We're 5'1'' and 5'7'' and We're Both Obsessed with This Jenni Kayne Sweater (and It’s On Major Sale for Black Friday)

Now 25 percent off

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Published Nov 17, 2023

Additional reporting by

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Olivia Dubyak/Jenni Kayne/Dasha Burobina

Jenni Kayne

Appearance: 20/20
Comfort: 20/20
Fit: 20/20
Value: 15/20
Quality: 19/20
TOTAL: 94/100

From my favorite Longchamp bag to my beloved Augustinus Bader the Rich Cream, I love indulging myself every now and again, and a cashmere sweater is a great staple to have in your wardrobe. And the people want to know: Is the Jenni Kayne Cashmere Cocoon Cardigan worth the $445 price tag? Luckily, the Jenni Kayne Black Friday sale is underway, and the brand is offering 25 percent off sitewide (excluding furniture, jewelry and any third-party brands on the site) from now through Sunday, November 26. That $445 price tag on the cardi? It’s now on sale for $372. After wearing my Cocoon Cardigan nonstop over the last few months, I can attest to the brand’s claims that you’ll never want to take it off. So I just couldn't keep it to myself.

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My colleague Jenny Jin wears her cardigan everywhere and often. "I keep it slung around the back of my desk chair for when I get cold while working, and it's my go-to layer whenever I'm traveling because it goes with pretty much everything," she says.

What Do I Need to Know About the Cocoon Cardigan?

For starters, this sweater is 100 percent Mongolian cashmere. So, the fibers are very fine, which means less pilling over time, and it’s constructed with a tight weave that’s less prone to snagging and has a warmer feel overall. It’s available in 11 colors ranging from everyday neutrals to soft pastels. Obviously, my biggest (and possibly only) qualm with this cardigan is the hefty price, but the adage is true in this case: You get what you pay for.

More importantly, these pieces are designed to last. With proper care, which includes seasonal storage, you can get years and years of wear. This may explain why the Cocoon Cardigan is one of the brand’s best-sellers, garnering a 4.8-star rating with more than 1,600 reviews.

Olivia Dubyak

Jenni Kayne

The Fit

I’m happy to report that the sweater has a slightly oversized fit, which I love. I grabbed a size medium (my standard size), and it’s just right. Usually, I find that many oversized items tend to drown you in fabric, but this one is well-proportioned thanks to its overall length (it hits just below your hips), and the sleeves aren’t too long either. The extra room is in the width of the sleeves and bodice, which makes the sweater great for layering. For reference, I’m 5-foot-7-inches and a size medium (or six to eight).

Jenny Jin

Jenni Kayne

And here's the sweater on Jenny, who is 5-foot-1-and-a-half-inches. (She says the half-inch is important to note when you're petite.) As she explains, "After reading up on the reviews, I decided to size down from my usual size small to an XXS, and I'm so glad I did. The cardigan definitely runs on the larger side, but sizing down made it fit exactly how I wanted: comfortably loose around the shoulders and midsection, but subtly pinched in where it matters."

Olivia Dubyak

Jenni Kayne

The Aesthetic

I’m not going to lie; I feel fancy when I wear this sweater, and I always want to style it as the key piece of my outfit because I know how high-quality it is. If I could walk around telling strangers “this California-inspired cardigan is artfully made with 100 percent Mongolian cashmere, you know,” I totally would, but that’s obnoxious, so I’ll just think it to myself. It’s truly become my go-to piece when there’s a little nip in the air, and it’s very versatile.

That one point I knocked off for quality was because there were a couple of loose threads hanging from the buttons that kind of irked me, considering the cost, but I was able to carefully trim them away.

Jenny Jin

Jenni Kayne

Our 5'1" inch tester is equally enamored with the sweater: "Like Liv, I also feel luxe whenever I wear this sweater, but that's more to do with how decadent the fabric feels against my skin—not just aesthetic it gives off, which is unassuming in the best way possible,” says Jenny, who's shown here wearing it to a nice dinner (over her Eileen Fisher matching set, no less). “It never competes with the rest of my outfits, and it can be worn in most settings without being too dressy or dressed down," she adds.

How to Care for It

If you’re a cashmere expert, you already know this material requires some extra love and care, and you can’t just toss it on a hanger in your closet. “We recommend storing your sweaters by folding them instead of hanging them, as hanging can stretch the items out,” shares Brenna Stout, a customer experience representative at Jenni Kayne. She also recommends storing them in an “enclosed container with cedar sticks” to prevent moths from getting in and creating holes in the fabric. “I regularly run the Sweater Stone (or any sweater shaver) over my pieces to help prevent pilling and fuzziness,” she adds.

According to Stout, a good wool and cashmere spray is a must to keep it feeling and smelling fresh between washes, which is what I’ve been using and it smells delightful. Clean your sweater scarcely; you don’t want to cause any damage from frequent washing. If you have the means to dry clean your items, that’s a great option, but if not, Stout says she washes hers at home—inside out, in a mesh bag, on delicate cycle.

Overall Thoughts

I don’t want anyone to get it twisted: This is definitely a splurge, and cashmere sweaters don’t have to cost this much. If you’re on a budget, you can try another brand like Nadaam or Quince, which offer more affordable cashmere items. However, if you are someone who has the means to invest in a few staple pieces that will last for years, have a timeless appeal and flatter a wide range of heights and body sizes, I consider this piece a must-buy.

Buy It (~~$495~~; $372)

The PureWow100 is a scale our editors use to vet new products and services, so you know what's worth the spend—and what's total hype. Learn more about our process here.

Olivia Dubyak

Commerce Editor

Olivia Dubyak is PureWow's Commerce Editor and textbook Capricorn. She studied journalism at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but has gone from New York City to...

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Jenny Jin

Beauty Director

Jenny Jin is PureWow’s Beauty Director and is currently based in Los Angeles. Since beginning her journalism career at Real Simple magazine, she has become a human encyclopedia of...

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