Frequently asked questions
Some questions and answers are automatically generated.
Will this poncho keep me warm?
Is cashmere itchy at the neck?
How should I wash this poncho?
How accurate are the colour photos?
Does the wide neck opening cause drafts?
- 5 stars: 2 (100%)
- 4 stars: 0 (0%)
- 3 stars: 0 (0%)
- 2 stars: 0 (0%)
- 1 star: 0 (0%)
I bought this in early autumn after putting off a cashmere purchase for years, mostly because every cheap one I had tried before went bobbly within a month. This has held up far better than I expected, so I wanted to write a proper review with the details I was hunting for before I ordered. On sizing, it comes in one size and I was nervous about that. I am 5'6" and normally a UK 12. It sits just below my hip bones and the sleeve opening comes to about mid forearm, so it does not get in the way when I am carrying bags. My sister is 5'10" and borrowed it for a weekend, and on her it reads more like a cropped cape, still wearable but a different look. If you are under about 5'2" I would expect it to sit closer to mid thigh. On warmth, it is genuinely enough on its own down to about 10 degrees with a long sleeve top underneath. Below that I put a coat over it and it layers flat, no bunching at the shoulder. The neck opening is wide, which I like for pulling on over a shirt collar, though it does mean a bit of draught on a windy platform. On the itch question, I can wear it directly over a sleeveless top with no irritation, and I am usually sensitive to wool at the neck. On care, I hand wash cold with wool detergent and dry it flat on a towel. It has been through four washes and has not stretched or lost shape. There was some fibre shedding onto dark clothing for the first week or two, which stopped after the first wash. A couple of small bobbles under the arms after three months, which came off easily with a cashmere comb. It arrived folded in a fabric bag rather than plastic, which I have kept for storing it over summer. The colour matched the product photos closely on my screen. For the price I think it is fair, and I have worn it more than anything else I bought this season.
I want to be fair here because the cashmere itself is soft and I do wear this. But two things stopped it being a five star for me. First, the colour. I ordered the oatmeal and on my screen it looked like a warm cream. What arrived is noticeably greyer, closer to a light taupe. It still goes with things, but it was not what I was picturing and it does not sit well next to the cream coat I bought it for. I would ask for a photo in daylight if the exact shade matters to you. Second, the care. There was nothing in the packaging telling me how to wash it, and the label just says do not bleach. I assumed a wool cycle at 30 would be safe and it came out about an inch shorter across the body and slightly felted at one shoulder. That is partly on me, but a care card or a line on the product page would have saved it. I have since read that it wants hand washing only, which I would rather have known first. On the good side, it is warm for how light it is, and there was no itch at all even at the neck. One size fits me fine at 5'7" and a UK 14, and it sits below the hip. Delivery took six working days, which was longer than the estimate I was given at checkout but not a problem. I contacted support about the shrinking and they were polite but said washing damage is not covered, which is reasonable enough. So a middling score. Great material, and I would probably buy again in a different colour, but the product page needs to be clearer about both the shade and the washing.