispensable for cool evenings, travel, and layered dressing.

It should feel barely there but instantly elevate everything. Worn open over a tank, lightly buttoned over a dress, or draped over your shoulders with denim and flats.

For a coastal lifestyle, this may be one of the most practical pieces you own.

7. The Relaxed Weekend Knit

Slightly oversized. Effortless. Lived-in.

This is the sweater you wear on beach walks, coffee runs, Sunday mornings. It shouldn’t look precious — just beautifully worn. Think the cashmere equivalent to the boyfriend jeans!

The best ones only get softer with time.

8. The Cashmere Turtleneck

A refined turtleneck is endlessly classic.

It frames the face, layers seamlessly under coats, and creates a clean winter silhouette. Choose a smooth, mid-weight knit that doesn’t overwhelm.

Black, cream, camel, or charcoal are timeless.

9. The Transitional Blend

Not all cashmere has to be heavy.

Cashmere-silk or cashmere-linen blends carry you into spring and early fall. They offer breathability and movement while maintaining softness.

For a natural-fiber wardrobe, this piece bridges the seasons beautifully.

10. The Heritage Investment Piece

Every wardrobe deserves one exceptional knit.

Whether vintage, designer, or simply extraordinary quality, this is the piece you build around. It anchors your capsule and sets the standard for everything else. For me it’s my Channel cashmere cardigan - a piece that I cherish and could never have paid retail for it.

Preloved luxury is often the smartest way to access this tier — exceptional craftsmanship, lower environmental impact, longer life.

The 3 Essential Cashmere Accessories

Accessories are where comfort meets daily ritual.

They’re often the most worn pieces — and the most underestimated.

1. The Cashmere Scarf

A scarf is the easiest entry point into luxury knitwear.

It instantly elevates denim and a tee. It travels beautifully. It layers year-round. A neutral is essential; a soft color is optional.

With proper care, a cashmere scarf can last decades.

2. The Cashmere Beanie

Small but powerful.

A fine-gauge beanie adds warmth without bulk and makes an outfit feel intentional. Perfect for travel, foggy mornings, and understated polish.

It’s practicality dressed in quiet luxury.

3. Cashmere Socks

Underrated. Transformational.

Cashmere socks are not about flash — they’re about comfort.

Worn inside loafers, boots, or simply at home, they add warmth that feels deeply indulgent yet entirely practical.

Instead of dozens of synthetic pairs, a few high-quality natural-fiber socks will outlast and outperform. Even your base layers can reflect intention.

Why This Capsule Works

When you build around:

• 100% or high-percentage cashmere

• Classic silhouettes

• Neutral foundations with one or two joyful statements

• Proper care and thoughtful storage

You create a wardrobe that works harder and lasts longer.

Not trend-driven. Not disposable.

Just timeless.

At Marin Cashmere, I curate pieces with this philosophy in mind — sustainable, enduring, and meant to be worn for years.