As of September 22, it was officially Fall.  You may not have felt it, depending on where you live, but Fall is here and it's getting chilly.  We're going to need some cashmere.

Cashmere should really be seen as more of a necessity than a luxury.  It is the warmest sweater fabric (according to experts it is 8x warmer than sheep's wool), and oh-so-soft.  Well, it's oh-so-soft if you buy the right cashmere.  Follow along:

High quality cashmere

1 - feels very soft and lightweight

2 - has longer fibers than those of the lower quality

3 - is not susceptible to pilling (like the lower quality)

4 - travels well, and does not wrinkle

5 - is long-lasting; it will actually become softer with age

Ideally you will want the label to read "100% cashmere".

You may hear people say the greater the ply, the better, but high-end makers, such as cashmere icon Loro Piana, pull off lightweight, one-ply pieces with high-quality yarn and good construction.  As long as we're name-dropping, a few other brands known for their quality cashmere:  White+Warren, TSE, Burberry, Ermenegildo Zegna.

A few ways to appreciate cashmere are...

In the form of a basic, turtleneck:

James Perse Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater - $385 at Net-A-Porter

as a flouncy-sleeved tee:

Ports 1961 Cashmere Tee - $395 at Vivre

as a chunky, cable-knit cardigan:

Design History - $298 at Bluefly

or as a gorgeous, rich jewel tone:

Autumn Cashmere Tie-Front Dolman Cardigan - $192 at Bluefly

We feel toastier already.  But just for extra warmth, pass the hot chocolate.