The London Lounge

In my continuing quest for to find the winter accessories most to my particular liking, I was wondering if you all have any recommendations on where to find the best cashmere sweaters and scarves.

I was reading online about Johnsons of Elgin (Scotland) are they any good?

Thanks,
Cantab

The best I have seen are the Avon Celli and Borrelli ones. The Avon Celli are very sporty and quite well priced. The Borrelli are a bit more elegant and made of a beautiful cashmere gauze.

My staple cashmere sweaters are John Smedley. Comfortable and hard wearing.

If you are after luxurious scarves you could try a company based in england called joy uk:

http://www.joyuk.com

They sell pure vicuna, guanaco, and alpaca scarves. The vicuna and guanaco scarves are very expensive; £475 and £300 respectively. The scarves are 150cm x 30 cm in size, and come in either black or in the natural colour of the fibre. The alpaca scarves come in a greater range of colours and patterns and cost between £47-55.

Alex Begg of Scotland is the standard by which all other cashmere scarves are judged. They are available in the US via a variety of sources, including Alex Kabbaz. Maybe Mr. Kabbaz can provide some more details on the scarves.

Begg recently did a series of paisley scarves that were meant to recall some styles of the 1930s. They are very beautiful. I will have to see how to make them available for the members. Stay tuned.

Alderbaran wrote:. . . . [V]icuna . . . scarves are very expensive[ . . . : ] £475 . . . .

This is very expensive. I've a Bolivian acquaintance who, as a sideline some years ago, sold scarves and shawls of black or natural-colored vicuña -- for much less. If enough fellow Loungers are seriously interested, I could check next month to see if he still does.

alden wrote: Begg recently did a series of paisley scarves that were meant to recall some styles of the 1930s. They are very beautiful. I will have to see how to make them available for the members. Stay tuned.

I have seen the Begg paisley scarves, and they're absolutely stunning.

I have one Alpaca scarf that is splendidly worm and comfortable, but it sheds its hair. Difficult to wear with any dark coat. Does Vicuna cause the same problem?

I usually go without scarf in England, or have heavy silk twill (no cashmere lining, only silk, two layers) for the somewhat colder continent.

FYI, Brooks is selling a vicuna scarf for $698 USD.

Hartline wrote:FYI, Brooks is selling a vicuna scarf for $698 USD.

Maus & Hoffman also has one for about the same price. It comes with its own wooden box and certificate of authenticity.

Cantabrigian wrote:In my continuing quest for to find the winter accessories most to my particular liking, I was wondering if you all have any recommendations on where to find the best cashmere sweaters and scarves.

I was reading online about Johnsons of Elgin (Scotland) are they any good?

Thanks,
Cantab

To answer your specific question, Cantabrigian, Johnstons of Elgin makes excellent scarves--I own four, and they have given outstanding service; the firm produces beautiful sweaters, as well.

Johnstons makes the cashmeres for Hermes. They are also available at internet discounter www.sierratradingpost.com under their own name and a pseudonym (I will say no more). They are good, although my cashmere scarf from them is not quite as lush as the Pringle scarf I lost last year.

I prefer Ballantyne for Scottish cashmere sweaters. Many of the smaller makers like Murray Allan, John Laing, Peter Scott, William Lockie, Lyle & Scott and a few others are also very nice. However, I think N. Peal has slipped. I rather like Corgi, although I am biased as they make some of the RJ cashmere intarsia knitwear. Marinella now owns Drumohr (FKA RObertson of Dumfries) and has relaunched it. For a while it was owned by an Italian underwear mfr and it is not clear if goods carrying the Drumohr label were in fact made in Italy.

The Italian cashmeres such as Cucinelli are superlative. I am less effusive about Loro Piana's cashmere wears but others differ.

alden wrote:Alex Begg of Scotland is the standard by which all other cashmere scarves are judged. They are available in the US via a variety of sources, including Alex Kabbaz. Maybe Mr. Kabbaz can provide some more details on the scarves.

Begg recently did a series of paisley scarves that were meant to recall some styles of the 1930s. They are very beautiful. I will have to see how to make them available for the members. Stay tuned.

Four in Hand also carries Alex Begg Cashmere scarves and has several paisley scarves on his website:

http://www.fourinhand.com/Product.asp?d ... AB80E-07CK



http://www.fourinhand.com/Product.asp?d ... AB80E-07RD



Note that while the size for each is 14x72, Mr. Four-in-Hand considers them women’s scarves and has told me that Alex Begg also markets them this way (and they release different patterns every year). They both look pretty good to me and I can’t see why they are inherently feminine.

Are these similar to what you were referring to Alden and Jcusey?

dopey wrote:

alden wrote: Note that while the size for each is 14x72, Mr. Four-in-Hand considers them women’s scarves and has told me that Alex Begg also markets them this way (and they release different patterns every year). They both look pretty good to me and I can’t see why they are inherently feminine.

Are these similar to what you were referring to Alden and Jcusey?

Those are the very ones I was thinking of. I too see nothing inherently feminine either in the size or the pattern, and I would wear one with pride.

jcusey wrote:

dopey wrote:

alden wrote: Note that while the size for each is 14x72, Mr. Four-in-Hand considers them women’s scarves and has told me that Alex Begg also markets them this way (and they release different patterns every year). They both look pretty good to me and I can’t see why they are inherently feminine.

Are these similar to what you were referring to Alden and Jcusey?

Those are the very ones I was thinking of. I too see nothing inherently feminine either in the size or the pattern, and I would wear one with pride.

Well then very kind sirs... I have one left in Chocolate.. May I suggets a duel with your weapon of choice???